What better way to start building your legacy than during the writing of your doctoral thesis? This is a great opportunity to reorder priorities, transform yourself, and start a path full of challenges that, in the end, may even help others to complete their academic project and get inspired.
At the beginning, it is totally normal that many doubts arise, such as: Is it logical at this age to want to study for a doctorate? Will I be able to meet all the demands? Is the investment of this time justified? Will I see the reward at the end? All this without imagining that writing a doctoral thesis is not only a requirement for the approval of the academic program, on the contrary, it can mean the process that will totally transform your life.
The World Economic Forum, made a report in the year 2024, where 52% of professionals over 35 years old who started a doctorate did it thinking about how to connect with their life purpose, or reorient their career path. In this way, you can expect that the thesis is a springboard between what you are doing today and what you are about to push towards a brighter career path.
The requirements for writing a thesis go beyond knowledge. It requires focus, discipline, perseverance, and the ability to think critically or differently. This is a great challenge for those who are used to the immediacy of the work environment. Although it is important to note, these types of intellectual demands are the generators of transformative and lasting change. Below, you will learn about the benefits, the main benefits that the writing process offers you.
Make a coherent argument by organizing the chaos of information
Find your own scientific opinion
Built with different academic approaches
Do complex data validation with acuity and depth
The mental training acquired in the academic world does not stop there; on the contrary, the change and their way of thinking will allow them to solve problems and also to see the world from another positive and different perspective. This is confirmed by a study conducted by the magazine Science (2023) which published that 68% of the people who finish a doctorate considerably improve the ability to make complex decisions in their work and personal lives.
Although you may think that the writing process is very, very technical, it is not. The real challenge is emotional. That's when fatigue, procrastination, and a host of doubts and insecurities set in, which can lower your motivation.
A study in the Journal of Adult Learning published a study in 2024 indicates that doctoral students with good emotional support are 37% more likely to complete their dissertation in the allotted time.
Also, if you want to counteract procrastination or demotivation, the secret is to transform the thesis into a habit to grow. There are three strategies that have worked well for doctoral students over the age of 35:
1 - Fragment into achievable parts Dividing the work into weekly blocks with all the goals very clear will help you not to get exhausted in the process and to be more productive.
2 - Visualize your future and the impact you will achieve Remember that your doctoral thesis is the legacy you will leave in your professional field; never visualize your doctoral work as a document.
3 - Keep in touch Support networks are important to connect you and have good support both academically and emotionally. Make support networks with family members who know about your project, also with other students through online groups, and with professors.
Cibele Pinto, Ph.D. is a Brazilian professional who has excelled in the pharmaceutical and medicinal world, especially in nephrology. During the process of her Ph.D. in pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Kansas, USA, she managed to master the research techniques, which she had already been practicing. She managed to master the research techniques, which she had already been practicing before her doctorate, achieving a transformation in her life that made her go beyond her goals, thanks to her doctoral thesis.
“Scholarships, mentoring... and a pinch of tenacity helped me bridge the gap between opportunity and achievement, a gap that is so common among Latinos and Hispanics in STEM fields” mentioned Cibele in an article published by the Latinas In Stem blog .
She achieved great success because of her mentality of constant learning and adapting to challenges and changes. In addition to her strong resilience to failure, following the goal instead of giving up, applying renewal, breadth of field of study, and projects based on her knowledge, thus taking a big step from academia to the leadership of clinical projects worldwide.
With the demonstration of this case, there is no doubt that writing a doctoral thesis, besides being an academic matter, can give you the opportunity to realize your dreams, give professional strength to your vocation, and be a reference at an international level.
So if you are in search of a transformation in your professional life, be clear that this demanding path can give you success and inspiring examples.
Do not think that once the thesis is defended, everything is over. This is far from the truth, because your thesis can be a source for:
International presentations
Inspiration for others
Publications and development of new programs
In many cases, graduates decide to turn their theses into a book or practical guide, others continue their line of research in a postdoctoral program, and there is also the case of mentors who support others in their thesis preparation. They may even create consultancies based on specialization. Keep in mind that at this level, your way of thinking has changed, and you can influence others or serve as an example.
The writing of a doctoral thesis is not only not a requirement, but it is the way to reorder priorities, deepen your vocation, develop emotional and mental skills, and leave a mark and impact as a contribution that transcends.
Do not focus on what happens at the beginning; it is normal to have many doubts. What is fundamental in this challenge is the transformation you will experience, with the opportunity to give the world a meaningful contribution.
It is just when you least believe that you will discover that all the sacrifices to obtain the degree were not really about obtaining it, but about being able to achieve it. Every chapter, every fear you overcame, and every moment on your doctoral journey is what will shape you and will remain a unique experience that will make you rediscover yourself in the process and now be a little more sure of what your purpose was.
In this process, think that in addition to writing a thesis, you are training your mind and the way you see how to face the world, in addition to making a chapter of your life. So, do not think that it is too late to start; the important thing is the transformation that a doctorate brings to your life, regardless of age. What makes the change is the decision to do it.
Today it is much easier, because there are online programs with flexible and accessible schedules, especially for people like you, who already have experience, have responsibilities in between, but still have many dreams to fulfill. Are you ready to think differently when writing your doctoral thesis?
To conclude, we share with you a thought to reflect on from the philosopher and writer Senéca "Postponing things is the greatest waste of life: it snatches each day as it comes, and makes us lose the present by promising us the future. The greatest impediment to living is expectation, which hangs on tomorrow and loses today... The whole future is in uncertainty: live immediately."