PhD Mum

Did you know when a PhD students starts a PhD they are actually registered as an MPhil (a masters degree)? About a year in, the university will “grade” the student to assess if both the work completed and planned work for the next two or so years is achievable and merits a PhD award. If they decide it is, the student is then moved on to the PhD award. After the initial flurry of feeing like you haven’t done enough, wondering how can reading be your only job, then finally establishing a research question at about the 6 months mark, you can be forgiven for feeling lulled in to a false sense of “I got this”. At the 12 month mark, it is typically the case that you are either knee deep in or just about to embark upon recruitment and participant data. It is during this time that you are asked to upgrade. This is the first time that you will officially be assessed as a PhD candidate and as such, it is stressful! (What if they fail me?!). But the good news is, everyone who I have...

@ sujanee is getting a group of PhD instagram accounts together to discuss how this syndrome affects them. I think its a great idea in order to help future PhD students realise: it’s not just you. What is imposter syndrome? Imposter syndrome can be equated to feeling like a fraud. That you dont deserve the position you are in and everything you achieve is a “fluke”. Did you know Albert Einstein was affected by this syndrome. Imposter Syndrome: mum life As a mum, I am kind of use to that imposter feeling of “winging it” or “making it up as i go along”. The support I’ve found on here and within my own support network has been fantastic for my mental health. With the positive affirmations that I am the best mum I can be without having all the answers and thats ok. Imposter Syndrome: PhD life However, you would think in your job, you should feel more accomplished. But being a PhD student (which is the same as a job) is almost synonymous with imposter syndrome. Its intrica...