The School of Health and Wellbeing hosted its Postgraduate Annual Conference on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Running from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, it wasn’t a full-day session, but it filled with all the needs for everyone involved.

The conference kicked off with a lively networking session for all postgraduate students. The goal? To get to know fellow researchers from different floors of our building. Participants engaged in a fun icebreaker activity called "Find Someone Who." Each student received a sheet of paper with prompts like "find someone who is wearing blue" or "find someone who plays a sport." This encouraged everyone to mingle, chat, and discover interesting about their peers. The casual, light-hearted questions set a fun and relaxed tone for the event.

Next up was the mental health session, a vital component of the long PhD journey. This session was led by experts from the University who emphasized the importance of mental health support available to all postgraduate students.

Following that, we shifted gears to focus on our post-PhD career paths. Esteemed alumni, now working in various institutions and projects, shared their experiences and insights. Their stories provided us with a glimpse of the vast opportunities awaiting us after graduation.

The final session featured current PhD students from the School of Health and Wellbeing, representing different years and research groups. They candidly shared their experiences, expectations, and anxieties. It was comforting to learn that while each student's journey is unique and challenging, support is always accessible.

The conference was well-prepared and efficient, capturing the essence of the PhD journey and offering strategies to manage it effectively. The key takeaway? A PhD is a marathon, not a sprint. Each student moves at their own pace, facing unique challenges and backgrounds, but with endurance and support, we can all enjoy the journey with its ups and downs.

Just like in a marathon, there will be moments of exhilaration and times of struggle, but what matters most is perseverance and the journey we build along the way. The lesson and shared experiences help to keep us motivated and resilient. Remember, every step, no matter how small, is progress. With patience and determination, we can all cross the finish line, proud of our achievements and ready for the next adventure.

 

Ike Dhiah Rochmawati

First published: 2 July 2024

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