I'm observing my peers,
Out in the world, finding their gears.
When they inquire about me,
"I'm deep in a PhD,
Solar thermal engineering, you see."
"Hey, I hear you've moved up the block.
What's this thing called a 'postdoc'?"
When they touch base with me,
"Well, I've got some money,
But stability still eludes me."
A house, a partner, so much I've missed,
But it's not too late, I persist.
When they check in with me,
"If I give up now I'll never make it
If I get off this train I'll be rejected."