Hi! I’m Kelly Jones and I study Materials Science and Engineering. I’m currently studying abroad at Denmark Technical University (DTU) in Copenhagen.
Study abroad has greatly changed my outlook on my professional future. First and foremost, I am going to enter my last year at Drexel this coming fall. This means that it is almost time to apply to graduate school, for which I have been heavily contemplating. For quite a while, I have been considering pursuing a PhD, but I have been unsure whether I want to enter the industry immediately or first obtain a PhD so that I can conduct R&D for a company in the future. Previously, I was unsure of how long the PhD would take, and I desired to secure a full-time job quickly. I knew that a PhD was probably necessary for my career goals of working in R&D, but I didn’t want to stay in school for a lot longer.
Ever since coming to Europe and seeing the lifestyle that people live, I am much more open to taking the time to get a PhD. I now have a greater appreciation for taking life slower and enjoying the little things, such as a morning coffee and time with friends. For example, the culture of sitting and talking with friends for hours at restaurants and cafes is ever present in Europe. People laugh and chat, and don’t worry about the time passing. Seeing this has made me realize that I don’t need to rush into working just to have a job. Rather, I should take my time and enjoy the small things and education along the way. Throughout my time at Drexel, I had such a full schedule and was always participating in activities, so taking life slower and having more time are unfamiliar things to me.
I realized that taking the time to complete a PhD will help me achieve my career goals, and that my fear that it would take away time from my overall career was unfounded. This will be more so true, especially if I get my PhD at a European university. I have really enjoyed the way of life in Denmark and, more generally, in Europe, so I would be happy living there for longer. Furthermore, the opportunities in renewable energy are being prioritized in Europe. Specifically at DTU, hydrogen fuel cells and e-fuels such as methanol and ammonia are being heavily invested in.
Granted, I know that I can have a slower lifestyle with an industry job, but I realized that to ultimately do what I want in the future, a PhD would be needed. Before, I was merely anxious about the time it would take to get one and stay in school, so I was unsure of my decision. Now, I realize that I should appreciate taking the time to learn more and not rush into industry work.
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