Punam V. Saxena holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Master’s in Education and currently working on her doctorate in education. Throughout her 30 years of experience teaching and volunteering in her children’s schools, she implemented several procedures that have benefited the students and administrators within the school district. She has been recognized as Volunteer of the Year at Harrison School for the Arts and has received a Key to the City, both in Lakeland, Florida. Punam is a Parent Impact Coach, TEDx speaker, podcast host of edu-Me, a published author. Her work focuses on bridging the gap and fostering and stronger relationship between parents and schools by empowering parents to become partners in their child’s education. Her passion and work stem from her life experiences as a first-generation Indian American as well as raising her own four children. She currently works with clients to equip them with strategies to ensure they advocate for their children in a productive manner that works for them and their children.

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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Full-Circle Journey of a Doctoral Student: Applications, Interviews, and Mentoring Others 

This article takes the reader on a journey of a doctoral student, from applications, interviews, and building a relationship with supervisors, to coming full circle by mentoring other students starting out and facing challenges. The writer shares their advice and their own personal experience of each stage, including their fulfilling mentoring work promoting awareness of mental wellbeing among PhD students.

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