somewhereupthere

[somewhereupthere]

Day 1 of my PhD!

Feeling overwhelmed, out of my depth, but incredibly ready.

2nd October 2024

Unlike many others, I returned to the same university this week to begin my PhD. I was very fortunate to find a supervisor during my undergraduate dissertation who shared my research interests and then agreed to be my PhD supervisor. I already know that the staff at my university are great, and I can't wait to work with them over these next few years.

Although I had to sit through a lot of repeated information, such as a 40 minute talk on the university library (the same library I have been using for the past 3 years), we were given the opportunity in the morning to meet our fellow PhD-starters. I found the only other starter in my school and met others in different disciplines - luckily, everyone seemed as nervous as each other!

After a talk from the chair of the research board and the postgraduate research rep, we were invited to have a walk around campus. I went and collected my fancy new PhD ID badge and started the process to get my staff ID card (crazy!) before making my way over to the staff offices building. After 3 years of being locked out of certain buildings with my undergraduate card, I now have access to every building! Unbeknownst to me, research students are allotted an entire floor of the staff offices building to use as our own (it even has a kitchen!!!) - after 3 years, I didn't think I could discover anything new about this university!

Myself and the other new starter then met with our head of school, supervisors, and programme lead to have a chat about expectations and to have any questions answered. Having graduated only last month, there were less introductions for me and more catch ups... It was all very chill and lovely; I doubt I could've found a nicer group of academics.

I have my first supervision meeting scheduled for two weeks away and I'm working on a couple other research projects in the meantime. We had a lot of information thrown our way but I left feeling happy, assured, and (oddly) ready. Even on day one, it feels different to undergraduate. No longer a student in lessons, but a researcher alongside the senior academics. I'm (perhaps cautiously) optimistic about what's ahead for me, but right now? Right now, it feels great.

Song of the week: Sailor Song by Gigi Perez

[somewhereupthere]

hello!

*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

🍓 Mika, 22, she/they

🍒 1st Year PhD student in Criminology

🍉 Lincolnshire, UK

.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.

using this blog to track my PhD and other research!

hoping to make friends and keep this blog as an online journal :) please feel free to inbox me or send me an ask!

please know that my research interests contain sensitive topics!

research interests

illicit dr*g use

black/grey market sale

glp-1 use & impact on body image

social media sale & perceptions

service policy & provision

hobbies

crochet

reading

drawing

tarot

video games

journalling