This conversation is taking longer than I was expecting, but there is one thing I have purposely left behind. It was something deeply embedded into myself but that I'd never heard before. Never. It was the imposter.
Author: Rosaria Cercola
Hi!
I have a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of York, UK and I work now in no-profit publishing. I am really curious about science, languages and archaeology and passionate about sharing science. I love travelling and, like every Italian, eating!
And what did I learn?
If you go back and read the whole PhD and then what series, you can find plenty of hints on how important doing a PhD abroad has been for my personal growth. But what is that I am most grateful for?
But what did I do during my PhD?
So far, I've been talking a lot about why I decided to do a PhD, the issues I've encountered and what's my job now that I've left academia. But I've not really mentioned my actual research. Thinking back to my PhD, it's almost like the research I've carried out sits the background of my personal growth. On the contrary, it was one of the main actors, forcing me to step up my game, leave my comfort zone and learn something new every day.
So, I packed my bags and left
This is the third "episode" of my PhD journey series. Where I go a teensy bit into moving abroad. Where did I go? What was so difficult about it? What did I learn? What is that I will never let myself forget?
Let’s take a step back: why did I do a PhD?
For those of you that do not know me, I come from a relatively big town in the suburbs of Naples, in Italy. One of those overpopulated but very sad places where there is not too much to do, or many jobs to find.
This story begins from its end
This story begins from its end. Or somewhere in the middle. It starts with the end of a PhD, with long months spent trying to understand my next move. What was I doing? Where was I going? So many doubts. Among all of them, one thing was sure: my PhD was not going to define me.
One year of pandemic. How am I coping?
As days become longer and weeks seem to get shorter, we have "celebrated" one year into the pandemic. How is everyone holding up? This is how I am handling it.
A job I love and our first issue.
If you have followed my adventures on this blog, you probably know that this has been a weird year (I mean, wasn't it for everyone?) in which I have tried to find myself, in the middle of a pandemic, on the other side of the world.
Here we go!
So we left each other with me talking about this new, incredible opportunity that I was lucky enough to grasp. And now?
Great news and a fresh new start.
After months of energy draining job search, I have found an amazing one! And I could not be any happier.
RosAnsia 