Life Update and Q&A

Summary

In this candid Q&A session, Ruby shares her significant life updates following her time at Oxford. Initially planning to pursue a PhD, she ultimately decided to withdraw her application due to mental health concerns, emphasizing the importance of timing and personal well-being. Instead, she is embracing a 9-to-5 job that offers new experiences and challenges. Ruby discusses her writing projects, future plans, and the joy of being back home with her family. She also reflects on her favorite Oxford moments, her evolving relationship with writing, and her appreciation for the simple pleasures of life, including her newfound love for tea.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Ruby initially planned to pursue a PhD at Oxford after her Master's but ultimately decided to withdraw her application.
• 😟 She struggled with her mental health during the lead-up to her dissertation, prompting her to reconsider her academic path.
• 💼 Ruby accepted a job that allows her to gain experience outside of academia, providing a refreshing change in her routine.
• 📝 She plans to reapply for her PhD in the future when she feels more prepared and certain about her research interests.
• ✨ Ruby emphasizes the importance of taking the time to reflect on one's goals, especially for significant commitments like a PhD.
• 📹 She is currently balancing her job with personal projects, including consistent YouTube content creation and writing.
• 📚 Ruby is working on multiple writing projects, including a middle-grade book and a dark academia novel, while striving to return to regular writing habits.
• ❤️ She expresses gratitude for being at home and the support she receives from her family during this transitional period.
• 🌟 Ruby shares insights on adult life, highlighting the need to maintain curiosity and wonder, akin to that of childhood.
• ☕ She reflects on her journey with tea, noting her late start in enjoying it and her ongoing relationship with her favorite tea company.

Q & A

What prompted Ruby to consider pursuing a PhD?

Ruby initially had no plans to pursue a PhD, but during her time at Oxford, she developed a passion for her studies and decided she wanted to continue her academic journey.

What led Ruby to withdraw her PhD application?

Ruby withdrew her PhD application due to concerns about her mental health, feeling that she wasn't in the right place to commit to such a significant undertaking at that time.

How did Ruby feel about her decision to withdraw from the PhD program?

Although Ruby found it difficult to make the decision and initially felt conflicted, she ultimately believed it was the right choice for her mental well-being and future academic goals.

What type of job did Ruby accept after withdrawing her application?

Ruby accepted a 9-to-5 job, which provided her with a new experience outside of academia and allowed her to gain practical work experience.

What projects does Ruby plan to work on this year?

Ruby mentioned that she has some fun projects lined up for the year, which she likely wouldn't have been able to pursue if she were doing her PhD.

How does Ruby feel about balancing her new job and her creative projects?

Ruby finds it challenging to balance her new job with her creative projects, including her YouTube channel and writing, but she is hopeful that her routine will improve over time.

What are Ruby's current writing projects?

Ruby is currently working on a middle-grade book and a dark academia novel, both of which she intends to rewrite because she isn't satisfied with her progress on them.

What advice did Ruby's therapist give her about approaching adulthood?

Ruby's therapist advised that adults should strive to retain the wonder and curiosity of childhood while focusing on the positive aspects of being an adult.

What was Ruby's favorite experience at Oxford?

Ruby's favorite experience at Oxford was the Burns Night Celebration at her college, where she enjoyed traditional ceremonies and the overall atmosphere of the event.

How has Ruby's relationship with tea evolved over the years?

Ruby did not like tea until she was about 17 or 18, but her appreciation grew after trying a pumpkin tea from Bird & Blend, which eventually led her to explore various types of tea.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Ruby's Academic Journey and Career Decisions

In this video, Ruby shares a long-awaited life update and answers viewer questions regarding her plans post-Oxford. Initially aiming to transition from her Master’s to a PhD at Oxford, Ruby reveals the difficulty of her decision to withdraw her application. After grappling with mental health challenges, she recognized that it wasn’t the right time to pursue a PhD. Although she had invested considerable effort into her application, she ultimately chose to accept a job opportunity instead, marking a significant shift from her academic focus. Ruby expresses excitement about her current 9-to-5 role, which offers a refreshing contrast to academia and allows her to gain valuable experience. Looking forward, she plans to reapply for her PhD in the next year or two, feeling more certain about her research interests. Additionally, Ruby discusses her ongoing writing projects, including a middle-grade book and a dark academia novel, which she hopes to develop further as she seeks to balance work, YouTube content creation, and her PhD application.

