Delay is Not Denial
Today, I want to open up and share something more personal — life lessons drawn from my ongoing PhD journey. If you’re in the middle of your own pursuit, feeling stuck or defeated, I believe this reflection will be worth your time.
Have you ever noticed how people often celebrate milestones without asking what it took to get there? The applause, the congratulations, the glowing announcements — they rarely reflect the messy, painful, and complicated road that led to success. And yet, that road is where the true story lies.
Over the past three years, I’ve been working on a project that tested me repeatedly. It failed more times than I care to count. I remember one setback so vividly — it took me months to recover. At the time, it felt like the end of everything I’d built. I didn’t know it then, but that painful moment was preparing me for something greater. It hurt. Deeply. But looking back now, I see how every crack let in the light.
When the successes finally came — the wins, the messages of congratulations, the recognition — yes, it felt good. But part of me wished people knew the backstory. The late nights. The rejections. The doubt. The tears. The internal battle between giving up and pushing on. We don’t often talk about that part enough. But it matters.
I want to tell you something, especially if you’re struggling: there is purpose in the painful process. I’ve learned this firsthand.
Let me share a bit more…
In 2022, I was offered a fully funded master’s program in the U.S. I was thrilled. But then, my visa application was delayed. Twice. It was a crushing experience — one I’ll never forget. I pushed through the pain and decided to shift my focus. I already had a master’s degree, so I started applying for PhD programs instead. Months later, I got an offer from a much higher-ranked university, with full funding. And this time, my visa was approved.
Another chapter of this story is tied to my master’s thesis. I had the chance to publish in an entry-level journal after graduation, but I aimed higher. I submitted to more advanced journals — and got rejected. Brutally. The comments I received were disheartening and left me demoralized for weeks. I abandoned the manuscript for a whole year. I questioned whether I even belonged in academia. But something in me refused to quit. I picked it up again. And just recently, my thesis was published in a globally recognized journal.
Telling these stories is exhilarating, but remembering the process still brings a lump to my throat. None of it was easy. All of it was worth it.
So if you’re in a valley right now, feeling lost or questioning your competence — please know it’s a phase. A necessary, refining, and sometimes brutal phase in the journey of becoming. Your story isn’t over. Your breakthrough is coming. And one day, you’ll tell your story — not from a place of pain, but of purpose.
I’m rooting for you. Always.
Don’t forget: life comes in phases. Some days we laugh, some days we cry — but we keep going.
Chin up. Cheer up. Your story is still being written. 