Surviving to thriving: from PhD to English teacher

It’s been a year since I’ve been in Korea! Can’t believe how quickly this year has gone by and I can’t believe how different I feel from when I first arrived. I think many would have assumed that coming here was easy for me as I have travelled quite a bit, however, coming to teach English was not just some trip abroad or a research stay in another country. I stopped looking for an academic job back home and moved across the world to try something different. For the longest time, I always admired people who went to work abroad, whether it was an English teaching job straight after university or others being granted a job opportunity elsewhere. I admired their bravery as well as the freedom they seemingly had in making that decision to venture off overseas, and consequently what looked like new-found freedom once they were there. Though I enjoyed doing research for many years, I often felt stuck and like something needed to change. This is my story of what led me here.

Celebrating a year in Korea!

Checking out the annual Cherry Blossoms in Jinhae, Changwon city!

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It’s not what it seems

Before coming to Korea, I had spent 2020 doing a prestigious research fellowship in Taiwan and the first half of 2021 looking for a new job back in Cape Town. In the years before, I worked at a research centre at Stellenbosch University as a research analyst while completing most of my post-graduate studies, culminating with a PhD in Political Science. While I was very proud of my achievement, not just for myself but also for my family and community at large, today I feel very different about what that last degree means and the place it holds in my life. After completing my PhD in 2017, there were many changes at my workplace, eventually leading to its closing. 

At the time, I had started a post-doctoral fellowship, which is essentially a period for new PhDs to publish articles from their thesis, promote their expertise and make themselves known in their respective academic field. Because of all the changes (I had worked at the centre for over 10 years, starting as a research intern), I found myself at a low point, feeling lost, stuck and unable to complete the goals or daily tasks I set out to during that period. Attempting to write anything academic was excruciating during this time. I remember just wanting to sit and hide under the table every time I had to open a Word document and begin writing. So, the last few years before coming to Korea were not a good time for me mentally. Though I did complete a few research projects and publications, I can honestly say that I was burnt out and in mental distress most of that period because I could not do what I thought I was supposed to, which was to achieve even more academically than what I already had. 

PhD graduation, Stellenbosch University (2017)

A major milestone for my family too. 

Unmasking my academic achievement

Academia was never easy for me. I struggled with imposter syndrome (“the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills”) and the feeling that I did not belong, nor did I have the intelligence to do what I was doing. Even after achieving the highest qualification I still felt like a fraud in my field and as if I was not worthy of the Dr title or recognition. I constantly questioned myself and sought validation from colleagues or friends as to whether or not I was doing a good job, or whether my work was good enough to be published. I have done many research projects and written many articles that I am extremely proud of but if I reflect on how I felt while writing or working on them, it was a constant battle between confidence and insecurity, and fear of failure or being “caught out” in not knowing what I was talking about.

While many people thrive within the academic world, I think my lack of confidence at the time did not bode well for the path I found myself on. And yet, I completed all of my degrees, with hard work, perseverance and the ability to take on criticism and feedback from my supervisors and mentors. This environment gave me amazing opportunities, which I am forever grateful for. I attended international conferences, I travelled abroad for research; I also became a lecturer, teaching for the first time, both at Stellenbosch and as a guest teacher at universities in China and Taiwan. I also got to learn from and work with some of the best academic mentors in the country and colleagues from around the world. 

At a conference in Zimbabwe in 2013.

Teaching an undergrad class at the University of Kunming in China (my favourite city in China) in 2018

Teaching an undergraduate Politics class at National Cheng-chi University in Taiwan (2020)

Poster of my seminar at NCCU in Taiwan (2020)

The year when everything changed 

I have mentioned before that 2021 was a turning point for me. Among the major life changes that occurred, working with a life coach was probably the most instrumental in getting me to where I am today. Though I was still looking for a research job then, I decided to take some time to just reassess my life and work on myself before the next part of my working life began. I was very fortunate to do so and I don’t take it for granted at all. One of the first things Coach Kurt told me was not to worry about the outcome when it came to finding a job; that God already had it planned and therefore all I had to do was keep working and prepare myself for when it eventually came. The minute he said this I felt a sense of peace, no longer worrying about when or how I would find a job, particularly in research. 

Still, in that year I applied for several research jobs, locally, and internationally. I only managed to get one interview with an institute in London, while the other applications were either not successful or I just heard nothing back. Not hearing back is the hardest to accept, especially when you put so much effort into an application. Academic job applications can sometimes feel like a research project in itself. Not only do you send a CV and personal statement (cover letter), but you also at times have to write an extensive research proposal as well as provide an overview of your academic career, future trajectory and what kind of asset you could be to them. This is all before even getting an interview. Later, it would become obvious that not being successful in any of these were all signs that this was not meant for me.

Coach Kurt! Life coaching was a game changer. Highly recommend for those who want to work on themselves.

