PHD VLOG: job market plans, reflecting on dissertation progress, & my future with social media 

I don't know why, but the "more than anything, I just feel really proud of myself" made me tear up. I feel like grad school is made up of a thousand difficult projects going on all at once, and it can be hard to see progress, just because there is always so much more that is still going on. So the fact that you were intentional about recognizing your accomplishments was really inspiring to me. I think I will do a midyear reset of my own! The reflection is a nice way to be present in this period of our lives, and make sure the good times don't get lost in the shuffle. Congrats on the 2 chapters down, and here's hoping the following ones go just as smoothly!

Sarah whenever you posts a new vlog it's put a big smile on my face.😀😀💖💖 you are my truly truly inspiration 🥹

Hi Sarah! I loved this video. You really made me realise how much we need to be grateful for our achievements, something I don't do usually. You really inspired me to do this mid-year journaling and it was needed. Thanks for your content ❤

On your dissertation--I do think, for me, chapters 3 and 4 so far have been quicker to write! I spent a long time working on chapter 2 especially. When I got to chapter three, I wrote a full rough draft *in a two week dissertation workshop.* I couldn't believe how much I had done in that time. It was all rough, of course, but it went faster than drafting prior chapters. While I waited for feedback on chapter three, my advisor wanted me to start writing chapter four to try and get a draft done before the fall, and since then I've already drafted 12 pages. I'm not entirely sure HOW this momentum is building so quickly but I will not question it in the slightest haha I hope the same happens for you, Sarah! On the job market--I'm entering the job market this fall too and it is terrifying. I'm excited to be working through this at the same time you are and seeing what you vlog for us, however much or little you can! Also, excited to see your website. I am always looking for ways to improve my own, and nobody ever talks about designing academic websites, I feel.

First of all, I don't think anyone could ever think of you as ungrateful! You are so humble and blessed! Also, I really loved the trio of categories that you broke down, and chatted about on your bed. Your last segment about what you are grateful for was one of the sweetest things I've ever heard! You and your boyfriend are so cute together! If you could please do a video on your journaling process. That is something that I would like to get into more… I will be starting my fifth year of my PhD this fall and I'm thinking I should've started this much sooner! I would love to hear how you plan your entries… are they more like brain dumps? Do you go by prompts? And if you use prompts, where do you get them? Also, I'm so glad you're going to share your job market experiences with us… I will be starting that soon as well so that is going to be very helpful! Although RU-vid is something that you just do for fun, it is tremendously helpful for us fellow graduate/PhD students. Not to mention, your channel and your voice are very comforting and soothing! Thanks for this inspiring video!

Your videos are the highlight of my day!

I’m so excited to see your job market journey! I am also going to be on the job market in academia (different subject) at the same time!

Good luck on the job market! And wonderful job on all you've accomplished so far!

Congratulations, on your accomplishments thus far this year, Sarah! This vlog made me smile so much! You are inspiring! Thank you for sharing your life with us!

This was such a cute vlog! Good luck on the job market!

Wishing you all the best with your job market especially with bringing you closer to home. So sweet to hear you say Zach is your safe and comfort zone. You are a very cute couple. Enjoy your vlogs looking forward to your job market journey vlogs and the finalization of your dissertation.

Another PhD student here! I’m starting my fourth year this Fall, aiming to finish my PhD by Spring 25 and also be on the job market this Fall. I started following your page as there just weren’t a lot of people doing vlogs as a PhD student! Thankful for your content as it’s been super relatable and knowing I’m not alone. I hope your content can also keep me accountable to maintain my health and mental health as I enter the job market this Fall as well!

love your job market plan morning from Hawaii

I started an internship in December and the interview process in October felt soooo intimidating since I didn’t have a formal job interview for about 5 years before that. It was a great reminder and practice for when I finish my program and get a big girl job.

Hi Sarah! I have a bit of a random question, but I remember you once mentioning in a vlog (now I don't remember which one...) that you're analysing Kaelyn Grace Apple's vlogs and how she explains why she studies African-American history despite not being African-American. Do you maybe know in which one of her videos specifically is she talking about that? I am a PhD candidate as well, and I study African literature and I'm at the point of a crisis right now and feel like just deleting my whole dissertation draft and asking myself why do I even consider myself to have the right to study African literature if I am not African myself... And I remembered now, watching you, that you were once talking about including that case study in your diss and I think I would really benefit from hearing the perspective of another academic who is in the similar situation as me. Thanks :)

I would love to know, how do you know what jobs are open? Is there a mailing list for your discipline, does your advisor let you know, some other way? I'm still a couple years from the job market but I'm so anxious about finding jobs to apply for