On Transcendence

On Transcendence

On the Other Side of the Threshold: Reflections on Earning a PhD When Some Are Demonstrably Not Happy for You

Excellence in a World Still Uncomfortable With Your Arrival.

Dr. Baruti KMT-Sisouvong's avatar
Dr. Baruti KMT-Sisouvong
Jul 12, 2025
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There is a curious silence that follows accomplishment. Not the stillness of satisfaction, but the cool hush of discomfort. It is the kind of silence that speaks volumes—not from strangers, but from people whom you once thought might be proud.

When I completed my dissertation and earned a PhD for my efforts in 2023, I felt the gravity of a long journey c…

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