Ever since I started to pursue a Ph.D., I got a lot of questions like "How many courses do you have to take to get a Ph.D?" or "It's been years and you still haven't graduated?", which essentially misunderstood the nature of a Ph.D. It is a title to be conferred upon someone who has demonstrated one's ability in independent scientific research. The way of learning that ability is via apprenticing with a more skillful worker in this job. So when we were watching "Star Wars II: The Attack of the Clones", when young Anakin Skywalker was complaining about how his Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi critisized his lightsabre skill and the Jedi Counsil refused his request of the "Master" title, saying something like
ANAKIN SKYWALKER
He's always not content with me, saying I still have a lot to learn. I hate him.
PADME AMIDALA
No, Anakin. You shouldn't hate him. He cares about you. He's your master, the one whom you should learn from.
One of my fellow Ph.D. students shouted, with popcorn in his hand: "We call him 'ADVISOR'!"
ANAKIN SKYWALKER
He's always not content with me, saying I still have a lot to learn. I hate him.
PADME AMIDALA
No, Anakin. You shouldn't hate him. He cares about you. He's your master, the one whom you should learn from.
One of my fellow Ph.D. students shouted, with popcorn in his hand: "We call him 'ADVISOR'!"
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