Reflecting on my Ph.D. Journey
My decision to pursue a Ph.D. in occupational therapy was simple – I had been a practicing occupational therapist since 1995 and studied therapeutic recreation as an undergraduate. I knew I would not be done with my education until I achieved a Ph.D. My job was stable, and life was good, so why not!? I began my Ph.D. program in 2013. The first two years were tedious with countless papers and presentations. It wasn’t easy, but my coursework was running smoothly.
Then I got sick.
I was getting headaches more and more frequently, and one day while I was walking up a flight of stairs I was out of breath and could not reach the top. I knew something was wrong. An emergency room visit resulted in an immediate transfusion of two units of blood and a diagnosis of chronic anemia with a Vitamin D deficiency. Surgical intervention was needed to repair internal damage. Ultimately, I lost a semester of school while I was healing and fell behind my cohort with the understanding that I had to make up the incompletes.
I struggled after this medical episode and went through a period of anger outbursts, mood swings, depression, and intense anxiety. I tried every strategy I knew, including regular exercise and continuing my training as a bicycle racer. I trained hard and was physically injured because of it. All of this impacted my ability to focus on getting my Ph.D., and also placed significant strain on my marriage. Unfortunately, I lost my 30-year marriage to a wonderful woman because of my mental state. Suddenly, in the 4th year of my Ph.D. program, I was alone with no support at home. I wanted to quit when I was supposed to be preparing for my qualifying exams. I knew I had to decide. It was time to adapt or quit. I have always been a stubborn man, so quitting was not an option. I buckled down, took time off work, and studied every day in a library. I passed the qualifying exams and was ready for the next phase!
I soon began writing my dissertation proposal. I read countless journal articles and thought I was doing ok until it came time to put my ideas on paper. Every time I wrote a section, I would open it again and delete it because it did not look or sound like my writing. I lost a lot of time doing this before realizing it was a destructive process. Around this time, a peer told me about dissertation coaching. I did not realize this was type of support was available. But I did my research and looked into the company that my friend mentioned and contacted them. This was a pivotal point in my Ph.D. journey.
Friendly 1:1 coaching and group writing sessions helped me get organized. I set weekly goals and established a writing routine. I completed a draft of my proposal in one semester! Unfortunately, COVID-19 delayed my proposal defense and completely eliminated my opportunity to study my research population. Frustrated and disappointed, I had to adapt. I had an idea and developed another proposal with the guidance of my dissertation coaches, Dr. Veronica Richard and Dr. Tom Gollery. Dr. Richard guided me, did some handholding, and ultimately a lot of listening as I struggled to adapt. I defended the proposal successfully and was on to the next stage.
Dr. Gollery assisted me with data analysis, and when that complete, I realized that my dissertation defense was quickly approaching. Again, Dr. Richard tirelessly assisted with edits and revision suggestions while listening to my struggles. Veronica’s confidence in my ability to defend was a driving force and helped me overcome my self-doubt and fears. Honestly, this aspect of her support was priceless and made all the difference for me. Ultimately, I passed my final defense and graduated with my Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy at the close of 2021.
Dissertation by Design was a lifeline during my Ph.D. journey. I have come to understand that there is a fine line between business and the development of friendships forged out of stress and hardships. My appreciation for Dr. Richard and Dr. Gollery cannot be measured or defined. Hopefully, they both understand what I mean by this. I do not know what the future holds for me, but my goal of accomplishing a Ph.D. has been achieved with the help of Dissertation by Design.
Now, I must figure out what I want to be when I grow up.
– Joe