Your Niche

I was thinking whether or not to write on this topic since it can cause problems if mishandled. But it's still an important element of why we write so, let's disentangle the puzzle.

The "niche" or research niche is your academic expertise. The problem is, not everyone has a clear cut vision on where they want to go. Some students are not even sure of their own course, or some family reason is why they're not in the course that they want. I won't answer those directly but rather with this discourse: 

• It's always better to have a plan. Education is expensive, best to maximize the years spent on your course. 
• BUT
• If you don't have a plan yet, BE STILL, get a moment where you can talk to yourself and find out your plan.
• BUT
• If your "self" is being silent, or you don't have a moment to BE STIL, then ask yourself for now, what is your take away from where you are now? I.e. your course/program.
• BUT
• If you're not having any takeaway, there's something terribly wrong going on. You have to address this.
• BUT
• If you can't address it, then just have fun. This is the counterpoise in the not everyone has a plan yet. Don't stress yourself, don't overburden with yourself with drama queen stuff like "I'm just trying to get through." Laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation and find something fun to do while doing the reality of "getting through."

- - - 

Let's now focus on the practicality of a niche, maybe this can help guide you find yours (if you don't know yet), or help you plan along yours (if you already have).

Your thesis whether college, master's or PhD (dissertation) is the crowning glory of that level's academic life. That's the reason why I have a bias against courses that don't do a thesis. Take note, even students at the Conservatory of Music may not have a "thesis" per se but they have a recital, which is just the same - the test and outcome which proves that you have mastered that level.

We have to go through a tour of an institution in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time novels in order to do this (no worries, no spoilers).

This institution is the White Tower, headquarters of the Aes Sedai (trans. from the Old Tongue = Servants of All). The Aes Sedai are humans gifted with the power to channel power, but what's most important is aside from the fictional supernatural power that they train to use, they also specialize in two other powers: knowledge and politics (that's why the prequel, New Spring is usually first reading for political science freshmen when I used to teach Political Science as a Profession). At present in the timeline of the books, Aes Sedai were all women (I won't go into the details), and in order to attain the rank of "Aes Sedai, a girl enters the White Tower and becomes a Novice. Novices are expected to attend their classes, follow the prescribed lessons, follow instructions, and not to question their teachers (I kind of disagree with the last one). After years of training and a difficult test, the novice is promoted to the rank of Accepted. The Accepted gain a certain degree of freedom, they get to choose what they want to study, choose their time for lessons with specific teachers, and are expected to question things. Again, grueling years of training and a test (the political science freshmen usually encounter this in New Spring) called the Hundred Weaves, then woman is raised to Aes Sedai, and one Aes Sedai (Cadsuane Melaidhrin, Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah) comments while reminiscing her years after her "graduation" that that is the point when one truly learns.

There was a huge fan run website called WoTmania and it contained a rich collection of fan activity. Seriously, RICH. There was a section on theories where site registered members can post well thought of theories, and you will suspect that the people posting are either college or post-college level students.

I found an article there that likened the 3 ranks as college, master's and PhD's (sadly WoTmania has been closed after the devastation of Jordan's death). Another argued that the three ranks are elementary, high school, and college.

So, you have x years before writing your research, usually it's on your second or third year. 

• IF you treat your brains like a temporary computer memory rather than a hard drive, then we have a problem, because where's the mastery?

• IF you are not taking something away for your future plans, then we have a problem (I say we because sometimes, it's not the student but something else which is the cause, yes TEA 😎 ).

• IF you get nothing in each course that's useful to your future writing, then again, problem.

So, keep in heart the lessons, the readings, and all discussions, because you will need them.

It's from here where you might be able to find your niche.  Attend to your lessons.

Another is, like the Accepted, find an expert and learn from them. It's like an apprenticeship. Being a Research Assistant (RA) or Teaching/Teacher's Assistant (TA) is an example.

And always remember what Cadsuane Sedai said, after graduation is when you truly learn. Hence, after High School graduation, you are a student in college, open your mind and use the previous lessons, don't make them hindrance to fill in your brain. If the muscles of the body get toned by working out, then do the brain workouts.

Let's end today with the quote from the card below. A quote with so many layers. An Adept is someone who has attained expertise (PhD) in a field (a niche). There is often a temptation that makes people arrogant, avoid that temptation. In the quote, don't follow the idea of taking something that is not yours though, let it be a proscription (not to do). Never plagiarize, get your takeaway from the lessons, "the things that will be yours" when you write your own ideas. And make your own ideas, propose them and support them with evidence. That's the essence of an original thesis.

Image from Wizards of The Coast, Inc., https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=4729&type=card