Celebrating a Milestone! 22 years ago I publicly defended my PhD

Daunting doesn’t even begin to cover it, and calling it overwhelming feels like an understatement. Imagine this: 60 minutes to defend 𝟮,𝟰𝟰𝟯 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, facing off against 𝟵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝟮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗵𝘀 (more on that in a second), and a crowd of random onlookers. And let’s not forget the three-piece tailcoat suit – a perfect setting for any antiperspirant commercial. 😅

As I reflect on that day in December, 22 years ago thinking ahead to 2025, three things come to mind:

𝟭. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸-𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿/𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵.

Find someone who’s got YOUR back and believes in you, unconditionally. Huge thanks to 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗖𝗮𝘀 𝗩𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 🙌 couldn’t have done it without you!

𝟮. 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗵𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘆.

A paranymph is like a ceremonial assistant or coach – think of it as the academic equivalent of a best man at a wedding. Having friends who literally stand behind you as you face off challenges. 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁!

𝟯. 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.

Your story should speak for itself and make people listen. The stronger the narrative, the harder it is to ignore (and fail your public defense).

🚀 𝗔𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 – 𝘄𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂?

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 and with you when things get tough? Are you being intentional about surrounding yourself with 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸?

Tag your mentors, paranymphs, or those who lift you up – and let’s celebrate the people who help us thrive! 👏