Dr Anmoll Khanna
“The strength of a dream lies in the courage to pursue it, even when the path is steep.”
As I pen down my thoughts, my heart is overwhelmed with emotions. The journey from being a PhD scholar to finally earning the esteemed title of “Doctor of Philosophy” has been nothing short of extraordinary. It was a journey marked by sacrifices, perseverance, and moments of profound personal and academic growth. I embarked on this path with a dream-a curiosity to explore the unexplored and a deep commitment to broadening my horizons. However, the dream quickly became a test of endurance, filled with sleepless nights, self-doubt, and countless challenges. The fear of inadequacy often loomed, and the relentless pressure to perform tested my determination. Yet, every setback became a stepping stone, compelling me to dig deeper and grow stronger.
Choosing a research topic and working through its execution was a challenging journey for me. Since my research focused on the sensitive subject of women and violence, the challenges became even more difficult to navigate. It was emotionally and intellectually taxing to delve deep into such a critical issue, and the process required immense dedication and resilience. Completing this journey took me a full four years, during which I faced numerous hurdles, but ultimately, it was a transformative and deeply enriching experience. The path to a PhD is not merely a test of intellect; it is a profound examination of one’s resilience. There were times when failed experiments, rewritten drafts, and crumbled hypotheses left people questioning their abilities. But each failure carried valuable lessons, reshaping the perspective and sharpening the skills. It’s just like a PhD scholar begins as raw gold, and through the fire of research, transforms into pure, refined gold. Like, unrefined gold has inherent worth but needs a lot of polishing to showcase its exquisite artistry, A PhD scholar’s journey starts from tremendous latent capabilities. Initially, it is difficult for the student to comprehend the degree of the evolution they are required to go through both mentally and emotionally. They step into the research continuum with a willingness to learn and acquire skills, but the journey is extensive and comes with challenges.
Over the years, the raw ideas of the scholar start becoming more concrete, the research focus shifts, and questions become sharp and easier to answer. Stepwise, they acquire knowledge, gain experience and master their subject. However, this phase is most advanced in terms of possibilities of personal transformation even though progress at times is gradual with a high volume of work and self-doubt. The scholar begins to his himself not only as a student who must learn but also as a person who contributes to the knowledge in their area. The change is most noticeable in the latter phases of the PhD. The vague and disjointed ideas start becoming more organised. The learner starts not just to understand knowledge-they start shaping it, bringing new ideas, new problems and new developments into the field. This is the stage when you begin to feel that you are not only a student but also an author and an active participant in the field of your research. The PhD program is a time of intellectual and personal self-discovery. We go through a range of feelings and experiences from the first phases of developing a research issue to the last moments of defending our dissertation. Certain days bring excitement and discoveries, while others are filled with frustration and doubt. Time spent immersed in libraries, labs, or in front of screens unfolds like a movie, intertwining persistence, sleepless nights, and shared experiences.
With all its difficulties and victories, the PhD journey is a common one Dr. Priya Verma, who completed her Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Chandigarh University after five gruelling years. Her research aimed to find innovative ways to combat antibiotic resistance-a daunting and critical task. “The first two years felt like wandering in a maze,” she admitted. Experiments failed repeatedly, and some days, the data made no sense. But the turning point came in her third year when a sudden insight during an unexpected conversation with a colleague opened doors to new methods. Priya says, “The key was perseverance. Every failure was a step closer to success. “On the other hand, my fellow scholar from Amity University, Noida Mrs Neerja Nagpal, a mother of a son who recently got engaged, is a remarkable woman in her 50s who believes that age is no barrier in life.
She views life as a challenge and has embraced it wholeheartedly by becoming a PhD scholar. Despite initially struggling with technology, her PhD journey has taught her everything she needed to learn. She proudly shares that she is transitioning from being a PhD scholar to earning the title of a PhD doctorate. With unwavering determination, she affirms that even at this stage of life, significant achievements are not only possible but within reach.
In this journey, I met a doctorate Dr. Kavita Singh whose story reflects the challenges of balancing life and academia. She was a scholar in Computer Science from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra. She said that everything is not served on the plate, and we must simply eat it. To have food we must earn it. Same way her PhD journey was not at all easy. She faced funding issues and the demands of raising a young child. She adds,
“There were nights when I would work on my thesis with a baby in one hand and a laptop in the other,” She recalled with a smile. Despite these hurdles, she completed her doctorate in six years, proving that resilience and resourcefulness can overcome even the most daunting circumstances. There was one such scholar from Lingaya’s Vidyapeeth, Faridabad Dr. Ramesh Yadav who grew up in a small farming village where education was a rare privilege. Despite financial struggles and societal expectations to remain a farmer, Ramesh dreamt of pursuing higher studies. With his family’s unwavering support, he excelled academically and was accepted into a Ph.D. program in Environmental Science, focusing on sustainable farming practices. However, the journey was fraught with challenges-cultural adjustments in the city, lack of resources, and the pressure to succeed. He says, “Without my family’s sacrifices, this wouldn’t have been possible.” His parents sold a portion of their land to fund his education, and their belief in his dreams kept him motivated. After six years of relentless effort,
Ramesh completed his doctorate, returning to his village with the knowledge that could improve farming practices for his community. Family is the anchor that holds us steady in life’s storms, the foundation that lifts us higher, and the sanctuary where love and support always feel like home. Meeting Dr Ramesh was a profound moment that opened my eyes to the irreplaceable role family plays in shaping our strength and resilience. His wisdom and insights made me realize that without the unwavering support of family, we are like a tree without roots, unable to stand tall. I also want to thank my family for their support
Looking back, this journey was about more than earning a degree. It was about transformation-becoming someone capable of critical thinking and making meaningful contributions to society. The title of “PhD” is not just a symbol of academic expertise but a reflection of years of effort, growth, and belief in the power of dreams. Amidst the struggles, there were moments of inspiration and breakthroughs that made it all worthwhile. The joy of discovery, the satisfaction of solving complex problems, and the thrill of contributing to the vast pool of knowledge are rewards that few experiences can match.
The path is rarely linear; it is an intricate dance of failures and triumphs, sleepless nights and moments of inspiration. Yet, it is these challenges that shape us, refining not just our intellect but also our character. We begin as seekers of knowledge and end as contributors to the vast expanse of human understanding. As I transition from being a scholar to a doctorate, I am reminded of these words by Nelson Mandela: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Indeed, the impossible becomes possible with determination, faith, and perseverance. To every aspiring scholar, I share this thought by Henry David Thoreau: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” Pursue your goals with courage, for the reward lies not just in the destination but in the journey itself.
This achievement is not mine alone. It belongs to a family who believed in me, to mentors who were guiding me, and also to the peers who found themselves beside me. Therefore, I would say that to anyone who wants this milestone to be achieved, embrace the challenges, cherish the journey, and most of all, never forget your dreams. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
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