Keywords

💡PhD

A PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is an advanced academic degree that involves conducting original research and contributing new knowledge to a specific field of study. In the video, Ruby initially planned to transition directly from her Master's to a PhD at Oxford, indicating her strong commitment to academia and her desire to deepen her expertise. However, she ultimately decided against it due to concerns about her mental health and the timing of the commitment.

💡Mental Health

Mental health refers to a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being, impacting how they think, feel, and act. Ruby discusses her struggles with mental health during her final month at Oxford, which played a crucial role in her decision to withdraw her PhD application. This highlights the importance of mental well-being in making significant life choices and the pressures faced by students in high-stakes academic environments.

💡Application Process

The application process for a PhD typically involves submitting detailed proposals, personal statements, and previous academic records to demonstrate eligibility and research interests. Ruby elaborates on the effort she put into her PhD application, describing it as an intense and time-consuming endeavor. This process underscores the competitive nature of higher education and the significant personal investment involved.

💡Career Change

A career change involves transitioning from one profession to another, often requiring new skills or experiences. Ruby's decision to accept a 9-to-5 job instead of pursuing her PhD represents a significant shift in her career path. This decision allows her to gain practical work experience and explore new opportunities outside of academia, which she finds refreshing and beneficial.

💡Writing Projects

Writing projects encompass any creative or academic writing endeavors, often requiring dedication and time to develop. Ruby mentions her ongoing work on a middle-grade book and a dark academia novel, illustrating her commitment to writing despite recent challenges. Her desire to rewrite both projects emphasizes the importance of persistence and refinement in the creative process.

💡Adult Life

Adult life refers to the stage of life characterized by greater independence and responsibilities, including work, relationships, and personal growth. Ruby reflects on the challenges of adulthood, emphasizing the need to maintain childlike wonder while navigating adult responsibilities. This perspective encourages a balanced approach to personal development, which is an essential theme in her discussion.

💡Oxford University

Oxford University is a prestigious institution known for its rigorous academic programs and historic significance. Ruby shares her experiences at Oxford, including her love for the libraries and the supportive collegiate system. Her connection to Oxford is a central theme in her narrative, illustrating both her aspirations and the emotional complexities of leaving such a cherished environment.

💡YouTube Channel

A YouTube channel is a platform for individuals to create and share video content with an audience. Ruby's commitment to maintaining her YouTube channel reflects her desire to connect with her audience while balancing her new job and future academic pursuits. This aspect of her life demonstrates her passion for content creation and engagement with followers.

💡Creative Balance

Creative balance refers to the ability to manage various creative pursuits alongside personal and professional responsibilities. Ruby discusses her challenges in balancing her job, YouTube content, and writing projects, showcasing the demands of managing multiple commitments. This theme resonates with many individuals striving to find harmony between work and creative passions.

💡Tea Culture

Tea culture encompasses the traditions and practices surrounding the consumption of tea, which can vary greatly across different societies. Ruby mentions her evolving relationship with tea, particularly her journey from disliking it to enjoying it regularly. This personal anecdote illustrates how preferences can change over time and adds a relatable, light-hearted element to her narrative.

Highlights

Ruby initially planned to pursue a PhD immediately after her Master's degree.

She applied for her PhD in December after spending the Christmas holidays working on the application.

Ruby was accepted into the PhD program at Oxford, which was her dream university.

Despite her excitement, Ruby faced mental health challenges that influenced her decision to withdraw her application.

Ruby struggled with the emotional weight of withdrawing her application after being accepted.

She plans to reapply for the PhD in the future, feeling she rushed her application process.

Currently, Ruby is working a 9-to-5 job three days a week, which she finds enjoyable.

Ruby discusses the challenge of balancing her job, YouTube projects, and planning her PhD application.

