Locking In: A Journey in Progress
I’ve missed this. I’ve missed the joy I feel, the small crease that forms and slowly turns into a smile when I get to sit down and free write my thoughts, letting you in and giving you insight into my current journey.
I know it’s been a while since you’ve heard from me, and we have a lot to catch up on. Although I may not have been consistent in providing updates, many things have happened since you last read my newsletter. These past few months have been full, both academically and personally.
If you recall, the last time I wrote I shared how challenging it was to stay grounded in joy amid everything happening around us, especially the shifts affecting public health, global health funding, and broader conversations surrounding our sociopolitical climate. I had also shared how I often turn inward especially when I need to take the time to process, reflect, and recalibrate rather than reacting to the world around me.
And truthfully, this is exactly what I did.
Going inward did not mean removing myself from the world, but rather deepening the relationships that are present in my life, focusing on what I can control and is in front of me, and holding space for the work that moves me.
As my siblings like to remind me, while also keeping me up to date with the latest lingo (lol), sometimes you just have to “lock in.”
Many things have shifted and some are more internal changes (shoutout to continuous growth), while others have been major milestones. For starters, I have recommitted to my wellness journey, cooking more instead of ordering out, and getting back to working out. Oh, and how could I forget? I am drinking way more water these days. My skin is definitely thanking me for it.
Secondly, my family and I had to say goodbye to our family dog, Jason. Jason has been in our lives since I was in high school, which is now over a decade ago. I know I speak for my family, especially my sisters, when I say that for us, in many ways, Jason was the last living totem from the time my mom was still alive, a soft and quiet reminder silently shared among us of that chapter in our lives when we all existed in the same physical space together.
Concurrently, I have also achieved a few academic milestones along the way. Cue a round of applause (lol).
First up were the infamous comprehensive exams, or “comps” as they are commonly called in PhD programs. From the moment I entered the program, comps felt like that elephant in the room, the thing everyone knew you’re working towards but can’t really discuss. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, comps was very much giving “the one who shall not be named.” There was definitely a lot of anxiety leading up to it but after taking the exams, ultimately passing them, and reading the written feedback from the faculty, I had a moment where I thought to myself, okay…I’ve made it. The past two years of coursework, the endless reading, outlining, even the moments of second guessing, was worth it. Cue in another round of applause (lol).
Shortly after, I continued refining my dissertation project. I am really excited about this project, which I will share in detail another time, but trust me when I say that this process has been a combination of a lot of work and excitement at the same time. For example, watching my ideas move in real time from that theoretical dimension, to paper, to the many conversations I have had with faculty, some of whom now sit on my dissertation committee, and to conversations with community partners has been incredibly meaningful.
Seeing the transformation of an idea into a measurable project feels more than a milestone. In many ways, it feels like a manifestation of my storytelling and my growing comfort in recognizing myself as a scientist, but not just any scientist, an activist scientist. That realization means a lot. There is intention behind this.
So, when I successfully defended my dissertation proposal in December, and moved from “doctoral student” to “doctoral candidate”, let’s just say things got real, in a good way.
I look forward to continuing sharing this process with you. But beyond that, I also want this space to evolve into a space where we hear from others navigating their own journeys.
As such, I’m excited to bring back the Community Voices section. For this issue, I am highlighting two scholars who are also navigating the dissertation phase and life outside (and beyond) the PhD. Each offers a glimpse into what this stage looks like for them, the lessons they are learning along the way, and reflections they hope will resonate with others.
Community Voices
Jade Smith
Jade Smith is a doctoral candidate in the Integrative Life Sciences Program at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She holds a Bachelor of Science from Old Dominion University. Jade is a research scientist, a mentor, and an entrepreneur who knows how to turn bold ideas into action.
Email: [email protected] | LinkedIn
Q: What program are you in and what is your dissertation about?
A: “I am a 5th year PhD candidate in the Integrative Life Sciences program, with a discipline in microbiology and immunology. My project is focused on developing and improving diagnostic methods for Lyme disease in veterinary medicine.”
Q: What part of the dissertation process are you currently in, and what has been the most surprising aspect of it so far?
A: “I am ABD (all but dissertation). I am currently finishing up experiments, working on publications, and writing my dissertation. The most surprising aspect so far is how easily timelines can change depending on your committee’s availability and your PI’s goals. You can spend time planning when you want to graduate, but ultimately, a lot of the timeline also depends on your advisor.”
Q: What is bringing you joy or grounding you outside of your PhD right now?
