Why I took up Ph D in Science Ed?

As a child I had been very ambitious in my studies. I always aimed to be the number one in class. I even asked my parents on what is the highest degree one could earn and they told me it is the doctorate degree. Without any hesitation, I indicated in our high school yearbook that my ambition is to be a doctor. My uncle was beaming with pride because he thought I would be a doctor of medicine. He did not know that I could not set aside my childhood dream of becoming a teacher. So, after high school graduation I took up Bachelor of Secondary Education with the goal in mind that I will earn a doctorate degree before getting married. Well, I observed in our society that child-bearing could really be hurdle in finishing a degree.

Back then, I just blindly followed my dreams without analyzing the reasons for setting goals such as being a doctor or being a teacher. It was because analyzing my reasons would just clutter my mind. Nevertheless, I was strongly motivated and I finished my Masters degree two years after graduation in college.


Now that I am enrolled in a Ph. D. program and I am taking up a subject in Philosophy, I realize that my reasons for pursuing a degree are important because those reasons serve as my strong motivations to push through with my studies despite the difficulty. It took me several days to reflect and think why I am taking up Ph. D. in Science Education major in Math. I know “just because” will not suffice. The following are my reasons.

First, I want to bring out the best in me. I believe my intellect is the best gift that I received from God and nurturing it is the best way to say “thank you” to my Creator. Even though, I am not a fast-learner in mathematics, I believe that I am somewhat capable of learning. It is my dream to contribute something significant in the field of math. Perhaps, a theorem or a solution to a problem could be my contribution. That is why there are instances when I feel frustrated because I cannot even master simple concepts in our present subject, abstract algebra. Nevertheless, it is better to dream big and achieve half of that dream than to dream nothing and achieve nothing.

Second, teaching requires continuing education. Some of the knowledge acquired in college are inadequate in today’s educational arena. Though some trends in education can be learned through seminars and workshops, graduate school is more organized and focused. It is shameful if I have insufficient knowledge to teach a particular subject. I have to admit I cannot learn everything there is to learn, but at least I could take a bigger share of the pie of knowledge.
Third, I have developed my love for mathematics and my ambitious self is telling me to improve math education through research. In college I hated research. I was aware of its importance, but I could not grasp the principles behind it. Furthermore, it is time consuming and costly. However, I believe that research-based education is the current trend and it is a strong foundation for educational institutions. Thus, I am here trying to be at peace with the subject that I once hated.

Fourth, earning a degree will help increase my salary. I did not consider the financial aspect when I chose education as my course. Now, that I am in my mid-twenties I recognize the importance of money since my parents want me to be financially independent. I believe that investing a considerable amount of money for my graduate studies would be compensated with the augmentation of my income.

Fifth, I just want to have fun. It is relaxing to take a break from teaching and to play the role of a student on weekends. Meeting new friends and studying math are definitely fun!