My first semester as a graduate student at San Jose State University reassured me that pursuing a career in academic philosophy was the right choice. A common question when committing to graduate school is, Am I making the correct choice? While I still do not know what the future holds, the spring of 2024 taught me that no matter where my academic career takes me, I will never regret the experience I have gained just by trying.
Before returning to school, I worked as a file clerk in a law firm, a job I did not enjoy. Most work is about earning a paycheck, not living by your principles or engaging with your community to question their actions. I initially chose not to pursue graduate school because I was not sure if my love for philosophy would translate into success in a professional career. Even when I applied to the program, I still had doubts. So, I decided to treat my first semester as a trial run to determine if I had made the right decision.
With this in mind, I seized the opportunity to attend the APA conference with my department. I wanted to immerse myself in the experience during my first semester and get a sense of what life as a professor of philosophy would be like.
One experience that particularly stood out to me was during the Invited Symposium on Philosophy and Higher Education. The panelists discussed why they chose philosophy and what makes the discipline uniquely valuable for students. While many insightful answers were shared, Jeanine Schroer’s response resonated most with me. She explained that philosophy gave her an edge in her fight against racism. Schroer argued that philosophy’s focus on argumentation and its adaptability to research across disciplines prepared her to stand her ground in the face of gaslighting and microaggressions. Because she could thoroughly research and respond to arguments that obscure or deflect from the original issue, she was fearless in confronting struggles head-on as a philosopher. This fearlessness inspired me to face my own challenges with the same resolve. Whether I succeed or fail, I want to face it head-on.
I believe philosophy is more than an academic discipline; it is a lifestyle and a conscious choice to live with mindful intent. I have decided to approach the rest of my career with this mindset. My first semester was a success because I was willing to try and be vulnerable. If I had not taken that risk, I would have never attended the APA conference or found a community I wanted to be a part of. Now it makes me laugh when I think of people who once told me that philosophy was meaningless; they could not have been more wrong. Philosophy does not need an armchair anymore.
Sol Ashlynn
Sol Ashlynn is a graduate student and instructional student assistant for the Philosophy department at San Jose State University. Her research focuses on Philosophy of Psychology, Philosophy of Law, Metaphilosophy, Philosophy of Disability, and Feminist Philosophy.
