05 Jun IQ, EQ, and AQ: The Three Ingredients for a PhD

Francis dela Rosa (ESR10)

Hi readers! It’s my blog contribution time again.

Camilo (ESR 8), Sabrina (ESR 9), and I (ESR 10) have similar topics that are related to photocatalysis, and they both already gave great explanations in their blog contributions. The main difference among our studies is only synthetic techniques, catalysts, and pollutants to be degraded for our studies. In this blog I will focus on my personal development and my feeling in a new country.

(For Personal development)

Most people think that PhD is only about IQ (Intelligence Quotient). Well, you indeed need to be prepared to obtain a PhD degree. Still, in my opinion, other factors can contribute to one’s success. Here in Zagreb at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology (FKIT), I can literally say that my EQ (Emotional Quotient) is amazingly upgraded. For instance, my self-management and awareness are improved by having an advanced and detailed schedule for daily lab tasks. I now manage my emotions when something goes wrong in my experiments. I always keep in my mind that tomorrow is another day, and I just need to try and try until I succeed.

Moreover, my social awareness and relationship management are magnificently enriched here in FKIT. Every day, I work with new people inside and outside our department (from Electrochemistry, Reaction Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, and Inorganic Chemistry Department and more to come I think hehehehe). I feel that I am so lucky and blessed that I can always seek help from them. Well, I do agree that doing a PhD is an individual project, but collaboration is also essential for research success.

My AQ (Adaptability Quotient) is also tested and improved during the past months. Yeah, we all know COVID-19, and we had an earthquake here in Croatia last March. Imagine, I am far away from my home country (Philippines), alone, and these uncertain events happen in the middle of my PhD Studies. Well, I survived and learned more on how to focus on my work. I become stronger. As they say, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

(Feeling in new City/Environment)

Here in Croatia I got a chance to know and work with more people as days gone by. I enjoy eating Ćevapi, Sarma, Kobasica, Kulen, Štrukli, and Orada fish. I also appreciate their Rakija. Believe me, Croatian Cuisine is delicious. As a matter of fact, I gain weight, and 4 out of my 6 pants are now tight. So, I think it’s time now to make a diet. Time to eat their Palenta and avoid rice.

You may be wondering why I chose the picture above for this blog contribution. Well, these are all my beautiful colleagues, and together we will achieve our goals for our PhD Studies. They are the living evidence on how I build and improve my IQ, EQ, and AQ along the way.

(Note, we are still not complete in this picture. Insert: Marin K, Marin P, Sara C, Hrvoje, Zvonco, Neda, Prof.Ana, and Prof. Zlata. I think we need to have a department group picture soon. )

It is A WHOLE NEW WORLD indeed…