No more pencils, No more Books!

Well, sorta! This past Tuesday I handed in my last papers for my last formal class in my PhD program. WHEW!!!!

I will be taking independent studies and working on various aspects of my dissertation for the remainder of my time here, but MAN, it feels so GOOD to at least have that part behind me.

There's been a lot going on that I haven't had time to talk about. Last month, I went to my first Annual Program Meeting with the Council on Social Work Education as part of the Minority Fellowship Program. It was an amazing opportunity to meet other fellows and alumni from around the country and really understand the caliber of honor that it is to have been chosen to be among this great group. While I networked and made new friends, I was forced to challenge myself to break through my shyness and social discomforts. I got a chance to learn about people doing extraordinary work in my interest area and to see how to carve my space in this profession in a way that honors who I am. It was amazing!

I also helped to organize and kick-off our first conference as part of the Men of Faith Preventing Violence against Women grant that I'm on. It was really cool to be a part of watching a grant's goals begin to come to fruition. It's also a LOT of hard work, but definitely another blessing that I'm grateful for.

I also got to go home for Thanksgiving!!! Although there were some difficult time's (Law's dad has been in the hospital), there was a lot of family fun and tons to be thankful for. My Mama had all of her children at home and we did our traditionally late cooking and eating (yeah, dinner STARTED at 9:30PM!). I got to hang out with my absolute BEST friend from elementary school and got to see my college girls and the babies!

And look at that: it's just about time to go home again for ChrismaHanaKwanzaaka! I'm definitely excited!

Today, I will hand in my first official draft of my dissertation proposal to my advisor for feedback. It's only a draft, but it sure feels good to REALLY be in the final stretch of this thing. I've come A LOOOOOOOOONG way. Looking back, I'm definitely proud of myself.

Happy and grateful to be still standing!