In order to work efficiently, I need to find a good way to work. That is what my supervisor, Professor Pfau, told me to do. I tried several approaches during the last few months. First, I tried to get away from the Internet and work with just paper and pen. All the materials are printed. I read the materials and underline the main points, and then summarize them. That is similar to what I did during the preparation for the CFA and the QE. But it does not work because that method is so static that I got bored. Besides, I have no people to interact with. That is very different from CFA (where I listened to Peter Olinto - a funny guy - giving his lectures) or the QE (where I and my friends formed a group to discuss with each other everyday). So paper and pen only do not work this time.
Next, I tried to create a group to discuss about the research topic that I am now interested in. My senpai, Giang Thanh Long, is already a famous researcher in the field and is very friendly but it is not easy to get contact with him as he is so busy. My two other senpai, Meng and Sisira, are also very good in doing research about retirement portfolios. Unfortunately, they are in fact graduating very soon. Last week I had the first and also last lunch with them together with our supervisor. They refused the 6-month scholarship extension in GRIPS and are defending their thesis this week. Good luck to them! But that means I have no way to create a group similar to what I have to prepare for the Basic QE. I also checked Bayu (he just comes to GRIPS once a week) and other GRIPS students (no one seems to be interested in the topic that I am in). So group work is impossible.
Finally, I turned to this way. I observed that my Supervisor, Professor Pfau, is maintaining a blog so I am planning to do the same. In fact, I am a bit hesitant doing my research via the Internet. I used to be a computer game addict and Internet was, in deed, decrease my productivity, especially when it comes to study. I can easily lose concentration when doing work with computer as it is so easy to switch to surfing news and entertainment website rather than finding information for my study. However, this time it should be different due to some reasons. (1) The urgency: Now I know well that I am lagging behind the schedule and I must to ask for the study extension in GRIPS. Also, as I have 2 CFA exams to pass, I will be left only 14 months for research even if I successfully get the extension. So I will have to stay focus all the time even when I am in Vietnam for the vacations. (2) The commitment: Now I commit to myself to maintain this blog and stick to it everyday, supply it with article reviews, summaries and hopefully new ideas coming along the way. (3) The transparency: As I put the materials related to my research and study on the website I will put my research process under public process (because my supervisor can see my blog so he can scold me if I am lazy. Also it will be easy to see what I am doing for the week, for the month and it will make sure that I am doing research.
So that is my commitment. Let's see if I can make it after 2 years. I believe that with the kind guidance, I can do as well as other students and accomplish the target, i.e. graduate as a Ph.D by September 2013.
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