advice for my former first year phd self...
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ส.ค. 2024
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Hey friends,
Welcome - or welcome back! - to the channel, where we discuss all things academic, life as a thirty-something-year-old, and living with Stage IV cancer! In today's video, we are focusing on some key academic lifestyle lessons I've learned over the past two years, with a focus on advice for any incoming PhD students! These little nuggets of personal experience aren't exclusively meant for the PhD newbies - its all one big learning curve, and it would be AMAZING to hear YOUR advice for our fellow PhD students: what would you have done differently? What did you get right? Share all the wisdom in the comments below, and I look forward to a chit chat!
Also, on an unrelated note, we've got some seriously hilarious glitches in the editing matrix at the end of this video - see if you can spot my floating head for a nanosecond towards the last minute or so 😂 I only noticed it once I'd uploaded the video and since this channel is run by an amateur videographer, I know ya'll won't mind... 😆
Love from NYC!
Holly xoxox
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Time Stamps
00:00 - 01:20 - Introduction
01:20 - 02:19 - Researcher first. Student second.
02:19 - 03:20 - You run the show, not your supervisor
03:20 - 04:45 - Time and information management are everything
04:50 - 05:45 - Your BIGGEST asset as a PhD student
05:45 - 07:00 - Imposter syndrome is a legitimate disease...
07:05 - 08:00 - Writing, writing, writing....
08:00 - 08:30 - Critical thinking
08:31 - 09:35 - Keep a research journal
09:35 - 11:15 - Burnout is going to happen.
11:15 - 12:53 - You are not your PhD
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✨ FAQ ✨
What type of content do you make on this channel?
I started making Study With Me videos, then the channel evolved with some PhD Vlogs and Advice Videos, and then I began to document a little bit of my cancer journey... So now I make an unequal amount of all three :)
How old are you?
I'm 31 in theory, but thanks to cancer/the pandemic putting life on hold for a couple of years, I genuinely only feel about... 26?!
Where are you based?
I'm Irish and a PhD student at an Irish university, but I am currently in MANHATTAN, BABY!
What type of cancer are you getting treatment for?
Stage IV oesophageal adenocarcinoma
What drug are you on?
An immunotherapy drug called Nivolumab (Opdivo)
What type of PhD research are you carrying out?
Historical research into records of children's musical culture in Ireland
Which university are you carrying out your PhD research at?
All Hallows College, Dublin City University
You may have already covered this, but I'm just now in the process of applying for my PhD and I've really struggled to find information on that process from a humanities standpoint. So I'd love to see a video maybe on the proposal/application/interview process - or maybe just some resources you recommend - as lots of the info I see pertains to STEM x
This is SUCH a good idea. I'll get planning!!!
Yass for a video on critical thinking! Love this. Xx
On it!!!
Very good advice, like the point about journaling and doing something every day
Thanks!
Oh yes please to critical writing ✍️ 💜
I'll get planning!!!!
I came back to this video (after watching it yesterday) to comment this! I would love a breakdown of Holly's critical writing process as well 😌
Being a third year PhD student of humanities myself, I can so much relate to every aspect discussed by you in the video! And yes, sometimes I still face problems with critical thinking. It will be great to hear something from you on that matter.
Thanks for the comment!! I’ll get that critical thinking video up asap!
Love this Holly, think it captures perfectly a post-PhD reflection despite you being at the half way point. Also some excellent points in there to take into all aspects of life. Great insights and self awareness 👏🏽
Thaaaaanks sis!
Nice b-roll at the start! That place looks familiar for some odd reason.
I know, right?? 😅💪🏻🤗
It's so interesting to hear the differences in your program/humanities programs to mine. I don't know where psychology falls really on the spectrum between humanities and sciences because really it's a bit of both. Maybe some of those diffs are down to UK PhDs vs U.S.? For instance, the way you spoke about writing your PhD, submitting your PhD makes me think you are talking about dissertation aspect. I am amazed to hear that there would be so little in the way of classes/modules and exams and papers save for the main dissertation research in some PhD programs because in mine I've had to take over 30 classes so far, a few more to go, and written loads of papers and exams for classes. It's true in psychology PhDs at least in U.S. that research comes first, at the same time you must uphold a very strict GPA or come under academic review and risk being dismissed for anything under a B grade. Yet you also must keep up on your dissertation and clinical training. Though there is an absolute ton of work to do for each class, there is also a strong push for students to go above and beyond in research, and publish peer reviewed papers and articles and presentations and conferences (ideally several before graduation).
