Getting a PhD is no easy feat. Doing so as an international student is even more challenging, but also 10 times more rewarding.
I was 23 when I left for the US to pursue my PhD in economics. I was a graduate, eager to escape my small, stifling community in Pakistan and explore uncharted territories. All I knew was that I wanted to learn more about the world, ask more questions, craft compelling stories from what I learned, and share them with others. I had no particular research field in mind and no work experience.
I am 28 now and have graduated with my PhD. I am also grateful to have obtained a tenure-track position at a liberal arts college in the United States – more than I ever expected to achieve at this stage.
Obtaining a PhD degree is not the end goal at all; it is just the beginning of a learning journey.
For many PhD programmes, coursework usually lasts for two years, followed by three years of research. That’s where the real challenge begins. I was good at coursework because I had been a student all my life. I operated on schedules, exams, and grades, and my brain worked accordingly. Suddenly, after two years of coursework, things fell silent.
There were no exams, no classes and no deadlines. That’s where discipline comes in. It’s difficult to master, but not impossible. The following are four key approaches to navigating your PhD journey.
Discipline
You have to be disciplined to set your own routine. Schedule meetings and allocate specific times for your research, just like class time. Remove distractions and set yourself mini deadlines to make sure you are staying on track. I found setting a routine to be the most fulfilling task.
I would describe myself as a procrastinator, someone who works fervently only a few days before deadlines are due. I am not proud of it and I’ll be honest, being a procrastinator while forcing yourself to be disciplined is an everyday battle. Discipline requires you to constantly push yourself to work even when you’re demotivated. But it does get easier over time when you create a schedule for yourself.
Failures
There will be failures. I hit many walls in my research projects. I gave up on one of my projects for a while and buried myself in other projects, which also hit walls. Then I returned to my previous project, pushed myself through, and tried to break the wall.
And guess what? It worked. Patience and perseverance. You will hit walls in your research. You will have to redo work over and over again. But something good will come of it. You will learn something, find a solution, or generate a new idea. After hitting many walls, I don’t feel like I wasted time.
Instead, I am grateful to have learned useful skills such as map making, spatial analysis, and the tedious work of digitising historical data. My research centres on historical data and maps – data that is very difficult to obtain. The more difficult the work, the more rewarding it was. You want your research and your degree to mean something.
Support
People will tell you that a PhD is an isolating journey. This is true, especially for an international student, but it does not and should not have to be. You need to remember that a PhD isn’t an individual accomplishment. It is your accomplishment as a result of the support you have received from your advisor, your co-authors, your family, and your friends.
Without that, I don’t think I would have reached this far. Surround yourself with people who give you energy, motivation, and joy. Enjoy the simple things in life with your treasured ones – something as small as a good coffee with a friend, long walks, or simply taking in the air on a nice day.
Belief
The most important thing that got me through grad school was belief. Continuing to believe in the universe, in yourself, that things will pan out – especially when you are at your lowest – is discipline and strength in its highest form.
It is challenging to have faith in yourself when you struggle with self-doubt. The job market, especially, can be brutal and you need faith and perseverance, especially when the odds are not at all stacked in your favour.
I hope my story will provide you with some form of encouragement and comfort. I don't see myself as someone with a lot of achievements, just someone with a lot of curiosity. If you feel stifled and limited by where you are in life and want to explore broader avenues, become more confident, and grow, then I hope you consider this route.
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