Finding what you love to do

While working on myself and trying to get into a better mental space, I began doing many online courses (there's so much available online if you want to learn new skills). In one of our life coaching sessions, I realised that I love helping others edit and proofread their work (research articles, dissertations, essays, etc.) and that this was something I could do to create income while I figured things out. I did many online courses about proofreading, English grammar, editing, etc. in order to update my skills, which eventually led to starting my own editing business, something which I am incredibly passionate about. Some of the highlights of my editing profession have been proofreading book manuscripts, and PhD dissertations as well as guiding and editing students’ personal statements for their post-grad university applications. I truly love helping others get their writing to a final stage. I no longer feel the need to write my own academic articles but find immense joy in helping others do so. 

Reviews and comments from happy clients! :)

It was also during this time that I realised I wanted to go back to Asia as I enjoyed living there and if I could not get a university job then teaching English could be an option. With my background, this was not a simple decision to make as potential judgement and what people thought crossed my mind. I considered how it would look to the outside world, especially those in my field. I felt that perhaps teaching English would look like failure or as someone asked, “have you thought about how some may think of you as not being able to ‘crack it’”, i.e. succeed academically? Choosing to step away from research in what’s supposed to be the stage of your career where you make your name known in your field took a lot of courage. I stepped away and embarked on something completely different but what I thought would let me reset, see the world, and perhaps get some life experience that I had no time for before. And so, after extensive conversations with my life coach, my parents, close friends, my brother (who teaches in Taiwan) and Mbali (who taught English years before), I signed up for a TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign language) course, applied to EPIK and here I am... at the start of my second year of teaching English in Korea!

Calls with my advisors on everything TEFL and working abroad; Mbali and my brother, Grant in Taiwan.

Advice from Kurt back in 2021 LOL :):)

Finally understanding what fulfilling work means

Since teaching in Korea, I have experienced fulfilment through work like never before. Not only do I get so much joy from teaching and time with students but I also uncovered so many new skills. While working as a researcher I always felt like I lacked creativity and good ideas, yet over here my creativity overflows. I research fun lessons and games as well as how to become a better teacher or communicate a message better in my spare time. My creativity and planning for the English vacation programmes also surprised me. I did not know that I could implement a learning programme of culture, language, games and craft-based activities that could keep students entertained. Granted, mistakes were made and some activities went better than others, however, just being able to successfully run it and get positive feedback meant so much to me. 

Initially, I was so worried about English camp but I've had the best time running these holiday programmes!

English winter camp was fun. I used 'Happy Holidays' as the theme for the week.

On a walk to look at the cherry blossoms with students during our English Club period.

This last year has undoubtedly done so much for my confidence and belief in myself. I no longer feel like an imposter nor do I seek validation from others. I am confident in what I do and the work I carry out. I walk into a classroom as if I belong there and nowhere else. This part is the most surprising because when I was younger, I always said I would never be a teacher. I even wrote an Afrikaans essay about it in high school! Yet, here I am thriving in a role I did not know was meant for me.

A final thought…

Not everyone has the same experience as I did as an academic; not everyone feels the same level of anxiety and self-doubt about their writing. However, I do think for many of us, especially those who have studied continuously without a break (for me it was about 12 years), should consider a gap year of doing something different. Also, if you are feeling stuck or get the sense that you are no longer enjoying what you do then consider alternative options (if possible). I won’t sugarcoat any of this and say it was easy. Much thought went into the decision to come here and how my future career will look. However, even with all the change and the challenges that came with the unknowns, it has truly been the best decision I have ever made. I highly recommend trying something different and taking a step back from what isn’t quite working anymore. 

Took a solo trip to Busan in February before school started just to get some ocean views & sunshine.

Pretty views of Haeundae Beach in Busan

Having Pho (Vietnamese dish) with a friend.

As I said before, the PhD holds a very different value in my life today. While I appreciate the title and the hard work I did to get it, I am no longer just Dr Meryl Burgess or Meryl, the China Africa NGO researcher. The Doctorate is just one part of who I am. Today, I am a teacher, editor, writer, blogger, and researcher, with the teaching role taking priority. Now, I go by Meryl Teacher or when students remember my surname, 'Burgess Teacher.' I am incredibly proud of the life I have created here, and as Kurt says, what I have built here has nothing to do with what I did before; this job and whatever success comes from it is separate from my previous career. And what a life I have created… one where I enjoy what I do, am fulfilled and serving in a role with a purpose greater than I could ever have imagined! And with this, I have also begun Korean lessons, thus fully beginning to cement myself in this country and its culture. I never thought I'd join a language class again (after studying Chinese for many years) but life moves and challenges must be accepted!

Korean beginner class! Back in the classroom as a student! :)

As always, thank you for reading and being part of my journey. I hope my story brings comfort to those who are feeling a bit stuck and in need of change. I hope it also inspires those who may be considering making a major change and just need some encouragement. Two years ago, I was writing articles on China, renewable energy and environmental policy. Today, I create Disney song worksheets and lesson plans about interests and healthy habits for teenagers. So, if you're ready for that type of change, I say, "Do It!" :)

Till next time,

Meryl Joy Burgess