Wonderful news!!!

After months of fighting for my health/wellbeing, I'm proud that I was able to present my #PhD analysis at the @CDSLeeds Postgraduate #DisabilityStudies Conference! Looking forward to my friends/colleagues' brilliant presentations!

Grateful that I was able to spend time with my family in Western New York to mindfully rest and regenerate after burning out. Currently in NYC (which I still consider my second home) to catch a flight back to England (my third home)!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at University of Leeds ! 🎄 I’ve spent months saying that I’m a fifth year doctoral researcher but saying, “I’ve lived in England for five Christmases” hits differently!

I’m proud that, over the years, I’ve gained the skills/tools to build & maintain my wheelchairs. At 2 AM, I assembled the best parts, from the wheels to the forks to the brakes to the bolts. How did I test its safety? By drifting around the campus tree at high speeds, of course!

“Sorry to make you move, but if you don’t, my wheelchair will crush your foot. Then YOU’LL need a wheelchair and people won’t move for you. It’ll be a whole Thing. The cycle will continue. Social reproduction. You have the power to break the chain!” - Me getting off the bus. ♿️🚌

The irony of returning to my #PhD thesis after burning out, and writing a section on #disabledstudents ' #burnout I'm grateful to have a support system. Many of my participants were excluded from #university services & interpersonal support, having to battle #ableism alone.

Six years ago, I had one of the most transformative days of my life when I went to the #UnitedNations headquarters in New York City for their observance of the #InternationalDayOfDisabledPeople. It was this event that inspired me to earn my #PhD in #DisabilityStudies!

One last night in Leeds! Tomorrow, I’ll begin journeying back to Western NY where, after a few weeks of rest/recuperation with my family, I’ll finish my PhD remotely! I never believed that I’d live in England for almost half a decade! I still can’t believe it! ’Bit mad, innit?!

Well, England, I reckon there’s only one thing left to say: So long, and thanks for all the fish!

Me: It’s hard. PhD Supervisor: Say, ‘It was hard but I did it’. Like all good doctoral researchers, I’m going to expand on my supervisor’s advice and say: It was hard and I did it. It is hard and I’m doing it. It’s going to be hard and I’m going to do it.

BREAKING NEWS! Students at the University of Leeds have just occupied the Parkinson Building indefinitely. Calling on university management to meet with them and negotiate following the release of their open letter last week, which is yet to be addressed by the uni

After years of hard work, I am very proud to submit the first FULL DRAFT of my PhD thesis to my supervisors! There will undoubtedly be edits and changes before the final version, but I am one wheel closer to that viva!

#TeamBear : A bear would not have thrown Sydney Benes’ wheelchair down the stairs. A man named Carson Briere on the other hand… insideedition.com/double-amputee…

I ended the first week of my new job by attending the annual banquet. It is validating to work in an advocacy organization that has spent decades fighting for the rights, autonomy, and voices of disabled people in Western New York.

I officially submitted my PhD thesis! I'm feeling a plethora of emotions: pride, catharsis, anxiety, exhaustion, but mostly gratitude for everyone who has supported me on this journey. In a few months, I'll defend my viva, after which I'll become the first Dr. Rakoska!

I'm proud to announce that I passed my viva and earned my #PhD II'm grateful to my family, friends, cohort, coworkers, supervisors: Dr. Angharad Beckett & Dr. Tom Campbell (prev. Dr. Alison Sheldon & Dr. Ana Manzano), and my examiners: Dr. Roger Slee & Dr. Ben Whitburn. #PhDone