Now that I have completed my PhD, I can truly see why it is often described as a marathon rather than a sprint. Looking back, the journey was not only about producing research and publications, but also about personal growth, resilience, and lessons that reach far beyond academia.
Lesson 1: Balance Novelty with Feasibility
If the subject is too new or unexplored, you may face the risk of spending years trying to define the problem before you can even start solving it. A PhD comes with a fixed timeline, and novelty alone is not enough to guarantee success.
Instead, choose a subject where you can both stand on existing foundations and make a meaningful contribution. The sweet spot lies in a topic that is relevant, has enough prior work to guide you, and still leaves room for you to add value.
Your PhD is not about reinventing the wheel; it’s about pushing the wheel a little further in a direction that matters.
Lesson 2: Progress Is Non-Linear
During a PhD, progress doesn’t unfold like a straight line. Some periods are filled with breakthroughs: writing chapters, solving problems, or running successful experiments. Other periods feel like you are going in circles, chasing ideas that ultimately lead nowhere.
This can be frustrating, especially if you’re used to more predictable forms of study or work. But I learned that those “slow” stretches are not wasted; they are part of the process. Every dead end teaches you something about what doesn’t work, and every pause gives you space to refine your thinking.
What matters is not constant speed, but the ability to keep moving forward, even in small steps. Over time, those ups and downs add up to real progress.
Lesson 3: Communication Matters as much as Discovery
One of the biggest surprises of my PhD was realising that doing the research is only half the work: the other half is communicating it. You can have the most insightful results, but if you cannot explain them clearly, their impact will be limited.
Good communication is not just about writing papers. It’s about being able to present your ideas to people outside your field, to peers who may not share your background, and sometimes even to friends and family who just want to know what you are working on.
Lesson 4: The Right Supervisor and Environment Matter as Much as the Research
A PhD is not only about the topic you choose—it’s also about the people and environment you surround yourself with. I learned that having a supportive supervisor and a healthy research environment is just as important as the research itself.
A good supervisor provides more than academic guidance. They mentor you through setbacks, help you frame your ideas, and push you to grow while respecting your limits. On the other hand, a poor fit can make even an interesting project feel unbearable.
The environment matters too. Being in a lab or department where people collaborate, share ideas, and support each other creates the conditions for progress. In contrast, isolation or a toxic atmosphere can quickly drain motivation.
Ultimately, your supervisor and environment influence not only your research but also your confidence, resilience, and overall well-being. Choosing them wisely is one of the most important decisions you can make at the start of a PhD.
Lesson 5: The PhD Is a Beginning, Not an End
Finishing a PhD feels like reaching the summit of a long climb, but it is not the final destination. I came to realise that the degree is less a conclusion and more a foundation.
A PhD teaches you how to ask better questions, how to deal with uncertainty, and how to persist through complexity. These skills don’t end with the dissertation; they open the door to new opportunities, whether in academia, industry, or beyond.
Now, having gone through this journey, we carry with us something even more valuable: a clearer sense of what to do and what not to do, how to build stronger ideas, and how to avoid the traps we once fell into. The lessons learned along the way become the compass for the next steps.
Earning the title “doctor” is a milestone worth celebrating, but it’s also a reminder that learning and discovery are lifelong. The PhD is not the end of the journey; it’s the start of a new chapter, built on resilience, curiosity, and perspective.
Conclusion
A PhD is not only about producing original research; it’s about shaping the way you think, work, and grow as a person. Along the way, I learned what to do and what not to do, how to build ideas that matter, and how to let go of the rest.
Crossing the finish line taught me that the real value of a PhD lies in the skills, resilience, and clarity it leaves behind. These lessons extend far beyond academia and will guide me in whatever path I choose next.