Thank you for bringing up burnout as well because that is no joke in PhD' programs. I mentioned in another comment that this particular field requires thousands of clinical hours treating clients as well during the PhD and licensure process. Really, it's enough to wake each day and wonder if this PhD is the craziest kind to get. Tbh most of my cohort are fresh out of college with not much responsibilities and all that energy. Me, I'm one exhausted mama with aging parents who have serious health concerns. It's interesting that for a PhD in the mental health field, there's not a whole lot of support or encouragement for students who are struggling (i imagine this varies by university). I'm fortunate to have a great advisor but also had to switch 3 times due to advisors leaving the university. I need to make a decision very shortly about pausing my program or not for the next year. It's probably the practical choice. I've gotten burnt out to the point of barely functioning some days. It's just I've worked my tail off for four years, I've had this plan for this career forever and I don't want to give up the dream ya know?
I love your videos so much!!! This was such a beautifully crafted video. Love each point
Thank you Shalini! :)
I love you and this video!!!
Thank you pal!!
I'm doing my undergrad thesis at the age of 25 (the system is kinda slow here) from Food Engineering. I absolutely love my work like it's a dream come true but also over-pressuring myself out of my capacity. Feeling the burnout so clearly I just needed to hear every word you just told here, especially with the humorous tone. Would love a video on critical thinking. Thanks a bunch!🤍
Thanks for the lovely comments, Radia. Video on critical thinking coming soon!
Yes yes yes to critical reading/thinking it is the hardest part of life
It is!!
So grateful I found your channel! I’m a first year starting next week - I’m simultaneously more excited for school than I’ve ever been, but also more nervous. Thanks for sharing your experiences!!
Best of luck, Sierra! X
Great advice, Hol. It's been fantastic seeing how much you've been smashing your PhD!
Thanks pal :)
Definitely a YES on the critical thinking piece!
It's coming!
I am from Germany and in the middle of my masters. I think it is so interesting to hear how different the possible next step will be. I’m not sure yet, whether I will stay at university afterwards or not but I think your thoughts about being a PhD student are so helpful! Thank you! ❤️
I feel like this channel is about to blow up ! great work x
Thank you for your encouraging words!
I am about to start my PhD in about a month! I just found your channel and I am power watching your content - love this thank you for sharing all of this
Good luck, friend!! :) Hope the studies go well for you! X
Pat Thompson has a blog ( academic) she has a few books also. Really good academic writing coach
Good to know!
just found you! great content. thank you!
Thanks, Rose! :)
Gorgeous video - thanks for those excellent advices! I discovered your channel some months ago because of the notero video and i'm staying :D. I'm currently writing my masters thesis (humanities: journalism studies) in germany; but your phd life and content is so inspiring for me and i can actually get some pretty good tips from you. I'd love a video about critical thinking; the thing i'm struggling most with is that when i'm taking reading notes i do so much copy and paste and i really struggle to summarize a text in my own words. Also i currently don't get to write for my thesis, because i'm too busy organizing interviews and everything ... which i still need for my masters thesis :D
Thanks for your awesome work and have a lovely week :)
Greetings, Sveta
I was the same - I'm still not always very good at the critical thinking thing, it really takes practice. I'm working on a video about it, hopefully it might be useful - even just to one person!
Love all these tips Holly! Okay so I have some great news… I submitted my PhD!!! I did it 🤩🥳🥰🤪😁 plus I put you in my acknowledgments, as my TH-cam pal Holly Jane! Seriously Holly you have been such a huge source of inspiration and accountability and thank you so much for your TH-cam community!
OH MY GOD
Congratulations Emma!!! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND ALSO SO HUMBLED THAT YOU INCLUDED ME IN THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS?!!! Like WHAT??!! Will you send me a picture?!!!!!!
enquiries.hollyjane@gmail.com!!! CONGRATULATIONS EMMA!!!
@@HollyJaneYT thank you so much ☺ 🤓🥳🙏😁
I booped the like button. Love your humour and found this a very valuable video to watch. I’m a couple of weeks away from hearing if my PhD application was accepted 😬
Aghhhh, hope it goes okay for you, Kelly! Let me know ❤️❤️🤞🏼🤞🏼
Great video Holly. Can you make a video on how you annotate literature and then turn it into a paper?
Ohhh, love that idea. I’ll get planning!
I would love to watch a video on critical thinking from you, yes please 🙂
Its coming!