She is working on a middle-grade book and a dark academia novel but is not satisfied with her current drafts.

Ruby emphasizes the importance of maintaining childhood curiosity while navigating adulthood.

Her top choice for a PhD program remains Oxford due to its resources and academic environment.

Ruby is currently reading 'Fortnight in September' by R.C. Sherriff, which she describes as charming.

She expresses gratitude for being back at home with her family and highlights their strong relationship.

Ruby recalls her favorite Oxford experience, the Burns Night celebration, as a memorable event.

She shares her late introduction to tea, starting with jasmine tea before expanding her preferences.

Transcripts

hello it's Ruby and today I'm going to

be doing a very long overdue Life update

and Q&A um I've got so many questions

since leaving Oxford about what my plans

are for this year what I'm doing next so

my initial plan for this year had been

to do PhD um and I applied for it back

last January so finished first term and

spent basically the whole of the

Christmas holidays working on my

application for my PhD um it was like

every single day I was working on it

when I started Oxford I had no plans of

actually even doing a PhD like I was

going to do the Masters and then I

didn't know what I was going to do after

that but I wasn't planning on going into

Academia and then when I was at Oxford I

was like oh my gosh I love this so much

I really want to do a PhD and so I

started working my PhD application and I

submitted an application in December

ready to start in September and then and

literally I didn't talk about any of

this I'm really sorry all of this is

quite new but um I then got accepted

onto the PHD program at Oxford which was

crazy mind-blowing so my plan had been

to go straight from my Master's into my

PhD and the whole way through the year

that's what I thought I would do but

obviously here we are in October and I'm

not at Oxford I'm um in Step working

basically like this was this was one of

the hardest decisions I think I've had

to make um because doing the PHD and

staying in

Oxford was the most appealing thing and

it makes me giddy with with excitement

like as I as I think about it now it

makes me excited it makes me me um like

I and part of me really really wishes

that I was there in Oxford at the moment

but ultimately in the final month before

my dissertation was due my mental health

was just really not in a good place um

and I was really struggling with my

mental health and I was looking towards

the future I was looking towards like

doing the PHD um in September and I just

didn't feel like I could do it um

considering where my head was I just

didn't think it was the right idea

and so I made the really difficult

decision to withdraw my application um

which I still kind of can't believe I

did I put off doing it so so much like

I'd sit down in the evening and I'd say

okay I'm going to with my application

tonight and then I just wouldn't do it

because I was so on the fence about it

and the idea of withdrawing an

application like when I've been accepted

into my dream University felt so like

ridiculous so this is my

application uh that's here's my Master's

application and then here's my Dill

congratulations on completing your offer

um but I'm actually going to withdraw it

I spent such a long time on the

application for my defa over the

Christmas holidays like it was very

intense thought about it so much and I'm

going to withdraw my application and

reapply next year or in a couple of

years instead um just because I don't

feel like now was the right time to do

it and I think I Rush my application too

much got a job light up which I've

accepted which means I w't be able to do

the anyway um but I've been putting off

doing the actual withdrawal of my

application because like part of me

can't believe I'm actually withdrawing

it by withdrawing application you're

confirming no longer should be

considered for a place you will not be

able to apply to the schooles again in

the admissions Cycles this is like

permanent I

know um and then it's asking me to

[Music]

