Build your Community - advice from a Cambridge-Africa PhD Scholar
Community.
This was the cornerstone of my time in Cambridge; whether it was in the form of African students cooking for each other, scheduling regular punting sessions with my fellow Teaching Associates, having a Zimbabwean housemate in my final year or solidarity with PhD students on my course - community is what carried me through the PhD.
My advice to current and future PhD students is that there are times when the PhD will feel all-consuming. There were times when I thought I would be writing those 80 000 words for eternity. Take a deep breath, pause and tell yourself that ‘this too shall pass’ – because it will! Don’t be so hard on yourself, I wish I hadn’t! This is only the beginning and there is life after the PhD! One thing I do not regret was exploring all Cam had to offer! Experience Cambridge alone and with friends and make a note to be intentional about seeing it in the different seasons too! For example, going for a run along the River Cam in autumn is a completely different experience compared to going for one in summer! My final reflection is to just enjoy the experience if you made it this far you will work hard, I don’t doubt it so just make sure to have fun because there will never be another time like this in your life!
By Matipa Mukondiwa
Cambridge-Africa PhD alumna 2020-2024