Dissertation Prospectus Defense

I love to write.  I do.  Yet in the myriad of papers, projects, and chapters, my love of writing has been tested.

For me, writing is processing.  Since I'm a verbal processor, this avenue allows me to think freely while also slow my brain to the speed of my pen (or keystroke).  That said, I realized the other day how long it had been since I updated this blog.  Without trying to give too many excuses, and I have a few, I will say part of this blog has also been a place to update family and friends on life happenings.  This often includes pictures...and I have run out of available space to post pictures.  I need to do something about this, and quickly, for as much as I love to write, I also love the ability to capture moments and share those through words and pictures.

Anyway.

An exciting moment was had on Monday, July 29th around 3:02pm.

This PhD process has been...
     rough
          challenging
               a gift
                    stretching
                         a journey!

...and it's not over yet.

But another milestone happened on Monday when I successfully defended my dissertation prospectus (Chapters 1-3).  This defense was an opportunity to talk with my committee about my study, what I plan to do, and why I plan to do it.  Truthfully, even though I was nervous about it, I knew it was suppose to be more of a conversation; and it was.  I enjoyed the time to talk about the study, talk through their thoughts/questions, and reaffirm the need and importance of this work.  It also helps that I really like the faculty on my committee!

So another letter accomplished.  D-O-C-T-O

Only ONE more to go!

ASHE Paper Presentation

I love ASHE...the Association for the Study of higher education.  It's an organization that is geared toward... well, the study of higher education.  :)  I went to my first conference last year and LOVED it.  I walked away with notes on things to read about and think about.  I was thoroughly looking forward to this years conference...with some anticipation and some nervousness as I was presenting a paper I wrote about faculty-student interactions.

So in November, I presented in my first paper presentation.  Now, I've presented at many conferences over the last 9 years in higher education, but never a paper presentation.  These presentations are a bit different than other conference presentations.  It goes like this...

Roughly three people/presenters send a paper of original research to a discussant (someone who is generally an expert in the topic) weeks in advance
On the day of the presentation, the three people get 10 minutes each to discuss their research
The discussant then gets 15 minutes to give feedback, publicly, on each of the papers

Although I was a nervous wreck, it was a good feeling to get the first one out of the way!  Moreover, I received some good feedback on my paper.

Glad it's over...but already looking forward to ASHE next year.

New Toy

I got a new (to me) iPad!  I've been looking longingly at them for months and months, about 24 months to be exact.  Now, the wait is over.

With the new iPad 3, the iPad 2s were a much more reasonable price.  Moreover, I decided to go for a refurbished one, which meant an extra 20% off the reduced rate.  Anyway, after becoming a candidate and after stalking the apple website for a little over a month, I purchased my new toy.

I'm excited about it and have enjoyed playing with the new toy!  Woohoo, what a fun gift for candidacy!

Georgia Resident

Although this is a little past due, on June 30th I became an official Georgia resident (plates, license, and voter registration).

Woohoo!

It was kind of funny because it took me over 3 hours to get my license.  They have an odd system in Georgia and depending on what activity you're there for (renewal, new, other) you have a different letter.  Each letter than corresponds to a few windows/counters.  So you'll hear B34 and then N231... and so on.  It's a little odd because you have no idea when you'll be called.  For example, my neighbor in waiting arrived an hour and forty five minutes into my wait, and yet got called in twenty minutes.

After getting my license I went to get my plate (just one) and waited a total of 12 minutes from the minute I walked in until I was leaving the building.

Crazy.

But now I am a Georgia resident; and I've even updated my plates (since you have to renew your tag on your birthday...who thought that was a good idea? I know it helps you remember but COME ON...what a lovely gift to yourself.  :/)

But now I'm just rambling.  Anyway, I'm happy I'm officially a Georgia resident and that I can vote in the November election (and not by absentee ballot).

Doctoral Candidate!

Well, it's official, I passed the oral portion of my preliminary (or comprehensive) exams on Thursday, September 27th!

Here's how the defense went:
2:40pm: Arrived in Aderhold (the college of education)
2:45: listened to music
2:50: tried to take deep breaths
2:55: bathroom break
3pm: defense was about to begin
3:02: went to grab one of my committee members
3:05: all members arrived and discussed for a minute or two before they asked me to come in the room
3:06: my dissertation committee plus all the program faculty began going through my responses day by day and asking any questions they had
3:32: I finished answering all the questions and my advisor asked me to step out into the hallway
3:33: I pace (they talk)
3:35: Dr. Cooper (my advisor) steps out of the room and CONGRATULATES me as a doctoral candidate!
3:36: Celebration ensues!

So now, I'm a doctoral candidate and unofficially (ABD: all but dissertation).  Now give me a D-O-C-T

Now, working on the O-R :)

Give me a C

On Tuesday, September 4th, I found out I successfully passed the written portion of my preliminary exams!  WOOHOO!  Although it is quite an accomplishment, it still feels a bit anticlimactic since I still have to defend orally.

But I earned my C (in D-O-C-T-O-R) and now I'm studying for my T...which will take place on Thursday, September 27th.  If I successfully defend that day, then I will change from a doctoral student to a doctoral 'candidate' (or sometimes referred to as ABD 'all but dissertation').  It's exciting and a bit terrifying.

Somedays I feel this PhD journey is taking for-e-ver, and other days I realize how quickly it's flying by.

Post Prelims

Well, I realize I've been m.i.a. from the blog world...let's be honest, m.i.a. from much of the real world as well the last month.

The Olympics happened, right?!

But what have I been doing? Well, one word...studying.  On August 1st, I started my preliminary examinations.  These are essentially the comprehensive exams over a four day period.  The first, second, and third days you meet in a computer lab, receive a question, and have four hours to answer it. Then on day three, you are also given a take home question that is specifically written for you, you have twenty-four hours to read/write/submit your case.

On August 4th at 1pm, I submitted my case study.  And now, I wait.

In the midst of waiting, I started classes yesterday and I am working on the introduction, literature review, and methodology chapters for my dissertation.

I should find out at the beginning of September if I passed my written prelims at which point I'd schedule an oral defense.  So for now, I wait, and work, and go to class, and write.  This is a big step in the journey and I'm grateful to have it behind me (and I'll be even more grateful when I find out that I've passed).

Happy New Year! (yes, I measure my year's by the academic calendar)