withdraw crazy like I don't know and

just like all of the information coming

through and everything and I'm getting

all of these emails from Oxford saying

that we can't wait to welcome you and

like part of me is excited and wants to

go and just wants to accept the offer

but I know I know in my heart that it's

like a bad idea and that I shouldn't I

just know you know when you kind of you

have a gut sense and I don't often go

with my gut I usually go with my head

but I'm really trusting my gut on this

one and I feel like there have been so

many signs that I shouldn't I shouldn't

do the def this year so I'm going stick

stick with my thoughts okay 3 two 1

submit are you sure you want to withdraw

your application for def

English I don't know why it feels so

such a big deal okay

yes withdrawn around the same time I was

also offered a job and so I basically

made the decision to not do the PHD this

year and instead to work this year and

then

next year to apply for a PhD um so I'm

kind of in the process at the moment of

putting together my application again um

and I also think it was a really good

idea to wait because my application has

changed and I just feel like more

certain about what I want to study which

is important and I kind of rushed into

it a little bit and I don't think you

should do that with PhD application

because obviously it's three whole years

of your life that you're dedicating

towards this one thing and so I think it

was the right decision that I made

ultimately even though it was a hard one

and that brings us on to this year so as

I say I've got 9 to 5 3 days a week and

I'm really enjoying it so far um it's

like incredible fun I also do like how

it's very different to Academia and it

feels like a break from Academia but

also I'm gathering good experience and

it's really nice to kind of get

experience working a 9 to5 because jobs

that I've had in the past have never

been 9 to5 in person and this is so it's

very different and I'm enjoying the

challenge of it even though it is and

can be quite training yep so that is my

life update um and I'm not going to

answer some question questions um I feel

like there was like kind of a lot there

it's also cool because I've got some fun

projects lined up for this year and I

probably wouldn't have been able to do

those if I were doing PhD it's funny

because I do feel like so busy at the

moment um like over the summer I had

such a restful summer because I was so

burnt out after doing the master's

degree but now I started my job and I

just feel like it's really hard to like

balance everything at the moment um and

so I'm really trying my best to keep on

top of creating consistent YouTube

videos stationary company and then job

and PhD appli

and I'm hoping that my routine will get

better going forward because it's been a

little bit ha Hazard but I think it's

going to get better I'm sure it will um

question number one do you think you

will still be an influencer in 20 years

I would be very surprised if I was what

are you writing fiction SL novel wise um

this is a really good question and um

I've got to say that writing has really

fallen on the Wayside recently um I

meant to write all summer and then I

didn't because I was really burnt out as

I say um so at the moment though I just

kind of turned back to the writing

projects that I had on the go beforehand

and I'm currently working on a middle

grade book and also a dark Academia

novel and I've been working on these

both for quite some time um but I'm

still not happy with them and so yeah

it's kind of like an ongoing process and

I'm about to start a rewrite of both

like I want to write them entirely again

because I'm not happy with them so

that's where I am and I'm really trying

to get back into consistent writing

again because I really fell off as I say

how do you find yourself in an adult

life I think the important thing about

approaching adult life is to still

approach it with the Wonder and

curiosity that you have when you're a

child I hate that so many people lose

that my therapist said something really

insightful and so I'm going to share

with you um she said it's so funny when

people grow up they tend

to like lose the good parts of being a

kid and gain the bad parts of being an

adult as opposed to focusing on the good

parts of being an adult and then trying

to retain the good parts of being a kid

and I think that's what we should all

strive to do

where are you thinking of applying for

your PhD my Top Choice where I really

want to study is Oxford um because I

loved Oxford so much and I love all the

libraries and there are also resources

there which will be really really

helpful with what I want to study what

are your favorite books what are you

currently reading I've got a whole video

on like my top 200 favorite books which

really I need to update at this point

because I filmed that two years ago and

there are at least like 30 more that I

could add um what I'm am I currently

reading at the moment though I'm reading

fortnite in September by RC sheriff and

oh my gosh it's so good it's basically

like the most slow paced and mundane

book a little bit like die over with

nobody but more Charming it's this

family that's going on their yearly

family holiday they take it for 2 weeks

every September and they go to the same

Seaside place and it's just like going

through the motions of a family trip and

I love that nothing really goes wrong

like it's not like there's a big plot

twist or anything it's just like the

Simplicity and the beauty of a family

trip and um it's so wonderful are you

doing a yearly planner next year yes

that will be coming in December which is

very exciting and so it's basically like

