Jan Jachimowicz

Absolutely.

I had really high expectations for what would happen next.

I had worked really hard on this paper.

In many ways, it was the culmination of my intellectual journey.

And I was so proud to finally see that paper in print.

I was hoping that after that paper would come into press that there would be media attention, that public policy workers would become really interested and excited about what we have found, and that perhaps some change would happen.

But as the days passed, the weeks passed, I heard nothing from nobody.

And that was really challenging for me to deal with.

I mean, looking back, I can say I was overly idealistic, perhaps even naive.

But back then I just remember feeling so shattered because what I had worked so hard for and what should have been a success or what I thought would be a success ultimately just felt so empty.

Nothing followed after that paper went online.

You don't even get the physical copy anymore.

It just appears on a website with your name on it.

And so I remember in the days and weeks afterwards asking myself, why am I doing this?

Like, what is it all for?

I thought I'm doing this research because it could eventually make a difference in the world.

And now I have done the hard part.

I've done the research bit, or that's what I thought.

And now the making a difference bit will be a lot easier.

And so it was challenging for me to then come back the next day and work on all the other research that I had to do.