Doctoral Identity Reflection

Doctoral Identity Reflection

Doctoral identity is one of the primary challenges that Ph.D. students face during the first stages of the course. Most students struggle with an identity problem, as they may deem themselves not worthy of the new responsibilities bestowed upon them.  I feel that Having mixed reactions or confused at first is normal because everyone wants to be sure that they are doing is the right thing, which may be difficult to do during the first days of being enlisted in a doctoral program. However, despite the confusion during the early phase of doctoral education, it is essential for the student to understand his or her interests and use them to develop a good dissertation or a capstone project. A student understanding his or her doctoral identity is critical because it gives him or her the courage to develop research skills and select a good research topic that will significantly impact they area of study.

I think that doctoral students should begin by believing in themselves that they can be able to complete a PhD course and pass it. I feel like having self-confidence will enable PhD student to try harder and rectify their mistakes and weaknesses, helping them to become great independent scholars. Thus, doctoral students believing in themselves is the first step in succeeding in a PhD course. Another challenge that doctoral student have is wondering whether they want to be students again and whether they fit in as students. Being a student is never an easy task due to the responsibility learners are expected to fulfill. However, becoming a student to get a PhD is worth it, because one learns how to develop a research project that will positively impact the knowledge base of the course that one is studying. I think after one understands the benefits of coming up with resourceful material which will help many people, the worry of fitting in as a learner ends and one focuses on achieving his or her educational goals.