One would have heard the following quote at some stage in their life: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step”. However, you don’t hear too much relating to how that journey went or how it ended.
Chapter 1 (2018) - Rollercoaster
Chapter 2 (2019) - Foundation
Chapter 3 (2020) – Knuckling down
Chapter 4 (2021) – Finish line
I think this quote by Usain Bolt really sums up my PhD. If I was running a marathon, my start would be akin to one stumbling and landing face first on the ground. However, knowing I can make up for lost ground if I push that extra bit harder. Which is what I did. I started the year strong with my first publication (can read about that here). The first publication formed the first chapter of my thesis. Slowly but steadily, I worked on putting more components together. The next achievement was publishing my meta-analysis which would form the final chapter of my thesis as well as my general introduction. Two chapters down, two to go. The final two chapters were the most difficult because they comprised the bulk of my zebrafish data. In addition, they complimented one another so I had to ensure a lot of things were consistent. The final few months were intense, but after plenty of deliberation, I managed to piece all the components together. I could finally see the finish line. It looked glorious.
Fast forward to 2022, my thesis has been successfully submitted. The final two chapters have been sent in for publication. I am working full-time at Cure Brain Cancer Foundation and am better placed than ever.
To finish, I can’t emphasize enough how important my lab was in this journey. From my supervisors to lab members, everyone played a crucial part in where I am now. I thank you all.
“The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime” – Babe Ruth