Playing the Role
Diary of a Viva Ninja: Day 22
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‘All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.’ Photo by K. Manwaring
In a Viva a candidate has to play a certain role. It is important to ‘look the part’, and to know when one’s ‘cues’ are… In many ways the Viva is a performance – one that requires focused preparation. Yesterday’s Mock was in many ways a dress-rehearsal. And very useful it was too. It was like rehearsing a play where one cannot remember ‘lines’ verbatim, but nonetheless has to be able to deliver perfectly-crafted responses to the examiners’ variable set of questions. It is a high-wire act, and leaves one rather exhausted afterwards.
Not a great deal to add today as, a. I’ve had to look after my Open University students, and b. I’ve been wiped out after yesterday’s Mock Viva and 5-6 hours on the bike (arriving home 10.40pm after a diversion on the Fosseway…). Still I came back with the experience of the mock under my belt (plus the list of questions asked – very useful), a couple of books on SF and Fantasy criticism, a poetry collection (from a book launch I attended last night) and some photos from the exhibition I visited in the basement of the David Wilson Library on Fairy Tales and Folklore. So, not a bad haul – well worth going up for (not least to connect with my supervisor and internal examiner).
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First impressions count… Presenting at a conference during the PhD.
And today, on a trivial note, I went for a haircut – for its important to look sharp (and thus feel confident) in the viva. It may seem inconsequential, but choosing what to wear (and how that will make you feel) is all part of stepping through that door on the day of the viva with the right attitude. You need to feel comfortable, and confident. Dressing the part is all part of inhabiting the paradigm you’re entering into. First impressions count too – it is akin to an interview, so dress accordingly. Clothes maketh the man (or woman).
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