Surviving My First Year as a Drama PhD Student
By Mel @ brokeGIRLrich / May 17, 2023
Hello there! I passed my first year as a drama PhD student, and I must say, it’s been quite a whirlwind. Even though I’ve been continuously lamenting about my student budget, I’ve neglected to share about the actual life of being a PhD student. So, let’s take a little walk down memory lane…
For me, this year has been a mix of slow days feeling like nothing is happening, but upon reflection, I’ve certainly accomplished a lot. To get my degree, my university requires two things – a successfully written and defended thesis and completion of various tasks called “Strands.” As mysterious as they sounded at the start, they actually make much more sense now.
I began my academic journey in February 2022, remote from the USA while waiting for my visa. The first weeks filled with the usual administrative work, handling paperwork, and setting up meetings. Majority of that time was spent reading up on my subject and of course, waiting for that visa to finalize.
Early on, I stumbled upon a funny Twitter post from another PhD student ranting about having to correct the mistakes made by the same ‘idiot’ who wrote their thesis – and that idiot turned out to be their first-year self. I found it rather relatable.
Juggling studies and managing theatre shows, I grappled with taking notes and writing academically. It was a learning curve, understanding that it’s not just about stating facts, but intertwining different literature along with my own observations. However, I got the hang of it, plus, we all have to start somewhere, right?
Working through my Strand requirements proved to be valuable, and it’s something I’d recommend others do without delay. For context, to graduate, students must complete five Strands, supplementary tasks to augment our thesis work. Strand 1 encompassed orientation activities, like data protection workshops, while Strand 2 was a six-week teaching course.
Meanwhile, I submitted a proposal with a classmate to host the University’s PhD symposium. We didn’t expect much but were pleasantly surprised when it was accepted. Alongside those events, I worked on my official research proposal due in April and managed to explore London through immersive theatre shows.
The months wove on with a stream of supervisor meetings, workshops, and more paperwork, lining up all the tedious administrative tasks. Alongside, I read on, falling into the rhythm of academic life as I continued exploring the UK.
I also started taking roles in theatre companies and realized it felt really good to pursue a hobby seriously. This is where I began roller skating classes. It felt like I was finally finding a balance.
During this time, I also had to grapple with the harsh realities of academia, like facing the possibility of not always getting accepted everywhere. I had applied for a program called Spaces of Joy as well as scholarship opportunities, unfortunately to no avail. But that didn’t stop me; I found solace in being home, surrounded by family, and that allowed me to keep going strong.
Over time, I had several experiences that deepened my academic journey, like preparing a presentation for the school PhD symposium and exploring other places. I even attended a Mystery Play cycle, which had been on my bucket list for 11 years. There were several challenges, like sorting out my living situation, straddling multiple jobs, and constantly working to refine my thesis.
Even when presenting at conferences felt intimidating, I felt a sense of accomplishment at having my findings heard in a larger community. Plus, it was beyond exciting to have published Symposium proceedings. Yet, even amidst these successes, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of, “Am I doing enough?”
As my first PhD year wrapped up, I realized I had done quite a bit: I had successfully submitted a full research proposal, drafted multiple versions of my thesis, presented at seminars, and even co-hosted a Symposium. I had also attended numerous workshops and made some impressive strides in my theatre work.
Though the first year was exhausting, it passed rapidly, and I found myself eager yet apprehensive about year two. I have started to question why I embarked on this journey, but I console myself that better times are ahead.
So, to all prospective liberal arts PhD students out there, it’s a rough road, but it’s an exciting one filled with growth and learning!
You might want to check out some of my other posts related to this PhD journey:
– My First Week as a Theatre/Drama PhD Student
– What I Did in the Year Leading Up to Getting Accepted
– Risk & Immersive Theatre: What I’m Actually Studying