I initially became a student at the university way back in 2014, starting my BA in Media Production and Creative Writing; before then, I had held the belief that I had zero academic potential. Three years later, I had a First-Class degree and was pleased to have been proven wrong. It goes without saying that the first obvious step was continuing my education through a Masters, which I did, gaining an MA in Contemporary Literature at a Merit. I was burnt out at that stage. I knew I needed to take some time out from academia. So, I focused on my marketing career, developing and learning more about that.

Then Covid. It seems weird that the thing that put me back onto the research path was such a massive event; it impacted so many people in so many ways. For some, this impact was a heartbreaking loss or the struggle between distance and isolation. For me, I was made redundant – there was no need to market when the market was shut.

But redundancy was the catalyst. After some encouragement from my husband, I started drafting my research proposal. I already knew what topic I wanted to explore, so expanding that was easy…almost. It had been over two years since I had read critically and deliberately. But it was like slipping on an old, favourite jumper. In October 2020, I started my PhD.

I was unprepared for the next handful of years; I had committed to a part-time course, which meant 6 years. Tens of thousands of words in 6 years sounds straightforward at the start. In practice? Not so straightforward. But I was persistent – taking on the familiar adage which was repeated to me by every PhDer and numerous staff members – “it’s a marathon not a sprint”. Some years were more productive than others, it took me the whole of 2021 to get my literature review drafted, but in 2024 I drafted two of my analytical chapters. 2025 is off to a slow start, with me putting it on the back burn as work and personal situations took up more of my time. But I am looking at the finish line. It’s a year or so in front of me but within touching distance.

I was told that if I didn’t hate my subject by the end, I was doing the PhD wrong. This is meant to comfort people who have lost that passion. Spending half a decade with one topic is exhausting, particularly when the project’s scope has changed from what you initially plotted out.

My friends, I am pleased to say I am doing it wrong. I am still as fascinated by my subject as I was 5 years ago. But I am incredibly fortunate to have the time to do this, albeit squeezing it in the evenings and weekends or my lunch breaks if I have a deadline looming. My key lesson from nearly 5 years as a PhD student is that 5 years is not at all as long as I thought. I was the one who first thought about the project, shaped it, grew with it, changed

it, and I will be the one to complete it. I want to enjoy it. So, I have done everything I can to make this thesis the thing I still get excited about after all this time. I make pretty notes. I reward myself with lil treats when I finish a chapter draft, or do well in a supervisor meeting. But mostly, I don’t punish myself if I lag behind slightly or need more revisions – and yes this is what I am passionate about and I want to do well with. But we cannot be at 100%, 100% of the time.

So to anyone starting a PhD, or in the middle of one, or head-in-hand-just-had-enough of this thesis. Just take a breath and remember: it’s your project. You’re doing it!

Blog post written by: Bethany McTrustery