My name is Alicia Wickert (She/ Her). I am a PGR at the University of Birmingham. I have an undergraduate degree in English Language and Linguistics and a master's degree in Intercultural Communication. I am currently in my first year of a PhD in English Language and Applied Linguistics. My research focuses on impoliteness and impoliteness reciprocity in interaction, specifically in political discourse. Follow me on Twitter: @_alicia__w

From Stay-at-Home Mom to Doctorate Student at 50

Not all doctoral degrees are earned in your 30s and 40s. While many pursue doctoral degrees during those years to attain professional gains and financial security, this article shows how enrolling in a PhD program in your 50s can bring a fresh lens due to entering a new season of life and finally having a window of opportunity to step outside your comfort zone.

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It’s Your PhD: How to Deal With Unhelpful Advice

This article explores how advice, whether solicited or unsolicited, can damage the morale and hope of those doing a PhD. The purpose of this article is to comment on the boundaries that researchers must put in place to avoid being negatively affected: we must be discerning as to whether advice is useful and pertinent, or whether it is not applicable to us. The main message is: don’t listen to everyone, and trust your own judgement!

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