When I started taking my final doctoral course to prepare for my comprehensive exam and dissertation, I created a timeline anticipating when I would be done with my program. However, the following two semesters, my schedule kept altering, pushing my dates back. A semester later than I anticipated, I passed my written comprehensive exams and …
I Miss My Culture! How do I Cope?
When I officially announced I was pursuing a Ph.D. at New Mexico State University, I received advice from mentors to prepare me for this adventure. I looked forward to beers with colleagues, extended conversations about theorists and research, and revelations about my place in academia. While these predictions have been a part of my experience …
Living a Holistic, Healthy Lifestyle
When I moved to New Mexico, one draw for me was changing my way of life. Moving from Chicago, I saw my move as an opportunity to learn another side of myself and explore natural, non-urbanized settings. I felt that this move would provide the space for me to connect with myself mentally, emotionally, physically, …
Remembering the Joy of the Doctoral Journey
It's fall of 2005, and I sat around my grandmother's kitchen table with two of my aunts. The kitchen table is where my family normally engages in conversation by telling jokes, sharing stories, or giving their opinion on current news, especially when we haven't seen each other for some time. Unlike other kitchen table talks where the …
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Listening to My Voice & to Others
"I don't know what to focus on [for my dissertation]. When I talk to one person, they tell me I should study this. And when I talk to another person, they tell me I should focus on something different." - doctoral colleague These are words spoken by another doctoral student during a conversation we were having …