Walking the Fine Line

Doctoral students entering graduate programs in the midst of COVID-19 encountered several struggles with socialization, psychological well-being, and academic progress. Prior literature demonstrates the challenges that doctoral students faced prior to the pandemic; however, the nature of uncertainty during the pandemic resulted in several unforeseen circumstances. The present study utilized a collaborative autoethnography to illuminate the narratives of six doctoral students as they entered doctoral programs at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers of the present study developed open-ended questions that reflected their lived experiences within their respective degree programs. The aim of the study was to gain insight into the psychological and emotional experiences of first-year doctoral students during the pandemic. After coding the six guided reflections, the following themes emerged: (1) Navigating Mental and Material Models of Normalcy, (2) Connecting Experiences to Emotions, (3) Developing Reactive and Reparative Self-Care Strategies. Other subthemes are discussed in the chapter. This study opens the door for dialogue among administrators, faculty, and staff to continue to create supportive environments that meet the needs of doctoral students as the socialization process continues to evolve after the pandemic.