Step inside year two of Scott Jennings’ PhD journey—a raw, honest, and unexpectedly dramatic chapter of the Build America Podcast. This episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to pursue a doctorate while juggling a full career in construction.

Scott shares long weekends spent buried in research, late-night study sessions, conference presentations, and the academic pressures no one warns you about. But the biggest twist? After months of work and nearly 300 research papers reviewed… he discovers his planned dissertation topic already exists. Topic rejected. Back to zero.

Instead of quitting, Scott recalibrates, pivots to a new research direction, and finds fresh motivation to push forward. If you’re curious about what the PhD path looks like—especially later in life—or you’re navigating your own academic or career setbacks, this is a must-listen.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What year two of a PhD program actually demands

• The difference between coursework and dissertation reality

• The hidden expectations behind conference papers and presentations

• How Scott handled discovering his dissertation idea was already published

• The new research direction he’s pursuing

• How to stay motivated when your biggest plans fall apart

This episode is part inspiration, part reality check, and all about perseverance.

💬 Connect with Scott Jennings
Website: sjcivil.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-jennings-p-e-1435103
Email: [email protected]

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