|
toothpaste
|
 |
« on: January 07, 2009, 11:30:12 AM » |
|
Hello wise forumites
One of my students wishes to pursue a PhD and a career in the academy. He has schizophrenia that seems well controlled most of the time (he disappeared for a while and then resurfaced; I'm not clear on what the reasons for this were).
My question: is it possible and/or reasonable for such a student to find a mentor in the profession who has faced the same kind of challenges he will face? How do you go about finding such a person?
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Oh, this is how you get a signature line.
|
|
|
|
michigander
|
|
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2009, 03:13:55 PM » |
|
Someone at your campus office for services to students with disabilities might know. It would be best if your student was willing to go ask him/herself. Likewise, there might be someone at your campus psychological services office with an appropriate network.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
anthroid
Annoying bad luck snails
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 16,002
No happy socks because nobody gets Manitoba.
|
|
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2009, 06:27:18 PM » |
|
Yes. I am going to suggest that you have your student do this work. If your student feels the need for such a mentor, it is up to your student to figure out how to find someone. Certainly there are folks on this forum who struggle with various issues (though I don't know that anyone has disclosed schizophrenia--bipolar, depression, and other issues, but I don't remember schizophrenia), and your student may be well advised to look at the forum. But your student needs to do hu's own work on this. Boundaries can be challenging for students with issues. Be careful not to intervene too much!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Do you hail from Planet Hello Kitty? It's like an action movie, but boring.
|
|
|
|
toothpaste
|
|
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2009, 07:19:07 PM » |
|
I agree with the point here that the student is responsible for being his own advocate. I was hoping to hold this in reserve as a suggestion at some point as the student faces what it might be like to try to hold an academic job and cope with his illness. I wasn't sure, though, whether the nature of the disorder would make it essentially impossible for him to seek out help.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Oh, this is how you get a signature line.
|
|
|
|
sciencephd
|
|
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2009, 07:27:09 PM » |
|
I don't think schizophrenia is compatible with a successful academic career. Of course, anything is possible, but...
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
I just hate it that I constantly have to like everyone and everything. -- moonstone
O, what a hateful feminist concoction!
Jews, communists, "lesbians", feminists and marihuana addicts --Pyshnov
|
|
|
neutralname
A person without qualities, except for being a
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,597
|
|
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2009, 07:30:36 PM » |
|
I've heard one case of a psychiatrist with schizophrenia successfully practicing, although I'm not sure I ever found out his name. It is much easier to imagine someone who has had a psychotic episode and then recovered going on to success in academic life than someone with full blown schizophrenia.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music." Vladimir Nabokov
|
|
|
anthroid
Annoying bad luck snails
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 16,002
No happy socks because nobody gets Manitoba.
|
|
« Reply #6 on: January 08, 2009, 07:58:11 PM » |
|
On edit:
Ah, forget it. It isn't worth it.
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: January 08, 2009, 08:00:06 PM by anthroid »
|
Logged
|
Do you hail from Planet Hello Kitty? It's like an action movie, but boring.
|
|
|
|
dr_mcmom
|
|
« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2009, 08:42:10 AM » |
|
I don't think schizophrenia is compatible with a successful academic career. Of course, anything is possible, but...
A member of my grad school cohort had schizophrenia. While there were times when it seemed hopeless, I'm happy to report that hu has it under control and has a terrific career (sciences) and family life (phew). So glad for hu since hu was such a nice person - kind, helpful, etc. It is possible. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
scienceprof
|
|
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2009, 08:46:27 AM » |
|
John Nash, of course, had schizophrenia, and still managed to get a Nobel Prize in economics, so it is not unheard of to succeed academically with this illness.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
The plural of anecdote is not data
|
|
|
|
sciencephd
|
|
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2009, 11:05:41 AM » |
|
John Nash, of course, had schizophrenia, and still managed to get a Nobel Prize in economics, so it is not unheard of to succeed academically with this illness.
The Nobel was for his work in grad school. He was absent from academia for decades after that due to schizophrenia. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
I just hate it that I constantly have to like everyone and everything. -- moonstone
O, what a hateful feminist concoction!
Jews, communists, "lesbians", feminists and marihuana addicts --Pyshnov
|
|
|
|
scienceprof
|
|
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2009, 10:35:48 PM » |
|
According to Nash's bio , although his prize-winning work was during his dissertation int he 50's, he published numerous articles in the 70's, 80's, and 90's.
I guess he missed the 60's; but then, didn't a lot of people?
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: March 16, 2009, 10:36:53 PM by scienceprof »
|
Logged
|
The plural of anecdote is not data
|
|
|
|
sciencephd
|
|
« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2009, 11:16:32 AM » |
|
According to Nash's bio , although his prize-winning work was during his dissertation int he 50's, he published numerous articles in the 70's, 80's, and 90's.
I guess he missed the 60's; but then, didn't a lot of people?
Look at his publication list. That does not appear to be the case. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
I just hate it that I constantly have to like everyone and everything. -- moonstone
O, what a hateful feminist concoction!
Jews, communists, "lesbians", feminists and marihuana addicts --Pyshnov
|
|
|
|
kamiakin
|
|
« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2009, 03:57:05 PM » |
|
Years ago I mentored an undergrad with bipolar disorder. She went on to earn two graduate degrees and land a great job in DC. She sends me a Christmas card each year with pictures of her husband and kids.
Never write off anyone.
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: March 17, 2009, 03:57:23 PM by kamiakin »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
whatsmyname
|
|
« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2009, 04:28:55 PM » |
|
I agree. There are too many examples of greatness in the face of obstacles and mediocrity in the lap of luxury. For example, Bill Clinton is deaf in both ears, yet remains reasonably productive and influential. Meanwhile, Bill Gates, the wealthiest man on the planet, can't supervise the production of an operating system that doesn't crash every half hour.
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: March 17, 2009, 04:29:25 PM by whatsmyname »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
