Ming Ying Lisa Chu-Weininger

Growing up in Hong Kong, where higher education opportunity was scarce, I started working after high school. Seventeen years later, it was like a dream come true. Encouraged by my sister-in-law and younger brother, I enrolled in the Hong Kong University as a “mature student” in art history. What courage it took to go into art history when there is little or no money to be earned! However, it did open opportunities for graduate study.

My PhD is in public health management and policy sciences, and I have minors in epidemiology and biometry. I had my health services and health outcomes postdoctoral fellowship and applied for faculty jobs. I had phone interviews, but I was not a good fit for those jobs. With no impending work, my husband talked me into finishing a seventh master’s degree in statistics from the University of Houston-Clear Lake in May 2009 and an eighth master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Houston-Central Campus in May 2010.

After 17 years of nonstop higher education, I had collected a BA, PhD, and eight American-accredited master’s degrees. Of them all, the master’s degree in statistics is the one I enjoyed most. I am not a natural in statistics or quantitative methods and tried to stay away from them, but research challenges keep bringing me back.

I remember spending an entire spring break trying to finish the take-home part of the sampling design examination, compelling me to read the entire textbook. I presented my thesis-equivalent statistical consultation project almost flawlessly, anticipating every possible question. The statistics department chair was pleased with the quality of my work, saying, “It was like a very well done faculty interview presentation!”

I don’t know if I’ve earned my keep. After all these degrees, I owe my husband a great deal. What a time to finish school and try to find a job. I sent out application after application, not knowing whom I was competing with or whether I was over-qualified or under-qualified. I wondered if I would ever find a job.

I had the opportunity to ask a virtual crystal ball whether I would make a breakthrough with my current efforts. The crystal ball replied, “Yes, but keep working very hard.” Finally, I received an offer to teach a statistics course at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

I welcome any comments at chuweininger@hotmail.com.