What have you done? Where has it lead you? How will it help with what comes next? Here are four ideas to help with reflecting on your journey:
- Check your records: explore your written plans and meeting logs to see what your progress has looked like over the last few years. See what stands out to you.
- Reflect on a single question: what can you do now that you couldn’t when you started your PhD?
- Break down your contribution: make a bullet point list of what you have achieved. Make sure to include reasons for why something is a contribution. What makes it valuable? How did you make it happen?
- Draw a timeline: create a visual display of your PhD story. Highlight the milestones. What are your big moments of discovery? When can you see huge signs of improvement? What were the key events?
Take time to take stock. How did you get to where you are now?
