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?