Five years later and I am still in school. Still trying to graduate. I never imagined it would take me this long to graduate. When I started my doctoral program, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. The doctoral program and dissertation takes marathon energy to successfully graduate.

When I last wrote about my dissertation, I had passed the Institutional Board Review and was ready for final dissertation approval. When I made it to final review, I was told by my committee that I wasn’t ready to go to the next step. When I found out the news I was devastated! Really devastated! Devastated like my first romantic relationship heartbreak. I was so devastated, I had to take a break from working on my dissertation to restore my mental health and live life. In the process of restoring my mental health and living life, I took a 9 month break from school. In my break, I even thought about quitting school and going ABD (all but degree).

While trying to figure out if I was going to finish school, I pray-fully asked God and my ancestors what to do? Do I finish school or not? Please send me a sign. A day later, I received an email from a research participant with access to additional participants. This was the affirmative sign I needed to move forward with my doctoral journey.What I learned from the experience is that school is not worth the mental distress. When I read an article about a doctoral student committing suicide, I empathize because that could have been me. My extreme devastation was a red flag. Speaking on behalf of many doctoral students, these research projects become our livelihood and we sacrifice a lot!  

Mental health issues in doctoral programs is a real thing. To the doctoral students out there…whether you are just starting your journey, in the middle of your journey, or at the tail end of your journey, seek support! The doctoral journal cannot be accomplished alone.  Find your tribe! For those wondering, I still work on my dissertation. I will graduate! Now knowing what I know, I work on my dissertation in a more tolerable manner.

Let’s continue the conversation below…for those of you who have been enrolled in a graduate degree program, how have you overcome the mental stressors of school?

Until next time…

-Peach