As you read in my update post, summer was busssssyyyyyy. By next month, I should be back to posting monthly life updates, but I thought it would be better if I combine the last few months!
JULY:
- I began redrafting my probation report. SURPRISE, SURPRISE–there were many spelling mistakes!
- I continued transcribing archive documents–something I’ve learnt this year is THIS TAKES FOREVER.
- I dislocated my knee (not work related but it definitely impacted it!)
- I wrote a piece for the brilliant First 100 Years project. Check it out here.
- I worked on a paper for a upcoming August conference.
AUGUST:
- I continued redrafting my probation report. Told you it took me FOREVER!
- Ditto, transcribing.
- Ditto, PhD reading.
- I also directed a panto:
- I also attended and presented at the wonderful annual WHN conference in Portsmouth. It was such a wonderful event, full of super interesting papers and a suffragette sing-a-long.
SEPTEMBER:
- I attended and chaired a panel at the CLC conference. Weirdly, chairing a panel was super stressful and nerve-racking! Almost more so than delivering a paper!
- I prepped for AND PASSED MY MINI-VIVA! EEEEEEK! This means that I was upgraded to PhD status and my research was approved. Cue celebrations:
- AND, finally, I wrote a paper for and presented at the OU FBL Research Festival!
- Alongside this, I did more academic reading, transcribed more documents, and emailed archives.
SO, I’ve had the most amazing first year as a PhD student. It’s been challenging at times, but always rewarding. I’m really looking forward to where my research goes in the next two years!
The Portia Post 