At its simplest, resilience is defined as success despite adversity (Luthar, Cicchetti, & Becker, 2000), and resilience research is nested within an ecological model that emphasizes the interactions between individuals and their environment. Given the decades of statistics that continually demonstrate that only between 50% and 30% of individuals who begin their doctorate will actually earn one (e.g. Ivankova & Stick, 2007; Nettles & Millet, 2006), “deciding to do a Ph.D. [or EdD] is a high-risk strategy” (Brailsford, 2010, p. 15). Thus, doctoral persistence, “the continuance of a student’s progress toward the completion of a doctoral degree” (Bair, 1999, p. 8), is a type of resilience.

A book I picked up to read recently, Change Basics (Russell & Russel, 2006), outlines strategies for being resilient that you, as a doctoral students, can practice in order to ensure better success through the program and ultimately the earning of their doctoral degree. Here are a few to start trying:

  • Understand why you are pursuing the doctorate (personal meaning) and create a personal vision of obtaining the desired degree. For, purpose and vision are key to pushing forward when adversity occurs. Keeping your eye on the goal can be helpful in seeing the long term in the midst of the adversity happening in the moment.
  • Be proactive in shaping your own vision and obtaining your goal of earning a doctoral degree. Choices matter and have consequences.
  • Be flexible and adaptable. Rarely do well laid steps go according to plan, especially when it comes to conducting research.
  • Prioritize and practice time management skills. This will help to ensure the priorities remain priority and are not overtaken by what seems urgent in the moment. This also includes getting rid of the unnecessary commitment.
  • Nurture your interpersonal relationships with faculty and peers. Community and connectedness are related to persistence.
  • Also, nurture external relationships as a strong social support system is essential to persistence. Russel and Russel (2006) also note that support systems help affirm your abilities and provides fresh perspective when needed.
  • Use problem solving strategies: Identify the problem (the root), brainstorm solutions, analyzed potential solutions, and then apply and evaluate solutions.
@ 2016. Amanda Rockinson-Szapkiw. All Rights Reserved. Affiliate Disclosure.