It's there - it took me 2,830 days

I enrolled on the 14 October 2013 for my PhD and today, and I was officially was confirmed as Dr Jolel Miah

I didn't think it would take me just under 8 years to complete the PhD, but I am grateful for every day I have experienced since being on this journey. Each day brought me new ideas, implement scientific methods in my work and develop critical thinking.

Have I improved as a Human being? I don't know; I feel the same as I did when I left High School with 3 C's for my GCSE's. The responsibilities that came as a young carer impacted my young brain; the expectations, the pressure is something I wouldn't wish on anyone. You see, I was trying to survive too, and I had very little choice other than to be positive and optimistic about the future. You know that famous saying - Smile at someone because you don't know what they are going through. I was curious about the world, and I still am.

There are so many people who have helped me to become who I am today. There have been lessons and challenges along the way. There have been people who have not been supportive but equally valuable as they brought meaning to my life, and I am grateful to them.

'I am deeply sorry'

I am sure that I could have done more to help people, and there are some mistakes I have made along the way. For that, I am deeply sorry. I am not the finished article, and nor I will be. I will continue to accept fate, be true to myself and my faith. I hope the mental health charity Our Minds Matter has helped one to two people. I will continue to be compassionate and learn from others. I don't regret my experiences because, without them, I wouldn't be where I am today.

The picture - what can you see?

You can see the picture when I first started as an undergraduate student in Psychology in 2006 and the other picture of me reading my PhD in 2021. The rooms I was in those pictures are somewhat similar and in some ways different to one another. What can you spot?

The 'struggle'

Those who know me well know life has given me many challenges, and one day, I hope to be able to talk about the mental struggles that I have faced. I am human, and I am me. It's not been easy, and it was not supposed to be, but I loved every minute of it. I wouldn't change a single piece of my journey.

Those are my thoughts as I have completed the PhD.

I will continue to read, write and experience.