the academic planner but it's instead um

like running from January to December

and the spreads aren't quite so academic

so it's tailored more for people who

aren't in education but you could also

use it in education how is it to be back

home I'm really enjoying it um and I

really like being at home um like I love

being at home I know that it's such a

huge privilege to be able to stay at

home and I feel very lucky I feel very

grateful that I can um and yeah I'm

really enjoying being at home I get on

very well with my family and I'm very

lucky to get on very well with my

parents and so um yeah I'm just really

enjoying being back after being like at

Uni last year absolute favorite Oxford

experience that's such a great question

I've got to say one thing I absolutely

loved was the burns Night Celebration

that we had at Jesus um and I went with

one of my closest friends we just had

such a great time like um was laughing

so much everything was just like and it

was also just like the most incredible

ceremony um it was all done

traditionally and um somebody came out

like shaking these I think they were

vodka bottles I'm not entirely sure and

then um they sang this poem by rabbie

Burns and um someone played a bagpipe it

was really really incredible and um just

like felt kind of unreal how's Lola

Lola's very good actually she's quite

poly today because she jumped up on the

side and ate a whole macro last night

but other than that she's doing very

well where do you buy your beautiful

stamps I buy my postage stamps from

Royal mayil direct you can just like

look on their special Collections and

they are all the same price as normal

ones so you should always buy special

collection ones

and my other stamps like press stamps I

love to get them from newly Bird that's

probably my favorite place but I often

buy them on eBay too if you could would

you live in the Victorian era no because

I was just so much wrong with life then

there are parts that I definitely

romanticize that's not to say that the

whole period can be romanticized um like

there were very very serious problems um

in terms of like discrimination

inequality and Healthcare Etc so no I

would not like to live in Victorian

period for people who love J now what

other books should they read that are

similar um you should try Rebecca by

dafhne deoria I would say that that's

the most similar one I'd also recommend

glass towns which is a graphic novel in

ired by the juvenil of Charlotte Bronte

have you ever been insecure about your

personal style um I have been because I

mean this is quite normal like I

wouldn't I wouldn't feel insecure going

out in this but in the past I have had

people say some semi- nasty things about

what I'm wearing when I was younger when

I was at school I did have some people

saying quite like semi mean things about

the things I would wear and that did

make me feel insecure but not to the

extent that I actually would change what

I would wear um um I mean sometimes I do

feel insecure if I go into a space and

I'm dressed very differently from other

people but I am quite comfortable with

it and um I very much believe in like

wearing things just because you like

them and so I think just like that

General approach is able to keep some of

the insecurity at they but sometimes I

feel uncomfortable definitely I feel

uncomfortable is it easy to make friends

at Oxford University what does life look

like there I found it easier to meet new

people than I did at ex and that's

because the classes are very small like

on the Masters we had 15 people I think

it was 15 in our cohort and we had

classes with those people so inevitably

you grew to get to know like the people

in your cohort and then separately from

that even without signing up any

extracurriculars you meet people in

college um because it's a Collegiate

system you've got all of these different

colleges at Oxford University and so I

was at Jesus and um like I met you just

meet people through your college because

you're seeing them around every day and

there aren't that many people per

college I think there were like 400

students in Jesus okay I'll answer one

more because I'm going up to London with

my mom and I will be late if I don't at

what age did you start drinking tea and

caffeinated tea so I actually really did

not like tea until I was about 18 which

is kind of crazy I can't believe I was

so no maybe 17 I was in year 13 which is

actually quite late I absolutely hated

tea before that unless it was jasmine

tea I like loved jasmine tea and I

started drinking jasmine tea when I was

eight um but that was the one that I

would drink funny enough it was bird and

blend that got me into tea um because

and this was back when it was called

like Sky Bird or something it used to be

called something else and my dad would

pass the shop every day on his way to

work and so he looked in the window and

he saw that they had a pumpkin tea and I

loved pumpkin so he he brought it home

he brought home this like pumpkin tea

for me and I tried it and I really liked

it and that's when I got into like tea

Beyond jasmine tea um so yeah which is

quite which is quite quite fun

especially because B blend is now my

favorite Tea Company and I've worked

with them and um released a tea with

them so very bizarre but I got properly

into tea I would say when I was about

like 19 like that was when I started

drinking tea religiously and a lot of

the time but anyway thank you so much

for watching this video um I hope

that you I don't I never like to say I

hope you enjoyed watching when it's Q&A

cuz that just feels weird but thank you

for watching and I hope that you have

more than just a productive PE