So, I just obtained my PhD degree, which is wild. It was around six years of hard work and overcoming endless moments of self-doubt. My sister and I were laughing because the chair of the PhD Defence ceremony, when granting me the degree, said that the title of doctor meant society could now trust my judgement. We joked that I could use that line whenever people undermine my views: “I am a doctor so that means you have to trust my judgement.” I don’t suppose that’s really true. I’m now an expert on some things, and very ignorant on others. Plus, I would never use my scholarly credentials to demand trust. I would use my experience perhaps, but not a diploma.
A friend recently asked me how it feels to be a doctor. I said, quite frankly, it doesn’t feel any different that not being one. However, I am relieved that the monumental project I started in 2020 came to a conclusion. It does feel like a weight has been lifted, and now I feel like I can look unreservedly into the future (or lack thereof), try new things and start new projects with a new degree on my CV. I’m curious, excited, and anxious to see how that’s going to pan out.
Mine’s a bit of a bittersweet existence. I am lucky and privileged in many ways; being able to complete all these projects and adventures, while being hyperaware of how many humans and non-humans are being robbed of their own future, their own projects, their own adventures. I have aimed to apply the PhD journey to amplify different struggles for collective liberation. I cannot be sure yet whether I’ve succeeded in my efforts. What I do know is that one’s work for collective liberation is never really finished. It goes through different stages and forms, it has taken me to different parts of the world, it has evolved, it’s been reinvented, and it may take expected or unexpected forms now. In any case, I vow to continue doing the work, now with a PhD degree, and continue to feel all the rage and the joy that comes with resisting systems of oppression.
Siempre desde abajo y a la izquierda 😉
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