As I get towards the finish line (5 months for me), one reminder has helped: ultimately, a good dissertation is a done dissertation. There'll always be someone writing a better dissertation, a better academic article, etc. etc. and accepting that freed me to truly launch into my writing and enjoy it. And that enjoyment has, for me, translated into stronger and more beautiful work. Sulking days are productive-- they give us a chance to recalibrate and feel what we need to in such a draining professional environment. All the best!
Thank you for sharing. I want to acknowledge you for knowing what you need to succeed, how to reset, and how to pivot when necessary. You’re doing great!
I so appreciate the honesty about receiving criticism and about choosing a path through academia that fits one's own needs/interests. It's not always easy to listen to our own desires when academic work seems to ask that we give so much of ourselves to it. Really admire your commitment to yourself and am cheering for you
I appreciate you saying that your dissertation may not be where it could be if you had fewer things going on, but those things make you happy. It reminds me of that part in 'Cool Runnings' when Irv says, "A gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it."
Kaelyn, you are such an inspiration for me. Whenever I feel lost in working full-time and studying part-time I look for one of your vlogs and they never fail to give me a boost. I thank you so much for this. I wish you all the best (and hope for more content 🙂). Have a nice week!
Fellow history PhD student here! Negative feedback is the worst but I’ve found that focusing on my “why” helps, why I think this area of history matters and why it’s personal for me to be writing it. And just a constant reminder to myself that my voice as a historian matters. One way I do this is to go back and read some of my past work. It’s like I tell myself “damn you really wrote that!? You can definitely write more” ultimately just wanted to encourage you and say that you’ve got this!
A couple of London recommendations for you: You might like to attend HistFest held at the British Library usually around April. It's very much a public history event and they have great speakers. Also, the London History Festival held at the Chelsea and Kensington Library in November is a great event, also a super cute library if you need somewhere different to study.
Thank you for this calm lovely vlog 🙏 Book therapy does actually lift one’s mood up as you said, purchasing a book you like is always the best way to cheer up ✨ we would love more of these vlogs
I’m always so excited when you post a new video! You always manage to motivate me in the most non-toxic, soft, kind way possible - to go out, to experience life, to study, to work hard, to read, and to take breaks! Thank you for sharing some of the harder aspects of your academic journey as well, I find it so helpful to see others struggle as well🫶🏼
I’m so sorry that you’re having a bit of self-doubt, I believe it comes with the territory of being in academia and also trying to juggle life and work and aiming to be the very best in all. I too feel that self doubt as I work towards my master, whilst raising a rambunctious one year old little boy soon to be two and other domestic responsibilities. I don’t know how you do it all, but I admire you and you’re an inspiration to many of us. I find motivation through you as you find motivation through others as well. I know it’s hard to acknowledge reality, but we learn and grow from acknowledging and accepting what reality is. I also came into the realization that as much as I want my papers to be amazingly written, I know that with a little one it’s hard as I’m doing everything as a single parent. I figured I can’t give everything 100% being that my time is extremely divided. But keep going, you are doing amazing even when you doubt yourself, you have achieved so much when others at your age have not and that should make you feel good knowing that your passion and determination have gotten you this far.
The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniack about Catherine the Great is a fantastic and vivid historical fiction novel, and the Romanov Sisters by Helen Rappaport about OTMA I could not put down and sparked my interest years ago on Russian history. Excellent historical book that reads like a novel.
You are such an inspiration, Kaelyn!!! I love love love your channel and the way you cultivate your resilience inspires me so much!! Keep going, girl!!! You have this! It is just about time, and making each one of the steps it takes to reach your everest. Big big fan here in Colombia, South America. :)
as a russian, I'd say the best historical fiction about imperial russia that I've read is by yury tynyanov. I recommend the novels "kukhlya" (about pushkin's high school friend, wilhelm küchelbecker, who took part in the decembrist revolt) and "the death of vazir-mukhtar" (about alexander griboyedov, a russian diplomat and playwright). the first one is one of my favourite books, although I'm not sure if it has been translated into english. tynyanov also wrote short stories based on historical anecdotes about russian emperors. and he was a famous literary scholar in early USSR. my first attempt at academic research (back in high school) and first conference talk were actually about his approach to stylisation! so yes, 10/10, would recommend
I remember having a “I want to know everything about Russia” after watching the Joe Wright version of ‘Anna Karenina’ and studying Imperial Russia in school. Fun Fact: I have Leon Trotsky’s ‘History of the Russian Revolution’ which I’m yet to read.
i would recommend war and peace over anna karenina. anna karenina is a psychological tragedy about the consequences of borderline personality disorder. if you arent in a safe place, it can get in your head. war and peace is much lighter and has everything relating to life within its pages, without dragging you down.
As I get towards the finish line (5 months for me), one reminder has helped: ultimately, a good dissertation is a done dissertation. There'll always be someone writing a better dissertation, a better academic article, etc. etc. and accepting that freed me to truly launch into my writing and enjoy it. And that enjoyment has, for me, translated into stronger and more beautiful work. Sulking days are productive-- they give us a chance to recalibrate and feel what we need to in such a draining professional environment. All the best!
Thank you for sharing. I want to acknowledge you for knowing what you need to succeed, how to reset, and how to pivot when necessary. You’re doing great!
I so appreciate the honesty about receiving criticism and about choosing a path through academia that fits one's own needs/interests. It's not always easy to listen to our own desires when academic work seems to ask that we give so much of ourselves to it. Really admire your commitment to yourself and am cheering for you
I appreciate you saying that your dissertation may not be where it could be if you had fewer things going on, but those things make you happy. It reminds me of that part in 'Cool Runnings' when Irv says, "A gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it."
