Beyond PhD survival guides: reflections on finding 'joy in the journey'

Abstract

A plethora of tips, hints and tales of survivor success are readily available to the advice-hungry PhD student. Much attention is given to survival strategies, suggesting the path to success has many trials and tribulations to surmount along the way. Perhaps, a greater emphasis on how to enjoy the richness of the research experience would be a welcome shift in perspective? The PhD community is a diverse one and each student will have their own set of unique challenges and opportunities. Nonetheless, the lived experiences of others may offer some useful insights. In this presentation a recent PhD graduate reflects on how she managed to both survive and find 'joy in the journey'