On July 24th, a quiet milestone marked the end of my PhD labwork. It feels surreal to even write that sentence. I’ve come a long, winding way to get here—a path filled with detours, delays, and moments when the light at the end of the tunnel seemed impossibly far.
I started with hope, full-time and determined, only to face an unexpected roadblock—COVID-19. Progress stalled just as I was finding my stride in catalyst synthesis. Financial strains crept in, forcing me to take up a job and shift to part-time PhD mode. It was tough, unimaginably so. Two semesters passed with almost zero progress, sickness hit, and I deferred my studies. There were days I wanted to give up completely.
But something in me refused to stop. I shifted my career, stepping into a research scientist role where my job and PhD could intertwine. Slowly, I started gaining momentum. I made progress—not just in experiments, but in rebuilding my confidence. Then came a two-month break from work. It was mentally draining, but I turned that time into my turning point. I threw myself into the lab and completed what I once thought might be impossible.
And now, here I am. I. DID. IT.
I ugly-cried (proof is the picture below, no shame but i try not to look THAT ugly iykwim) when I realized I had reached the end of this tunnel. It’s almost the finish line. I now face my next challenge—thesis writing—and I’m ready to give it my all.
This journey has been one of persistence and growth. I am so, so proud of myself. They say a PhD changes you, and I can confirm it does. I’m stronger, wiser, and more resilient than I was when I began.
I owe so much to the people who stood by me. To my supervisor, who believed in me from day one—you’ll never know how much your faith in me meant during those dark moments.
This isn’t just the end of labwork. It’s the start of a new chapter. I hope to flourish even more from here, and I’ll carry this story of persistence with me wherever I go.