Interview with Vanessa Corcoran, author of It’s A Marathon, Not a Sprint: My Road to the Marathon and Ph.D.
In her memoir, Dr. Corcoran chronicles her journey through higher education. Along the way, she turns to running, and becomes a competitive distance runner. Readers will root for her at every step, and will hopefully root for themselves, too.
Humanities PhDs will particularly appreciate this look back at the process including discussions of imposter syndrome and mental health, career concerns, working with advisors, and navigating life and love as a young adult.
Thanks to Vanessa for answering my questions! Read our interview below.
Jen: Why did you write this book?
Vanessa: I wrote the book I wish I had had access to as a grad student.
When I was struggling during grad school, especially when dealing with issues surrounding anxiety and imposter syndrome, I couldn’t find any books on the subject. There were plenty of technical books out there about how to complete a Ph.D. and write a dissertation, but nothing that talked about the ins and outs of the mental and emotional challenges related to writing a dissertation.
I wanted my memoir to provide relatable stories that could remind others that they’re not alone in going through this challenging process.
I also include my story about how running became a useful coping mechanism for grad school students, because I think all grad students should find some sort of hobby to help balance out school. As much as I struggled with mental health in grad school, I know that running helped to dissipate some of the stress and allow me to approach school with a clearer mind.
Jen: Who should read your book?
Vanessa: Anyone who is thinking of pursuing a doctorate should read it, because the book goes beyond the statistics of what to expect, and provides memorable anecdotes about the different milestones in the program.
I also hope that current students, especially if they’ve reached a moment of crisis or self-doubt will read it, as my book walks through what happened when I was unsure whether or not I had the academic prowess and mental stamina to keep going.
And I also hope faculty members advising current grad students will consider reading it, as I hope it provides insights into some of the common concerns their students have.
Jen: What surprised you during the writing, editing, or publishing process?
Vanessa: I had a full draft of this book a few years ago and the common comment among some of my earlier readers was that I wasn’t as forthcoming about some of my mental health struggles.
In the first iteration of the book, I minimized or glossed over some of the episodes, almost seeking to resolve them quickly, when that wasn’t what happened in reality. So the revision process was fairly emotional, as I really had to go back and relive some painful details of my life and figure out how to work them in the book. But in order to be more authentic to the audience, this was a necessary part of the process, and I think the book vastly improved because of it.
Jen: What’s the one thing you want your readers to take away from your work?
Vanessa: I hope that it shows that we’re more than the sum of our accomplishments and failures; it’s how we learned to navigate them that made us who we are today. That’s not to minimize either the highs or the lows, but to recognize that no singular act or moment shapes who we are indefinitely.
Jen: If you could go back in time to your own PhD, what would you do differently?
Vanessa: I would’ve told my professors earlier that I was having a hard time and wondering if they thought it was actually feasible for me to finish.
About a month after I defended, I told my advisor that on several distinct occasions, I thought I was going to get thrown out of the program. She was horrified to learn this, and told me that had I ever shared these concerns with her, she would have reassured me that although I was hitting some stumbling blocks, she saw a viable path to me finishing.
But I kept so much locked up and it just played on a negative feedback loop. This was really detrimental to my overall wellbeing. Had I shared that with others, they could’ve helped and intervened appropriately. So, I wish I had recognized that honesty and vulnerability are assets, not weaknesses.
Jen: Thank you, Vanessa!