A letter to my younger self

After the success of the Festival of Doctoral Research, we are continuing to compile a collection of “letters to my younger self” from distinguished researchers across the University focusing on their own journey through their doctorate (PhD/EngD/DClin Psych/DEd Psych/EdD etc).

The topic of the letter is: “What would you want your younger self to know?”

These letters will give those embarking on their doctoral journey some advice and guidance on what they might expect/experience and how to deal with it.

These letters are a celebration of the person writing them, they can be as heavy or light as the author wishes them to be.

The Task:

• Focus on your doctoral journey.
• Don’t advise your younger self on everything you wish you’d known during your doctorate. Go deep on one or two things, rather than broad.
• Write your letter as if you are speaking directly to yourself. Use “you” and the present tense.
• Include advice that you think will benefit readers. (It may be difficult to do this without sounding clichéd, but give it a go).
• Be kind to your (younger) self.
• Write a small introduction to your letter. This will go before the Dear… part. It will set the stage for who you are now and what has happened since your doctorate.

What we’re hoping for:

• First, there is the wisdom, contained in the message. It may help someone in the throes of a similar situation.
• And—just as important—the letter tells a reader that they are not alone. Knowing that others have been in similar situations and come through the other side is a great encouragement.
• Writing a letter to your younger self is a way to celebrate the you of the past, through the lens of the present – and share your own voice of experience.