I have completed my PhD precisely within my scholarship milestone. During this journey, I have experienced profound transformations, akin to the complex process of photosynthesis in plants.
Just as plants produce energy and oxygen by converting carbon dioxide, and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll, my journey involved synthesising new knowledge to advance and complement the existing pool of literature. This transformative process, which I have termed Transformative Phdsynthesis, indicates the synthesis of complex ideas and contributions that define my doctoral experience.
In the following, I explain each component of my Transformative Phdsynthesis in turn.
Challenges
I compare challenges to carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide is a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to ecological and human health. However, carbon dioxide plays a crucial role in sustaining our life through photosynthesis and the carbon cycle.
I understand that challenges made me experience significant stress and burnout that potentially hindered my motivation, progress, and overall well-being. Challenges occurred to me in the form of complex research problems, managing time, or meeting high academic standards. All of these required a huge effort to think critically, develop deep understanding, and determination to overcome with new knowledge contributions. My ability to complete PhD was due to the carbon dioxide of challenges that fostered personal and professional growth, enhancing resilience and problem-solving skills.
Diligence
Diligence is similar to water in photosynthesis.
Water is an essential element in photosynthesis because it provides the hydrogen needed for the conversion of carbon dioxide into glucose and releases oxygen as a byproduct.
To generate byproducts (Knowledge and Enrichment, see below), I realised how continuous water of diligence was important in my PhD journey. I had to remain careful, demonstrate attention to detail, and display consistent effort.
Feedback
Feedback is like the sunlight.
During photosynthesis, sunlight provides the energy to initiate the chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
No matter how much I claimed that I knew, I needed feedback from my supervisors, panels, and reviewers. The sunlight of feedback showed guidance and directions, refinement of ideas, and shaping of my PhD research project on the right track.
GRIT (Gumption, Resilience, Ingenuity, Tenacity)
I compare GRIT to chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll is an important pigment in photosynthesis that absorbs sunlight (energy) which then helps in converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
To capture and absorb the feedback from different experts and convert it into useful energy, I needed the chlorophyll of grit which is composed of four elements: gumption, resilience, ingenuity, and tenacity.
Being gumptious, I remained proactive, determined, and resourceful to complete my PhD despite challenges. With resilience, I was able to bounce back when I was feeling low and endure setbacks with a stronger mentality. The elements of ingenuity helped me adapt to unforeseen learning situations, and handle undesirable turns and twists, and unexpected outcomes. With tenacity, I persistently toiled to progress my PhD even if the process was gruelling and tiring.
Knowledge
Knowledge in the form of a thesis (currently) is akin to glucose production in photosynthesis.
Glucose is an essential source of energy for sustaining plant life, supporting ecosystem dynamics, and contributing to the production of oxygen essential for aerobic respiration.
With my PhD, I gained a deep and specialised understanding of knowledge in the scholarship of social bonds and metacognition (my field of research). My study generated original and novel insights thereby potentially advancing and complementing the existing literature and having practical applications in science teaching and learning.
Enrichment
I compare enrichment with oxygen.
Oxygen is one important element that is indispensable for supporting life, forming an ozone layer to protect against UV radiation, and necessary for the respiratory process.
During my PhD, enrichment occurred in the form of developing my skills, values, and competencies. This oxygen of enrichment was vital for my personal development, intellectual development, and professional development to enable me to work independently and collaboratively. These elements of enrichment continue to be essential in supporting my ongoing growth and transformation into a valuable human being.
