Day 82: 6/21/2018
A lot of thinking happened today.
Another day I questioned so many things, my work, my PhD topic, and my abilities. As I read my work again today while revising it, I could not help but wondering whether it is good enough or worth a PhD title. Then, I wondered if I have known and have read enough about my own research topic. Last but not least, and the most lingering thought was my own abilities. I seriously doubt my abilities. (This happens regularly in my life.) And it happens again today.
Thinking about me being in a TAP meeting defending my own PhD topic is excited and scary at the same time. But deep down inside, I am positive that it is going to be just fine.
I went to two offices today, first in Berrick Saul and then ReCSS. I am unsure which one I like better at this point since each has its own advantages. The point I want to mention is not about the physical office itself but a conversation I had with one of my PhD mates, Mustafa, today. He is a PhD student in his final year who is presently in writeup stage and planning to submit it in September. He has helped answer some of the lingering critical questions I have had.
First off, he told me that I am still at the baby stage of the PhD journey. It will take me some time to figure things out. It is thus important for me to keep working, keep figuring things out and keep reading. “Everything you read, you’ll learn something new,” he added. This was something I could not agree more.
He also told me what a TAP meeting is like. My understanding about it was that it is a meeting with my supervisor and one other internal/external reader for my research. He assured me that his experience with TAP meetings was very helpful and he received so much useful feedback from the meetings throughout his PhD journey. This is such a relief for me because so far no one had given me a comprehensive understanding of what it is all about.
One thing I could feel while talking with him was that he is one true positive person and probably was the first one I have met so far. This is something I wanted to see and someone I wanted to meet. I have talked to several people and no one has really appeared to have a similar mindset until him. The reason why I was so excited because I wanted to be excited, energized, and encouraged. I love the positive vibes and I need them in my life.
Anyways, at the end of our conversation I thanked him for the advice, which was probably the best yet I have received. He helped me to better visualized the overall PhD journey which was something I had wondered for the past few months.
Research Related Notes:
- I have started my second draft revision today and hopefully it will be done by Saturday.
- I have to read more about related research studies and for literature review writeup, too.
6/21/2018 11.07 pm.
