I am writing a dissertation…this is a statement I have been saying since September. Those words seem impressive and powerful and may make you sound like you are some type of genius, but, in reality, you are just an ordinary person, working toward a goal. Just saying these words put you in an elite group – one in which you have mastered 6 plus years of college, passed board or qualification exams, and now just have one more task to complete before you are in an even more elite group of people – those with PhDs.

While a lot of my friends and family know what I am doing, I don’t think they fully understand the dissertation process. I often get asked the question – so what is a dissertation? I often find it is hard to explain the dissertation process to non-academic people. Yes, it is a really long paper, but it is unlike any term or research paper you have ever written.  On the other hand, it is not really a book. A dissertation is much deeper than a traditional research paper. While it is mainly in the form of a book, the dissertation engages a set of key research questions, on a given topic. Through research, you form arguments that you support, explain, and defend throughout the work. Since it is an academic work, it engages previous (academic) literature on the topic but also challenges and makes new contributions to that same body of literature. During the dissertation process, as a researcher, you define your methodology or the procedures and methods used to collect and analyze data for the project. A large part of the project is about researching a subject and analyzing the data you find. The key to a good dissertation is the ability to develop your findings into a cohesive and readable narrative, that not only tells a story but also proves your arguments, answers the research questions set forth at the beginning of the research project and makes a contribution to a given field or subject matter.

Successfully writing and defending a dissertation is what turns an individual into a scholar.

The process of “doing” a dissertation is an emotionally draining process. Upon entering the dissertation phase of the Ph.D. process, one of the first things you learn is how to cope with the stressors of a long term project (one that can last several years). Some people resort to regularly crying. So far, I have not done that, although I am sure it is coming!!! I cope by changing to another project or activity that I find relaxing – i.e., gardening, exercise, or something related to photography.

The last few months have reinforced what I thought about the dissertation process long before beginning the dissertation or even entering the Ph.D. program. Mastering a dissertation is like running a marathon. You have to pace yourself and push yourself every day. Given that I have run a few marathons, this is something I often reflect upon.

The same mental training and preparation methods I relied upon when running very much apply to the dissertation process. Two of the most important elements I have found are rest and a clear mind. The brain is one of the largest and most complex organs in the human body. To function fully and best, it needs rest. So when you are tired and cannot push anymore, walking away to get rest is vital. Rest helps to rest your mind. Trying to write or do research when you are exhausted decreases your ability to think, analyze information, and write. Like running, the process of writing a dissertation is very lonely and self-isolating. While no one else is working on quite the same dissertation project as you are, it is still essential to find people to connect with and talk to that are also engaged in the same process. Also, like running, you need a support system to cheer you on. I am lucky to have a supportive husband, mother, some close friends, and peers/friends in the Ph.D. program. Each of them, in their own way, offers the support I need to sustain myself in the process.

Low moments in the dissertation process will occur, but you have to keep pushing. While pushing through the process can be difficult, it can also be rewarding. The research (and the dissertation process in general) helps me to see the world and myself differently. Through research, I am learning so much, and learning is something that drives and excites me. Most of all, I keep pushing because this is something I have always wanted.

While I am researching a focused topic, I am learning about people and places (of the past), and that excites me, but it also helps me understand who I am. It also helps me to keep growing as a person. Some times this growth is in terms of improving my writing or research skills, while other times, it is more analytical or mental.

The dissertation process is transformative. Since beginning the Ph.D. program three years ago, I have seen myself change in many ways. One of the scary yet exciting things about this process is that you do not know how you will be transformed. I often wonder what and who I will be like as Dr. Amy.