5 Life-Lessons from Earning a Ph.D.
SeanMcDowell.org
Nearly two years ago, I graduated with a Ph.D. in Apologetics and Worldview Studies from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done—intellectually, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. And yet I learned some powerful life lessons along the way.
Whether you are planning to go for further education or not, I hope you will find these insights both helpful and challenging for all of life.
1. Find the Right Fit: Whether it’s finding the right career, place to live, or person to marry, it’s worth getting it right. Certain decisions stick with us for a lifetime and are not worth rushing. I spent nearly six months researching various programs from around the world until I finally landed on the right one that fit my unique needs and interest. This involved searching the web and talking with anyone—such as doctoral students and professors—who would give me guidance. I have seen far too many people drop out of doctoral programs because of issues they should have foreseen (financial, academic, etc.).
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
2. Don’t sacrifice your family. When I was researching programs, I talked with a doctoral student in the UK. He asked why I wanted a Ph.D., and one of the answers I gave was that I felt like I would regret it if I didn’t get one. He said, “I had a classmate who worked so hard on his doctorate that it cost him his family. Would that be worth it?” Point taken. I will never forget that story. Sadly, this student lost his focus and thus his family. I was determined that was not going to be me. In fact, when I started my studies, I told my wife that I would gladly give up my pursuit of a Ph.D. if it was truly hurting our relationship or our family. And I meant it. In the big picture of things, the pursuit of a Ph.D. pails in comparison to the importance of being a good parent and spouse.
1 Timothy 5:8: “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
3. Take it one day at a time. From the beginning of my doctoral seminars, to the receiving of my diploma from Dr. Albert Mohler at graduation, I spent roughly five years working on my doctorate. There were times when I felt I was never going to be done. There were times when I wanted to give up. And yet I frequently told myself—just take it one day at a time and eventually you will get there. Whether it was writing one page of my dissertation or researching another article, my goal simply was to “advance the ball” at least a little bit every day. And this is so true in life. Much of life is simply doing the little things, day by day, that ultimately add up to great things. It is amazing what we can accomplish if we simply take “baby steps” each day.
Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
4. Make a genuine contribution to the church. When choosing a dissertation topic, one of my main goals was to write on a subject that genuinely helped other believers. I certainly wanted a topic that interested me, but more important was finding a topic for which research was genuinely needed. And fortunately I found one. One of the most common arguments is that the apostles would not die for a lie, and so their testimony about the resurrection must be true. But I often wondered what the evidence was for their deaths. And so I set out to research it, and I recently published my findings in an academic book. My goal in doing a Ph.D. was not merely to get letters after my name, but to genuinely help the church. If you don’t help others, what’s the point?
Romans 12:4-7:“There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
5. Get help along the way. There is no way I could have finished my doctorate without help. Impossible. Obviously my doctoral advisor helped, but I also needed help from Michael Licona, J. Warner Wallace, and countless other scholars who were gracious enough to answer my emails and sometimes even meet me in person. I certainly could not have done a Ph.D. without the loving support of my wife, Stephanie. And quite obviously, this is true for the rest of life as well. You can’t do it alone.
Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
Sean McDowell, Ph.D. is a professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, a best-selling author of over 18 books, an internationally recognized speaker, and a part-time high school teacher. Follow him on Twitter: @sean_mcdowell and his blog: seanmcdowell.org.