Follow Your Own Timeline

Life is like running—each of us has our own pace. Trying to match someone else's pace will only throw you off track, either leaving you burned out or too slow to reach your finish line. You should always run at your own pace, set your own goals, and own your finish line.

This is one of the lessons I learned when I was applying to PhD programs. I had a colleague who was also applying to PhD this year. When I began searching programs around the globe, he hadn’t started. When I started finding professors for recommendation letters, which are crucial to PhD applications, he still hadn’t started. However I stopped doing a bunch of other things because I thought I was ahead of schedule. I was wrong.

I was doing well in the beginning. And as soon as I followed my colleague's timeline, I found myself in a passive position, no longer in control of my time, leaving the works undone. When he started working on his SOP, PS, and other application requirements, I started too. However, while I was still struggling to figure out a story, he had finished everything. At that time, I was stressed out, overwhelmed, disheartened, and I was the only one to blame because I chose to follow his timeline. In the end, I lost a chance to apply to one school I really wanted to apply to.

Following your own timeline is not just about managing time; it's about owning your life. Everyone has their own pace to do things. Believe in yourself, set your goals, and you will reach your dreams!