I am nearing the completion of my Ph.D. and have written my very last and final paper as a Ph.D. student. This paper was accepted for publication at EDCC 2024 conference, requiring me to travel to Belgium to present it and share my ideas with the scient…
I am nearing the completion of my Ph.D. and have written my very last and final paper as a Ph.D. student. This paper was accepted for publication at EDCC 2024 conference, requiring me to travel to Belgium to present it and share my ideas with the scientific community. The conference took place from Monday to Thursday and was conducted in the beautiful city of Leuven.
Living in Kaiserslautern, Germany, approximately four hours—or three hours and thirty minutes drive, to be precise—away from the conference location, I faced the dilemma of how and when to travel so I could present my paper while still being there for my family. With both my husband and I working full-time, it's challenging to be readily available for our work. As a result, we often have to coordinate our schedules to determine who has fewer work commitments at any given time and can therefore take care of the kids.
Despite the challenges, attending the conference was rewarding. I was able to present my paper, engage with the scientific community, and address their questions. This was made possible by the support of my husband and children. My husband proposed that he and the children accompany me to Belgium. He took care of them while I presented my paper. In return, I offered to take care of the children during his important calls or meetings, allowing him to work in the evenings. After finishing our official duties for the day, we explored the city center and enjoyed the evenings as a family, indulging in Indian food one day, vegetarian bowls with quinoa and stuff (you know that vegan and veggie stuff 😉 ) the next, and Japanese ramen on the third day.
It was a great experience, challenging, but great. I wasn't sure how things should and would work out once we reached there. However, it all worked out better than I expected. Most importantly, since we were there as a family, we handled things together. I had moments of exhaustion and not sleeping so well but having my children around me made me go through this easier and faster. I was indeed delighted on our way home at how amazing things can turn out when we just are there for each other to help each other grow.
Life's unpredictability and challenges underscore the importance of having a supportive circle of family and friends. My ability to balance research and family obligations is largely due to this support network. There have been numerous instances where this support was crucial. The support within a family—whether it's men supporting women, women supporting men, or any combination thereof—is essential for personal and societal growth. It allows us to succeed in both our professional and private lives. I hope you have, and are, a source of support in someone's life, just as I have experienced in mine.
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