Kaelyn, you are such an inspiration for me. Whenever I feel lost in working full-time and studying part-time I look for one of your vlogs and they never fail to give me a boost. I thank you so much for this. I wish you all the best (and hope for more content 🙂). Have a nice week!
Fellow dissertation writer here. You summed up my feelings exactly. Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability in sharing your journey. So helpful.
Wishing you the best of luck on the journey also!
Fellow history PhD student here! Negative feedback is the worst but I’ve found that focusing on my “why” helps, why I think this area of history matters and why it’s personal for me to be writing it. And just a constant reminder to myself that my voice as a historian matters. One way I do this is to go back and read some of my past work. It’s like I tell myself “damn you really wrote that!? You can definitely write more” ultimately just wanted to encourage you and say that you’ve got this!
A couple of London recommendations for you: You might like to attend HistFest held at the British Library usually around April. It's very much a public history event and they have great speakers. Also, the London History Festival held at the Chelsea and Kensington Library in November is a great event, also a super cute library if you need somewhere different to study.
Thank you for this calm lovely vlog 🙏 Book therapy does actually lift one’s mood up as you said, purchasing a book you like is always the best way to cheer up ✨ we would love more of these vlogs
Yay! A Kaelyn video makes my Friday 🥰 Enjoy your weekend!
I’m always so excited when you post a new video! You always manage to motivate me in the most non-toxic, soft, kind way possible - to go out, to experience life, to study, to work hard, to read, and to take breaks! Thank you for sharing some of the harder aspects of your academic journey as well, I find it so helpful to see others struggle as well🫶🏼
This is exactly how I feel too!
Hatchards is also my favorite! And you will love Anna Karenina.
I’m so sorry that you’re having a bit of self-doubt, I believe it comes with the territory of being in academia and also trying to juggle life and work and aiming to be the very best in all. I too feel that self doubt as I work towards my master, whilst raising a rambunctious one year old little boy soon to be two and other domestic responsibilities. I don’t know how you do it all, but I admire you and you’re an inspiration to many of us. I find motivation through you as you find motivation through others as well. I know it’s hard to acknowledge reality, but we learn and grow from acknowledging and accepting what reality is. I also came into the realization that as much as I want my papers to be amazingly written, I know that with a little one it’s hard as I’m doing everything as a single parent. I figured I can’t give everything 100% being that my time is extremely divided. But keep going, you are doing amazing even when you doubt yourself, you have achieved so much when others at your age have not and that should make you feel good knowing that your passion and determination have gotten you this far.
The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniack about Catherine the Great is a fantastic and vivid historical fiction novel, and the Romanov Sisters by Helen Rappaport about OTMA I could not put down and sparked my interest years ago on Russian history. Excellent historical book that reads like a novel.
Bless your soul 🥺 thank you for the recommendations!!!
You are such an inspiration, Kaelyn!!! I love love love your channel and the way you cultivate your resilience inspires me so much!! Keep going, girl!!! You have this! It is just about time, and making each one of the steps it takes to reach your everest. Big big fan here in Colombia, South America. :)
🥺🥺🥺 this comment just made my day. Thank you!!!
I loved this vlog style! But then I love all of your content!
15:09 Wow! The detailing on that is epic
♥️♥️♥️
It’s so nice to see you thriving and vibing in London 👏🏽
Trying to lol
Love the B roll type vlog! & Godspeed! 🩷
Thank you!!! I really appreciate the feedback ♥️
as a russian, I'd say the best historical fiction about imperial russia that I've read is by yury tynyanov. I recommend the novels "kukhlya" (about pushkin's high school friend, wilhelm küchelbecker, who took part in the decembrist revolt) and "the death of vazir-mukhtar" (about alexander griboyedov, a russian diplomat and playwright). the first one is one of my favourite books, although I'm not sure if it has been translated into english. tynyanov also wrote short stories based on historical anecdotes about russian emperors. and he was a famous literary scholar in early USSR. my first attempt at academic research (back in high school) and first conference talk were actually about his approach to stylisation! so yes, 10/10, would recommend
another historical fiction author famous in russia is boric akunin. he has a series of detective novels set in the 19th century
I'm enjoying your book content! Do you have a storygraph or goodreads or anything like that that we could follow?
I don’t! But I post my reviews on TikTok!
Fortnum & Mason is truly the posh version of the Wild Wild West. I do love their picnic baskets though.
♥️♥️♥️
Please give me an answer what Brad of your bag ?
I kind want to buy same one !!
Karenina is a masterpiece. Highly suggested.
The Cavalier King Charles in the park 😭😍
Your ‘Birth of Venus’ Sweatshirt is Peak Dark Academia.
I love it so much
I remember having a “I want to know everything about Russia” after watching the Joe Wright version of ‘Anna Karenina’ and studying Imperial Russia in school.
Fun Fact: I have Leon Trotsky’s ‘History of the Russian Revolution’ which I’m yet to read.
Love that movie
i would recommend war and peace over anna karenina. anna karenina is a psychological tragedy about the consequences of borderline personality disorder. if you arent in a safe place, it can get in your head. war and peace is much lighter and has everything relating to life within its pages, without dragging you down.
Thank you for the heads up and recommendation!!
4:37 MATCHA SHOT
♥️♥️♥️
Yessss to Imperial Russia!!!
Your research inspired me to learn more about Russian History!
Book Hauls are for every occasion? Happy? Book Haul. Sad? Book Haul. Broke? Book haul.
Yess
not a huge fan of the b-roll heavy content, but still a fan overall
Thanks for the feedback! There will be a mix in upcoming vlogs :)
Is this a gift ? I feel like you are giving us a surprise. 😍Thank you for this cozy diaries. (Sorry for my broken english.😂)
haha it was a random video I just shot for fun :) Glad you enjoy it