The PhD Guide

Bettina had quickly oriented herself to London and built a tolerance to the English culture. The Reddy clan had interfaced with the English in India. French and English two colonial powers often at war interfaced in India through their merchant outposts and there was a commonality between the Eurasian societies in each despite wars and competition between these colonial powers. So, the Reddy’s didn’t carry the same level of prejudice French people in general had against the English and of course this prejudice was reciprocated in England. In essence they were in prehistory all Germanic tribes that had been modified through the Roman Empire interface leavened by the Celtic tribes migrating from Asia Minor and spreading West through Europe to the British Isles. Over time their languages had evolved so that by language and culture they were unique societies now. They’d forgotten their common ancestry links. Bettina was enjoying her current challenge in relocating and the introduction to her PhD program.

The administration at Imperial College Business School had been most helpful getting her started on preliminary study units and introducing her to her guide. They were impressed with her previous scholarship and honours in France and looked forward to having her join the faculty after her research and thesis had completed and she’d passed her oral examinations. It would be a long and trying haul to reach that destination, but Bettina could see she’d get all the support needed as she waded through her research and prepared her thesis for examination. She was a little in awe of her guide who looked ancient but had a razor-sharp mind and retentive memory for detail. He’d published several scholarly books which were widely used in learning institutions and was a member of The Court or governing body of the Bank of England and advisor to the British Government in matters of trade and monetary policy. He was a hard and exacting taskmaster, but Bettina could see through the façade this man Dr. Horace Beaufort who wanted those under his guidance to excel in their endeavours. Their success would be his glory and satisfaction.

So, she bent her will to his guidance tolerating him frequently insisting she return to the topic and rejecting what she’d written up in early research chapters until it was presented to his satisfaction. She could see in every correction she was improving in knowledge of her topic and though often exhausted she welcomed her Uncle Louis insisting she accompany him to functions at the French Embassy to give her a break from the stress of her studies.

In the process she had the opportunity to mix with diplomats from many countries who noted the charm and knowledge of this young woman. Several of these diplomats looking for a suitable partner for their sons of her age put out feelers to her uncle to see if there was any interest in arranging a marriage to their son. Louis would pass on these inquiries to his niece teasingly, but she made it plain there would be no marriage consideration before she achieved her goal and had recognition as Dr. Bettina Reddy. And when that happened it would not be an arranged marriage, but she would choose her own partner for life. One who shared her goals in life, and she could see had a genuine love for her and be supportive of her goals and not just an impressive appendage to enhance their own ambitions. She saw too much of that in her interface with those in the diplomatic circle where marriages were of convenience rather than for love.

She was glad her family were able to finance her through her studies. Many of those who were doing research and working on their thesis had little financial support and lived hand to mouth under appalling conditions and having to work at menial jobs at night while their wife worked a full-time day job to help them survive over a much-extended period of time before they came to the end of their work and could receive their PhD. She was distressed to watch them struggle to achieve their goal and admired their determination to come up in life. It was a case of those with wealth had it relatively easy while those who were poor found it almost impossible to achieve their goal in academic circles. Life was not fair.

Time moved on. It was a grinding course Bettina had chosen for herself, and she reflected on the years that had gone by as she sat and waited for her assigned guide to show up to his office. She was worn out from the research and writing drafts she’d accomplished over the years and feeling depressed from lack of sleep. At first, she’d been resentful when Dr. Horace Beaufort had rejected her initial drafts and sent her back to rewrite these and there were other occasions when he’d done the same. At one point she’d almost decided to give her goal of a PhD away and return to France where she’d been lauded as exceptional in her studies. However, Dr. Beaufort was recognized as exceptional in her own country and around the world and she realized if she could make it through the program under his direction she’d be accepted anywhere in the academic world. She looked up as he made his entry into the office and his secretary rose to accompany him into the inner sanctum to go through the itinerary for the day with him so she could get on with her own work.

Dr. Beaufort indicated his secretary should sit and beckoned Bettina into his office taking her latest draft out of his briefcase as he settled himself behind his desk pointing Bettina to the guest lounge. He did a quick inventory of the things on his desk and then rose to join her on the lounge with her current draft. He glanced at her sympathetically and sighed. The professor had never married and regarded all those he’d guided through his years in education as his children he took great pride in them as they ventured out with their doctoral degree to face a competitive world. He could not think of one who’d let him down over the years and each of his former students regarded him as a father figure to consult when they had difficult situations to face. Each had gone through crises in their research, and it could be exacting on health. The professor saw his current student investment was at a dangerous time of her own program, and it was time to discover what she was struggling with. He reached out to place his hand on her shoulder in reassurance but remembered this could be a sexual harassment issue in today’s world and he could not afford such an accusation so withdrew his hand immediately. Bettina noted this and smiled. She really loved this old man realizing he only wanted the best for her and knew his stern corrections bought out the best in her. The professor coughed and prepared to speak.

“Bettina you are struggling and I’m anxious to know what I can do to get you back to the enthusiasm you showed when you first commenced your work under my guidance. Let me guess and you can correct me if I’m wrong. You are not taking time enough for recreation and exercise with the heavy academic load you work with. Can you share with me what your daily program is so we can see if this can be modified in some way? I know this is personal but am anxious to help you if you feel free to share this as I look on all my students as my children and I have an obligation to make you greater in achievement than I’ve personally achieved. Your success in life is my goal and will give me a sense of satisfaction.”

Tears were shed as Bettina unfolded her plans for each day of the week and the professor nodded his head as she finished.

“Thank you, Bettina. Now I have a suggestion. I understand you are not strapped for financial backing with your family bankrolling your studies along with the scholarship, so I want you to rewrite your program to slow down your academic research and writing to balance exercise and recreation where you totally turn off thinking about your thesis for parts of the day. You are burning out because you are trying to reach your goal much faster than the average student I’ve guided, and the human frame is built for balance not the program you follow. Are you still accompanying your uncle to diplomatic functions? “

“Tell me about your exercise routine again. Lately your work has shown signs of that burnout. And another thing these sessions are not meant for you to seek to become a clone of your guide. I want you to do more arguing with my comments on your work as debate yields excellence in work, so I’ve read your current work and want you to critique it to me now and I’ll argue its merits that way instead of writing my comments. So, let’s start. One more thing before we start. I’ve never done this with anyone else but I’m giving you my private email address and you can contact me whenever you are feeling down, and we’ll see if we can solve your concerns that way. I may not respond immediately as I have many committees to deal with but will certainly get back to you as soon as possible. And finally. How would you feel about accompanying me on some of my international appointments to round out your knowledge and experience that way? It may slow down your research, but it will be profitable in the long run if your family could afford that.”

Bettina was instantly encouraged by this amazing offer and promised to contact her parents and seek their agreement to this and let the professor know. She spent the next hour gratefully reviewing her work and considering the professors comments as she dealt with each issue.  She left that meeting feeling happy for the first time in weeks. Dr. Beaufort saw her to the door and indicated he was ready for his secretary now.

To be continued.

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