A: “Spending time with friends and family brings me a lot of joy. It’s nice to have people who love you refill your cup because it can get easily drained. I also stopped making my PhD the center of my life and I picked up new hobbies! I enjoy cooking, baking, traveling, trying new classes, yoga, and so much more. The PhD journey can take over your life, but setting boundaries and small goals helps tremendously (at least for me).”
Q: What advice would you give scholars who will soon enter the dissertation phase?
A: “The advice I have for scholars entering the dissertation phase is to come up with a goal, set a deadline of when you’d like to be done, decide how much work you’re gonna do each month, and stick to it! Don’t focus on perfection. The dissertation gets done as a result of consistency. As long as you make progress each day, whether it’s 5% one day or 100% the next day, as long as it’s not 0%, you’re moving forward.
I also encourage scholars to find people in their field who have already completed their dissertation and use their work as a template or guide when they reach the point where they really don’t know what to do. There are also support communities out there! For example, there’s a group that I’m a part of called “Write the Damn Dissertation” for women, where many are in their dissertation phase and have successfully finished. I’m sure there are many more programs like this.
Additionally, I’d like to share to scholars, if you reach a point where you’re struggling, you can hire a dissertation coach! There are so many options available for support, don’t let the PhD overwhelm you. It’s OK to take breaks and approach this journey one day at a time.”
Q: What do you plan on doing after your PhD?
A: “After my PhD, I think I want to become a faculty member for a while. Since I was younger, I used to want to go the industry or government route. It was always my dream. It’s not that it’s something I’m no longer considering or might not want to do, but right now I’ve learned that I have a natural ability for teaching. Teaching feels like…it’s starting to feel like a purpose.
One thing I don’t want is to end up somewhere, working a consistent schedule, and not enjoy what I’m doing or not be excited to go to work every day. Now that I’ve had the opportunity to experience teaching and see what it does for students of color to have a professor who is also a person of color, it’s made me really reconsider what I want to do and what my purpose is.
I’ve spent so much time working on my education and dedicating myself to becoming a better version of myself, and I would love to help guide others to do the same.”
Emily C. Zhang
Emily Zhang is a third-year PhD candidate at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. Her research is rooted at the intersection of adolescent development, technology, and mental health. She received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University (where she met Farnese!). Emily strives to use rigorous public health research as a tool for health equity. Her goal is to translate her research into evidence-based strategies that support adolescent mental health in an increasingly digital world.
Email: [email protected] | LinkedIn
Q: What program are you in and what is your dissertation about?
A: “I’m a 3rd-year PhD candidate in Social & Behavioral Sciences in Public Health. My dissertation focuses on adolescent social media use and mental health. Moving beyond simplistic measures of screen time, I examine nuanced patterns of social media engagement and how home and school rules around mobile phone use shape adolescents' social media use. Ultimately, my research aims to understand how social media influences well-being during the critical developmental stage of adolescence and to provide practical guidance for parents, educators, and policymakers to support youth mental health.”
Q: What part of the dissertation process are you currently in, and what has been the most surprising aspect of it so far?
A: “I actually just passed my dissertation proposal defense last week! While I knew getting to this stage would be a long process, a surprising aspect has been how much life can just get in the way of your timeline sometimes. For example, getting sick for half of December delayed finishing my edits, so I've learned you just have to be flexible and give yourself grace. Through all the shifts in my timeline, I am truly grateful for my supportive committee, who help shape my research directions and continuously push me to think more deeply about my own work with their insightful and constructive feedback.”
Q: What is bringing you joy or grounding you outside of your PhD right now?
A: “I recently took a trip over Spring Break to Italy with my best friend! We found tickets for a really good price and finally went back to Venice seven years after going there for the first time on our college graduation trip! But since I can’t always travel to Europe, I enjoy grocery runs to Trader Joe’s and Costco, taking yoga classes, and running. I also prioritize sleep and rest; taking care of yourself is so important so you don't burn out or get sick! Even watching one of my favorite shows is a great way to decompress after a long day of writing and reading.”
Q: What advice would you give scholars who will soon enter the dissertation phase?
A: “Choose your chair and committee members wisely. They will be with you throughout the entire process and having nice faculty you actually enjoy working with makes such a difference. And remember that you can do hard things! The dissertation will seem impossible and never-ending at times, but you will get to the finish line, and it will all be worth it.”
P.S. I would love to feature more voices from YOU in future issues. If you feel inspired to share your thoughts, experiences, or work, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Until next time, I leave you with the thought below:
(1) What is something you would like to recommit to or continue doing that brings you joy? (2) How can you better position yourself to support those coming behind you?
Write it down or say it to yourself.
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