Year One: Done.
Grades have been submitted and I am officially done with my first year on the doctoral journey. It has definitely been eventful! After I got into a car accident, my friend said “You are having a crazy year.” As I told him, “If life is full of ups and downs, I am just living it FULLY.”
I’ve been thinking and praying through how I want to use this platform as I settle into my new identity as a “budding scholar”. Just typing that is a little daunting. I haven’t written a blog post for a few months, but I hope that will change soon. Here’s what I’ve been up to:
- Lived up to my lifelong nerdiness with a 4.0.
- Wrapped up my first consultant gig after six months.
- Presented a paper and chaired a session at the Council for the Study of Community Colleges conference near Dallas, TX (then Skyped in to class to deliver my midterm presentation).
- FaceTime with my sister and baby niece Elliott Elizabeth bka “Elli”. This happens more than I want to admit.
- Conducted focus groups with male students of color to explore the themes of leadership, masculinity, and success.
- Witnessed my gorgeous line sister marry the love of her life in LA.
- Caught up with old friends and colleagues at Teach For America’s 25th anniversary summit in DC
- Presented the FAU College of Education Distinguished Alumna award to my soror, Dr. Valerie Smith Wanza.
- Submitted two proposals to the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) conference in Columbus, Ohio.
- Attended my little cousin’s Sweet 16 Mardi Gras. I’m so excited to get to do this more now that I’m close to family.
- Accepted an amazing summer position as the Higher Education Doctoral Intern at the Southern Education Foundation in Atlanta.
- Celebrated my baby sister becoming our sister in a whole new way as a new initiate of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Iiiincorporated!
- Conducted two rounds of phone interviews for Teach For America’s 2016 corps.
- Gave a presentation on college success skills at Palm Beach State College.
- Chilled with my best friend on Mothers Day with muffins and mimosas on the beach and a painting class.
- Made my grandma some gumbo for Mothers Day. She requested a whole pot since I’ll be gone for the summer. From a woman who has been cooking for the family for 60+ years? Best compliment ever.