I come from a very poor background, so I quickly learned that if I wanted something I needed to cling onto any opportunity that came up as if my life depended on it, because it did. From high school, to university, now to grad school, all I have done is stay indoors and study. It seems that learning and accumulating information is the only thing I am good at. I am almost done with my master’s and I am also working FT at a FAANG company. I had some free time this weekend, when I realized I could do anything, but there was nothing I wanted to do. I know that to some degree I am burnt out due to studies, courses and everything else, but I honestly don’t know where to go from here. I don’t find my job particularly engaging, and I am considering returning to academia. I am having conversations with my co-supervisor on working with them after I graduate, and if that goes well, a PhD at the intersection of privacy, medicine and ML. It that unless I find some big goal to work towards, I am empty, a vessel, becoming what I am doing du jour. I spend all my time working and thinking about the problem and when that stops I don’t have anything else. What can I do to deal with this apparent emptiness? I don’t think diving into another project will cut it.
Story Published at: November 13, 2022 at 02:56PM
Story Published at: November 13, 2022 at 02:56PM