Yana Asenova

How long do four years feel?

At the start of my PhD, four years sounded like forever. I had just left a five-year full time job, and I knew exactly how long four years should look like. But something shifts when you enter academia – somehow, doing a PhD bends the rules of time. Suddenly, three years have passed and one of the clichés you hear as a PhD student turns out to be true: your time will fly.

The final year (or TFY, as I’ll call it in future posts) is my way of reflecting on my journey so far and, hopefully, helping others along the way – whether to relate, to learn, or simply to satisfy their curiosity about what it means to do a PhD.

This year also feels like the last stop before the next chapter of my academic career. So TFY is not just a reflection on the past, but a way of sharing my experience as it unfolds. Where this path ulimately leads remains a mystery to me. Still, I’m excited about what’s ahead.

Until next time,

Yana