Transformative Phdsynthesis: Part 2

 My experience of embarking on a PhD journey was both challenging and transformative.

Challenging because I had to cope with difficult intellectual and emotional demands while navigating through complex research problems and moving beyond known boundaries of current literature to develop my original contributions of knowledge. Due to the length and nature of this rigorous academic demand, it was intellectually tiring and emotionally draining, which put my resilience and perseverance to an acid test. 

 

Despite these challenges, my PhD journey was deeply transformative. Based on this experience, I argue why my article is titled, Transformative Phdsynthesis Part 3 🤭. A PhD leads to a remarkable achievement not only in terms of academic scholarship but also in terms of developing personal growth and significant soft skills (e.g., critical thinking, problem-solving skills, resilience, and adaptability). I realised how resilient I was in navigating the rigorous academic journey and appreciated that I was able to complete it. Now, I have developed a profound respect and admiration for those who have completed their PhD – not because I have done it but because I understand the profound transformation it entails.

 

In pursuing PhD, I realised that identifying challenges was one thing but understanding how to mitigate those challenges was quite another. That is why, I was very cautious in balancing my area of control, out of my control, and the area of influence (see Figure below). 

 

Understanding the areas within my control helped me to manage them effectively and experience meaningful progress. Identifying the factors beyond my control facilitated me to make appropriate mitigations and prevent unnecessary shocks and setbacks. Knowing the area of influence reminded me to advance with a more balanced approach to achieving academically and personally. 

 

In My Control 

I identified that some of the following things were in my control: 

 

Self-motivation

Keeping the flame of self-motivation was crucial for me. I achieved this by constantly encouraging myself and drawing inspiration from my role models. Drawing from the knowledge I learned during the Young Professional Leadership Program, I nurtured a robust growth mindset. I believed that, when others can, I can.  

 

Health and Wellbeing

Taking care of my health (physical & mental) was my topmost priority although I faced challenges along the way. I reminded myself that a healthy person without a PhD can survive but a doctorate without good health would be miserable to imagine. That’s why, self-care habits such as going for evening walks, sleeping on time, and managing stress were consciously practised. I also sought support from healthcare professionals when needed. 

 

Feedback and Improvement

Seeking feedback from my supervisors helped me to advance my PhD progress. However actively seeking input in the form of normal conversation from my seniors, peers, and close friends allowed me to identify blind spots and areas for improvement. For example, discussing my work with some of my friends in related fields led to constructive criticism that mostly transpired in knowledge co-elaboration.

 

Time Management

Focusing on my primary purpose (i.e., to pursue PhD), I dedicated my time solely to it. Although it was challenging to juggle between academics, personal, family, and social life, I did it. I attended social gatherings to take much-needed breaks from the constant study. I did not stress over covering what I missed when I was at such gatherings. To make up for the lost time, I set small and realistic goals to progress. I minimised procrastination or drowning in the sea of social media which often diverted my focus to my study. 

 

Work Habit

I identified that establishing a good work habit (focusing on the required work) requires a conducive environment. I preferred working from home. The COVID-19 pandemic has further limited my mobility. But having a fixed work environment (a separate room) at home helped me easily locate things and track progress. I developed a discipline to work constantly and consistently even if the progress I made was very minimal. For example, at times, I struggled to complete a single paragraph after a full day of effort 😥🥺.  

Out of My Control 

            Not everything progresses as planned. The unexpected is bound to happen and preparation for it is crucial. I had some issues that were out of my control as discussed below: 

Research Results

Even with a rigorous plan and timeline for execution, outcomes can be unpredictable. My initial plan was to use an ethnomethodological face-to-face interface to collect data in Bhutan. However, the COVID-19 outbreak suddenly altered my plans. Since my research results depended on various factors such as data collection processes and the availability of the participants as proposed, my research outcomes were impacted. This led to frustrations and disappointment, creating anxiety about achieving my PhD milestones.

Supervisors’ Feedback

Supervisors provide feedback based on their experience, backgrounds, and expectations. The feedback would be favourable, unfavourable, and occasionally unpredictable, calling for significant revisions. Favourable feedback boosted my confidence. Unfavourable feedback was depressing and gave me feelings of helplessness and demotivation. However, I took a challenge to improve my personal and professional development regardless. 

