Overcoming Adversity: How I Completed My Manuscript Against All Odds

When life throws you curve balls, let go of the bat and keep calm.

Trigger Warning: This blog post discusses death and challenging experiences during my graduate studies.

Last week, I submitted my completed manuscript for my thesis panel’s review. I wanted to start this blog on a cheerful note, but I can’t ignore the challenges I’ve faced to get here. That morning, as I was composing the email, I couldn’t feel proud of my work—I was numb and mentally drained. It wasn’t because I hadn’t done enough; in fact, I had done plenty, at least for a Master’s thesis. Sending that email was difficult because I was exhausted and, quite frankly, scared of negative comments. Despite everything, I made it to this point in my graduate studies. I thought this day would never come.

Allow me to backtrack for a moment. Lately, I’ve become all about lists—grocery lists, task lists, journals to submit my research to, people to consult, and more. Lists have kept me organized and focused. So, here is a list of the challenges I faced during my graduate studies. I hope that when I look back at this, I’ll see just how far I’ve come:

1. I lost my first thesis adviser.

As I mentioned, this post includes difficult topics. If you’ve recently lost someone, you might want to find a happier blog to read. Back in 2022, my first thesis adviser, a very good friend I’d known for over two decades, succumbed to a dreadful disease. Her death was sudden and came as a shock to our small community of earth scientists. She was well-loved, and her loss was a significant blow to all of us who were mentored by her.

2. Finding another adviser was challenging.

My first thesis adviser was the only expert in the academe for the kind of work I was planning for my thesis because it was one of her domains. Naturally, I had a hard time finding another adviser within my university. When my adviser passed away, we were in the process of preparing for the thesis proposal colloquium. Thankfully, a professor took me into his lab, though he admittedly had qualms about doing so. After all, my thesis employs a method unfamiliar to many geologists. I’m beyond grateful that he “adopted” me and has been very supportive, especially in getting funding and providing insights about microscopy.

3. Rejection by a company for collaboration.

Since my thesis has applications in the energy sector, I needed actual samples from a subsurface resource. The first company I contacted initially agreed to collaborate but then stopped responding to my follow-ups and eventually declined due to data privacy concerns. I was disheartened by the months lost. I could have started my research sooner if I had listened to my first adviser, who had advised against working with that company due to prior bad experiences.

However, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. I mustered the courage to reach out to the company she had recommended before her death. They said yes! Additionally, my former adviser had a stash of samples in her office, which the company allowed me to use. My thesis panel and I felt that even beyond death, my old adviser was guiding me. I hadn’t considered looking through her belongings out of respect, but that day, with the company’s permission, I retrieved the samples and cried, thanking her for watching over me. She was my angel.

4. Lack of funding.

My research project never received approval for funding. The money spent on my fieldwork was sponsored by my new thesis adviser. I also had to use my late adviser’s microscope, which unfortunately broke down when I still had more than 20 samples to analyze.

I borrowed a microscope from a mining company that graciously allowed me to use it for a week. It was a better microscope, from a well-known brand, and the images I captured were excellent, enabling me to produce high-quality visuals for my manuscript. All other consumables for my thesis came out of my meager salary as a research associate.

Despite these challenges, I made it through. Looking back, I see not only the struggles but also the resilience and support from people around me that got me here. This journey has been tough, but it’s also a testament to the strength and dedication I’ve developed along the way.

My journey as a graduate student is far from over—I still have to defend my thesis and publish my work. Yet, I feel that half the battle has been won. Much like my country, which is prone to natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and typhoons, I’ve faced and overcome significant challenges to get to where I am now.

Finally, if you are a graduate student and might be struggling yourself, know that you’re not alone. Feel free to hit me up to talk.

xoxo,