Thread by @Paul_Merkes

[1/14] PhD completion thread

Boy this is weird…

🤓Since 2016 I lived in Perth Australia where I worked on my #PhD day in, day out. After I send-off my PhD thesis to the reviewers at the end of February, I traveled back to the Netherlands to see my family and friends

#phdchat

[2/14]

❌After 2 weeks, the Netherlands (almost) closed everything due to #COVID19 and so did @WAGovernment & @ausgov. Meaning I’m still stuck in the Netherlands and I have no idea when I can travel back home because I’m on a student visa.

[3/14]

✍️I was (still am) planning to apply for a new visa after I complete my PhD but I can only apply for this visa when I’m in Australia and within the first 6 months after graduation.

[4/14]

🙏A few months back, I received comments from my reviewers. Main message was: ‘passed, subject to minor amendments being made to the satisfaction of the principal supervisor’.

Thank you @inigomujika_en, @fredgrappe & @JamesHopker!

[5/14]

✍️I finished the amendments within 2 weeks. However, since I wasn't able to return to Australia and didn’t know when that would be I delayed this process until the due date 6 weeks later, mid-June.

[6/14]

😀The board of examiners met Tuesday and I haven't heard anything so far. When I woke up this morning, I noticed a lot of messages on my phone. My friends were congratulating me for completing my PhD. Apparently, this was announced in the school’s weekly newsletter.

[7/14]

⁉️It is weird because I didn’t receive a personal email. It is weird that I’m in the Netherlands and not in Australia. It is weird that I can’t celebrate this milestone with the people who were there the last 4 years. But it is cool I can celebrate it with my family.

[8/14]

❓People often ask me if doing a PhD is hard. I always answer, you have to be motivated and enjoy what you do. It is not hard, only mentally. However, the last few months in the Netherlands have been mentally harder than my PhD has been.

[9/14]

🚴🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️I never started my PhD because I wanted the degree. I started it because I want to work in high performance cycling and this PhD gave me the opportunity to work with @MitcheltonSCOTT & @GreenEDGEconti. For which I’m grateful.

[10/14]

🙏Thank you to my supervisors for giving me this opportunity and your support in the past 4 years! I can't thank you enough.

@AbbissC @MenaspaP

[11/14]

🧑‍🎓🎓Having said that, I am proud of my education history.

✅2016-2020 - Doctor of Philosophy sport science (@EdithCowanUni)
✅2012-2014 - Master of Science sport science (@univgroningen)
✅2011-2012 - Pre-Master human movement science (@univgroningen)

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✅2010-2011 - Minor outdoor management (@hanze)
✅2007-2011 - Bachelor of Education physical education (@HANnl)
✅2001-2007 - Secondary education pre-university (@canisiusbd)
✅1993-2001 - Elementary school (@BSBiezenkamp)

[13/14]

If you are interested in the thesis, it can be found here:

ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2315/

[14/14]

🧑‍🎓🤓I guess I will never stop learning but it is time to go and do some work now.