Institutional Policies

Regardless of how well-established the institutional regulations were, the COVID-19 epidemic led to changes in policy, implementation, and resource allocation. Even if it appeared minor changes, some adjustments caused anxiety and impeded my progress. For example, the workspace for PhD students was changed due to the pandemic, and I had to switch workspace three times. My lack of a fixed workspace required me to move my study materials along with me. Considering the safety during the pandemic, I opted to study in my apartment. I remain grateful to my university for all support services (e.g., library access from home). 

Anonymous External Reviewers

As required, my thesis was sent to anonymous external reviewers following the Final Seminar for a window period of 3 months. Reviewers are specialists from other universities who are experts in my research field. Due to their wide experiences and expertise, they provided thorough, objective, and critical evaluations of my thesis. The long wait during the review period was nerve-wracking because unfavourable feedback could necessitate substantial revisions and impact my eligibility for graduation with a PhD.

Technology Failure

Unexpected technology glitches were beyond my control. Such failures caused significant disruptions, leading to stress, frustration, and delays in progress and overall productivity. For example, my one-year-old Mac started overheating intensely during data analysis, forcing me to replace it with a brand-new one. Likewise, a huge volume of data required me to purchase qualitative data analysis software from the UK through a friend. 

Global Phenomena (e.g., COVID-19)

My PhD journey began in 2020 when COVID-19 infection was surging. Nearly a year and a half later, international borders closed. My original proposal included plans to collect data from Bhutan by personally involving myself using video methods. However, I had to revise this plan to an online synchronous mode. The closure of schools due to the pandemic also made me anxious about the availability of research participants for my study. Fortunately, my research was conducted during a brief period when schools reopened after the pandemic subsided, but this window was short-lived. I realised that any phenomenon with a global impact could unpredictably affect my study, creating a sense of uncertainty and helplessness that significantly impacted my emotional well-being and disrupted study timelines. 

Influence Zone  

While juggling the issues that were within and beyond my control, I found that there were certain areas where I could leverage to my advantage even if complete control over the factors themselves was impossible. I call this the Influence Zone.

Learning Opportunities

I engaged in various learning opportunities that were mostly free. Actively participating in those learning opportunities in the form of workshops, seminars, and online courses, enriched my knowledge and skills. 

However, not all learning opportunities were equally accessible or relevant. A times, I encountered resource limitations (e.g., especially time). Often, certain opportunities did not align well with my research needs. Even if the learning opportunities were free, identifying irrelevant opportunities was crucial to avoid information overload and maintaining focus on my work. 

Feedback and Improvement

The iterative process of receiving feedback from supervisors, peers, and experts was crucial in refining my research approach and progressing my PhD. 

I learned that feedback for any academic work could entail subjectivity and vary significantly. At times, the part of my work that was rated acceptable and approved in earlier phases of a milestone was still deemed inadequate in subsequent phases by panels and reviewers. However, having immersed myself exclusively in my research for four years, I gained the necessary motivation and confidence to navigate those differences. All the feedback I obtained was instrumental in making me think outside of the box. 

Collaboration Dynamics

Although my PhD research was an individual project, building strong professional rapport with supervisors and peers significantly enriched my research experience. Collaborative efforts resulted in an exchange of resources, ideas, and support, creating a more productive and innovative learning environment. 

I identified that collaboration dynamics were influenced by multiple factors (e.g., personality, differing work styles, language, and culture). For example, as English was not my first language, communicating nuanced or intended meaning often posed challenges.  However, these experiences provided valuable opportunities to learn how others use English in academic and communication contexts, thereby enhancing my communication skills during collaboration.

Summary 

Identifying the factors within my control during my PhD journey helped me to maintain focus, resilience, and steady (even if it was slow) progress despite challenges. Prioritising self-motivation, health, feedback, time management, and good work habits significantly contributed to overall well-being. 

Out-of-control factors aroused a range of undesirable emotions (e.g., stress, frustration, anxiety, and demotivation), making things appear unpredictable, unstable, and challenging to remain focused and positive. Acknowledging these factors were beyond my control helped me develop coping strategies and focus on aspects of the PhD journey that I could manage, thereby maintaining a healthier emotional state.

Recognising the Influence Zone (e.g., learning opportunities, feedback, and collaboration dynamics) allowed me to maximise their benefits while being mindful of potential obstacles. By carefully navigating these factors, I could focus on actionable steps to leverage the opportunities they present, and choose a balanced approach, rather than feeling overwhelmed, and eventually completed my PhD 💪.