What is it about?
Starting and completing a doctoral journey requires preparation, dedication, and support from those around you. This chapter shares my experiences before, during, and after my doctoral journey which spans more than ten years. The chapter is a record of personal/academic/family and many other issues and insights experienced during and arising from my doctoral journey.
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Why is it important?
While an increasing number of people choose to start doctoral research and there are many studies about doctoral students’ experiences, the information available is fragmented into different phases and elements (e.g., supervisory relationship, motivation for starting doctoral research); it is difficult to hear about students’ journey from a holistic approach. What I shared in this chapter is very personal, but I believe that this personal story can provide an insight about the dreams, motivation, personal/family/work issues, happiness, and fluctuation of various feelings that can be part of the doctoral journey.
Perspectives
I personally don't like too much optimism (i.e. mentality such as 'you can do anything if you try your best'). To me, life is much more complex and can be quite cruel at times. I like to start things knowing the risks and benefits and believe that you should be very well-informed when making a decision of starting your doctoral journey as this is a long-term and life-altering experience (both positively and negatively). My chapter is for those like-minded people.
Daeul Jeong
Queensland University of Technology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: An International Doctoral Student’s Diary, November 2023, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004688360_009.
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