Nicole Patrie is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Safety and Justice Studies at MacEwan University, and a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta, specializing in Adult Education. Nicole has been involved in prison education at all levels: as a teacher, administrator, and now researcher, for over 15 years. Her research focus is on the role of education and learning in the criminal justice system.    In this episode Nicole shares her own journey as a first generation PhD scholar.   We talk about a range of challenges from practical resources to self-confidence.     We discuss hidden support systems and the importance of accessing the help you need.  Nicole encourages us all to ‘pay it forward’.   Nicole ends with an encouraging mantra that every PhD researcher needs to remember!   Contact details: website, email, social media https://nicolepatrie.weebly.com/ [email protected] @nicolepatrie.bsky.social  @patrie_nicole (twitter)   For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft