I can’t believe we’ve already journeyed through a whole term together on this PhDiary — YAY! Look at us.
To honour this lovely milestone, I’d like for us to pause and reflect on what we’ve covered so far — and what I’m learning as I read it all backwards. Our very first post celebrated the new beginning of becoming a PhD student. Many of us can relate to the mix of angst and excitement that comes with starting something new. Someone wise once said, “All life is made up of many beginnings, middles and endings — although not necessarily in that order.”
To read about how my journey began:
🔗 A New Beginning: My First Week as a PhD Scholar at the University of Kent
The second post dug into what a week in the life (my very first week!) as a Chemistry PhD student looked like — orientations, training and those early experiments. It was all so new and exciting, and the more I settled into the season, the more confident I became.
Weeks 3 and 4 offered a glimpse into life at Kent and a “day in the life” of a PhD researcher. I was intentional not to over-romanticise things — because let’s be honest, the honeymoon stage of starting something new can sometimes cloud logic and realism. Anyone else relate?
🔗 A Day in the Life of a PhD Researcher
🔗 Being a PhD Student at Kent
By post five, I slowed things down a bit and started thinking more deeply about academic life — especially the relationships that can make (or break) the PhD experience. I reflected on the value of having a thoughtful, supportive supervisor, and what that can mean for early-stage researchers.
🔗 Supervisor Relationships: Being a PhD Student
That was followed by a pause to look back on my first four months as a PhD student. It’s amazing how much we can learn about ourselves when hindsight becomes a gentle teacher instead of a place for regret.
The next two posts captured some of my experiences as an international student — the joys, the challenges, and those quirky bits in between. Writing them was equal parts fun and cathartic.
🔗 Life as an International Student
🔗 My Favourite Things About Kent So Far
I then wrote a post specifically for anyone considering the PhD path — kind of a pre-PhD hack or starter kit, based on what I wish I’d known.
🔗 A Post for Prospective Chemistry PhD Students
My husband often says, “Smooth seas never made a skilled sailor.” While I sometimes find that sentiment a bit harsh, I found it oddly encouraging when I hit a few walls in my journey.
That prompted a few posts:
Reflections on the Ebbs and Flows of postgrad life
- 🔗 Ebbs and Flows
- The importance of rhythms and routines to ground you during those ebb moments
🔗 Rhythms and Routine - Ways that friends, family and partners can support their PhD person (based on what’s helped me most)
🔗 Four Ways to Support Someone Studying a PhD
To say that these past few months of journeying together have been essential to my well-being would be an understatement. I’m so looking forward to continuing these conversations next term!
Here are some upcoming topics I’m hoping to explore:
- Postgrad breaks (and how to take them without guilt!)
- Academic conferences
- Working part-time during a PhD
- Relational lessons from Chemistry experiments 💥
- Being a woman in STEM
- My upcoming academic visit to Japan 🇯🇵
You’re always welcome to reach out if you’ve got ideas, questions, or want to co-write a piece. I’m also totally up for a coffee chat ☕
My email address is pn258@kent.ac.uk — feel free to connect!
Until next time,
Take care and keep growing 🌱