Why did you decide to pursue a PhD?
– Ever since childhood, I have been curious to understand how things work. As a child, I quickly became interested in understanding different mechanisms. It probably started with me taking apart toys to explore their function, how they were built, and what would happen if I changed or removed some parts.
– Additionally, I have always had a keen interest in sports. When I was 7 years old, I was interviewed by my teacher, and when asked what I would become in 20 years, I answered that I wanted to be a football player. More than 20 years have now passed, and I have not become a football player (although the answer would have been different if the question had been asked 5 or 10 years later). My profound interest in sports and curiosity to understand various mechanisms are probably one of the reasons why I am now a PhD student in Sports Science.
What is your research about?
– My research is about adolescents’ physical activity during school time. More specifically, I aim to examine factors influencing adolescents’ physical activity during school time from an intersectional perspective. The dissertation is written within the national graduate school called Sustainable Movement Education (SMOVE).
What do you do as a PhD student?
– What I do varies, and no day is the same. Regarding the work on the dissertation, for example, during the spring, I collected data, and during the autumn, I processed and analysed parts of the data. Furthermore, I am a PhD student representative on various bodies and councils, which I find honourable, interesting, and educational.
What is the best part of being a PhD student?
– It has probably been the case that I have been able to shape the dissertation in all its stages, from planning to data collection and now processing and analysis. Additionally, the intersectional perspective of the dissertation has contributed to many interesting and exciting insights and reflections.
What is the most challenging part of being a PhD student?
– The freedom to shape the dissertation work can sometimes also be challenging, for example, when dealing with unpredictable external factors.
What tips would you give to someone interested in pursuing a PhD?
– For me, having a structure has been crucial, structure in everything from scheduling to planning and executing. Another tip is always to be curious, open to new things, and ask questions because, as cliché as it sounds, there is no such thing as a stupid question.
What do you want to do after you have completed your PhD?
– After my doctoral studies, I would like to continue researching physical activity from an intersectional perspective and hopefully contribute to insights that, in the long run, can benefit efforts towards equality.
