Life lately: what it's like working on a PhD

It's high time I share some updates on my professional life with you guys. You might know I'm working on a PhD in Communication Studies at the university of Antwerp. I'm almost six months into my second year (two more years to go after this one ends), and I feel like I'm really coming into my own after a first year which was largely filled with self-doubt.

Writing a PhD is not easy. It will confront you with a lot of your insecurities. You will learn to deal with mostly (but not always!) constructive criticism, and with oscillating between days of empty idleness and months of seemingly endless, repetitive tasks. You will discover a need for the relaxing power of a glass of wine after a long day of work. You will learn how true the words in this image are.

Spoiler alert: so true. And yes, at times, you might feel like you are throwing four years of your life away.

But it will all be worth it when you are accepted for your first international conference, or when you receive your first publication confirmation. The feeling of validation that comes from someone official telling you that people want to hear from you, that what you're doing has significance - that's pretty awesome. And it will make you feel so grateful toward the people who helped mentor you, streamlining your work along the way.

Presenting our research at the Etmaal of Communicatiewetenschap 2015 - apologies for the crappy picture quality!

I don't mean to brag, but I've been on a roll lately. Remember when I told you about submitting my work to a conference taking place in Puerto Rico come May? Well... I was accepted! I feel so incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to present my work at such a dream location. I mean, San Juan. Seriously.


Safe to say, I'm not complaining. It will also be the first time I board a plane in over ten years, and I'm a bit nervous (which will get worse as May gets closer) but mostly very, very excited. My PhD is giving me all these opportunities I would never have had otherwise. Better yet, my boyfriend is accompanying me on the trip! We had been playing with the idea ever since we heard about the conference, and after I got accepted, we went back and forth contemplating whether we could afford it an whether it would be a good idea. And then one day I just looked him in the eye and said "I think we should do it", and he agreed. Definitely us at our most impulsive! So apart from attending conference sessions during the day, I will be enjoying sunsets on the beach with my love. I seriously can't believe how lucky I am.

I feel like 2015 is going to be my year. Now if only I can figure out how to look professional at the tropical temperature of 30°C... But that's subject matter for another post :-)

Do you have any (professional or otherwise) goals for 2015? 

25 comments

  1. Wishing you all the best in Puerto Rico! (And they might be putting their AC on arctic mode inside the conference venue...)

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  2. Thanks! (yeah I know, but that only makes it harder because my outfit should work for both AC and outside conditions! :-D)

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  3. Wow, you are such a badass!! Seems like your PHD program is really difficult but overall very rewarding. Going to Puerto Rico is so neat! I'm sure it will be an amazing experience, can't wait to hear about it :)

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  4. God that is so cool. I am hoping I have the willpower to take on a a PhD later in life. I would feel so cool. I need to finish undergrad first sadly...
    So proud of you, girl. Keep killin it.


    xx
    scarlettandgiselle.blogspot.com

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  5. Leuk om te lezen :-) Lucky boyfriend! Ik ben mijn vriend vorig jaar ook een paar keer gevolgd op congres, ideaal moment om alleen te citytrippen en te ontdekken want de PHD'er in kwestie heeft het supah druk dan :)


    Maryshoppings.wordpress.com

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  6. Hooray! Congratulations on getting to present your work in Puerto Rico. What a great opportunity! After my master's I know I'd never want to go on to get a PhD so I admire you for doing it.


    It's often over 30°C where I live so I understand the struggle. I think a light blouse and pencil skirt with bare legs is good. Then add a cardigan or blazer because you can take that off when you're outside and put it on inside the air conditioning to keep warm. You never really get used to that heat though. At least, I never have!



    Jamie | www.petitepanoply.com

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  7. Congrats! Quick tip, zoals Stefanie hier al zei, internationale congressen (+ bedrijfs diners etc...) zijn slopend en nemen bijna alle tijd in beslag. Misschien zoekt je boyfriend best op voorhand al wat dingen op om alleen te doen... Ofwel blijf je gewoon nog een week langer voor/na het congres.

    Jennifer

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  8. Hey Jennifer! Bedankt voor de tips. We blijven een paar dagen langer en ik heb al een congres in Londen achter de rug dus ik weet ongeveer wel wat ik kan verwachten :-) dit is ook een heel groot congres waar niet elke sessie perse iets tussen zal zitten dat relevant is voor mij, dus als ik vantevoren alles goed plan is het niet zo dat hij elke dag de hele tijd in zijn eentje zal moeten doorbrengen. Zeker aangezien ons hotel op wandelafstand van the venue is. Komt goed!

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  9. Great! Enjoy and kick-ass op je presentatie :)

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  10. woah awesome annebettie! you've come a long way, ben heel erg trots op jouw volhardendheid ;)

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  11. it's the shoes I worry about most! :-D I don't see myself wearing heels (maybe a small wedge), and ballet flats always shred my feet. I pretty much exclusively wear sandals during summer, but sandals don't exactly scream professional :D

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  12. thanks, that's so sweet! I'm very lucky to have this opportunity :)

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  13. Hmm... How about some pointed flats or flat loafers? I would walk to class in the scorching heat all the time in mine. If they're scratchy on the back of your ankle, those back-of-heel cushions help a ton. They just stick on the shoe over the rough part.

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  14. Ah, gotta love adult life, both going to work trips outside of EU soon. Much excited!
    Goed dat Filipje ook mee is :)

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  15. proud of us! waar ga jij heen? :-)

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  16. Zo veel respect voor mensen die een doctoraat schrijven. Even een reminder dat ik niet moet neuten over m'n thesis :P Veel succes met die conferentie in Puerto Rico! :D

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  17. het verschil is wel dat een doctoraat een vrije keuze is, terwijl een thesis min of meer "verplicht" is, dat maakt het wel anders in je ervaring. Maar een thesis valt in the grand scheme of things toch heeeeeel erg mee als uitdaging, hoor :-D het is zo voorbij!

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  18. I definitely want a super comfortable pair of loafers, I'm on the lookout!

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  19. That's amazing, congratulations on being accepted at the conference! I'm just starting a PhD, but we don't have much of a budget for international conferences, so I can probably hope to travel a few hours to London maybe, but no sunny climate for me!! Lucky girl. I hear your concerns about looking professional in the heat, it's something I realised last summer when it was unseasonably warm here in the UK and I realised I didn't have enough hot weather workwear. I will follow with interest to see what solutions you come up with x

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  20. Zalig! Geweldig dat al je harde werk je zo'n leuke mogelijkheden kan opleveren, geniet er ten volle van ;)
    Naomi, x

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  21. Wat een leuk nieuws allemaal! Je mag terecht trots zijn op jezelf en die conferentie in Puerto Rico wordt daar de beloning van!

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  22. Had dit al een hele tijd gelezen op mijn gsm, wou nog even zeggen proficiat met die international conference! Puerto Rico klinkt geweldig :D

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