Thread by @Hemmanony

Today I hand in my thesis for the Second Time after undertaking a year of corrections. This is what I have learned. #phdchat #acwri

What I call “pure stubborn will”, others call “strident determination and perseverance”. Reassess your self-talk, give yourself the props you deserve.

A year is both forever and not very long at all. It probably took me about 7 months to fully overcome my grief and gain the perspective I needed to reassess and rework my thesis. In that time I have found a new job, moved city, made new friends and improved my mental health.

Good supervision has the power to make or break your thesis (and you). After 4 years of...less than awesome supervision, the last year with a new team has revolutionised my thesis and my confidence. Make sure you’re getting what you need, and change something if you’re not.

I am more prideful than I though. Literally the only reason I powered through the corrections, and the only reason I’ll undergo another viva, is because I am too prideful to stomach quitting. Stopping would have been better for my health and sanity, but I just couldn’t.

Perspective is everything. For the first six months after my viva, the corrections report made literally no sense. Literally none. Now when I look at it I can see the good points they made. Do I still disagree with some? Sure. But now I can articulate why.

Academia isn’t everything. From the age of about 19 I wanted to be a lecturer, and while I was one, I bloody loved it. But do you know what? I’m - we’re - worth more than zero hours contracts and being treated like shit. There is life outside academia and it doesn’t suck.

I need a hobby! I have had no time for anything but my thesis and/or work in so long, my life is basically empty. When I meet new people I feel like the most boring bastard in the world. I’m sure I used to have interests, it’s time to rediscover them.

Actually, I’m proud of myself. I did the final read-through yesterday and what I’ve created isn’t half bad. And I can see how it has improved since my last submission.

I would never do a PhD knowing what I do now. It’s just not worth it - there are no decent jobs in academia, and very few jobs outside of it require one. Save that shit as a hobby or for retirement, don’t base your life on it.