Filling out the Minority Fellowship application for the second time was one of the best things I ever did. It opened doors for opportunities to travel and learn beyond my university and paved the way for sisterhood and friendships that I'm certain will last a lifetime.
Over the past few days I traveled to Greensboro and Chapel Hill, North Carolina to attend a qualitative research training with my MFP colleague. Not only did I receive direct instruction in grounded theory by one of the most renowned scholars (Kathy Charmaz) but I also got to spend quality time with my girls.
Our big sister in the fellowship graciously hosted us in her home and introduced us to all of Greensboro, including the famous HBCUs in the area and some of the best cake and soul food I've had in a long time.
I got to tour the International Civil Rights Museum and visit the statue of "The Greensboro Four". Of those experiences, I will never forget walking into the actual cafeteria where the Greensboro sit-ins were ignited. When the doors opened to that space I felt overwhelmed by the spirit of that era. It was both powerful and enraging. Inspiring and delicate. I will never forget.
Although an unanticipated near 12-hour train ride home placed a bit of a challenge at the end of the trip, it could not minimize the value of this experience.
I am exhausted but definitely wanted to capture these memories among my top PhD journey experiences. I'm grateful and full of joy...and cake!!!
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Friday, July 25, 2014
SYEP 2.0 and YALI 2014
This week has brought lots of joy.
On Wednesday, I got to return to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs with my colleagues to facilitate a workshop for their Summer Youth Employees. Today, I got to celebrate with the 25 Young African Leaders Initiative Fellows whom I have had the privilege to meet and work with over the past 6 weeks.
This evening's closing ceremony was overflowing with a unique spirit of happiness and a sense of family and connectedness. I did not want to miss the opportunity to capture the memory.
Below, please find some pictures of some remarkable human beings that I am grateful to have met, and will NEVER forget.
On Wednesday, I got to return to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs with my colleagues to facilitate a workshop for their Summer Youth Employees. Today, I got to celebrate with the 25 Young African Leaders Initiative Fellows whom I have had the privilege to meet and work with over the past 6 weeks.
This evening's closing ceremony was overflowing with a unique spirit of happiness and a sense of family and connectedness. I did not want to miss the opportunity to capture the memory.
Below, please find some pictures of some remarkable human beings that I am grateful to have met, and will NEVER forget.
Monday, July 21, 2014
"Your Message Has Been Sent."
Today, marks the day that I officially sent my proposal to the committee for review.
I was so anxious about pressing send on those three emails, but God helped make it easier for at least two of them.
Since I've been hibernating in my writing cave, I have not had much contact with my committee members since asking them to serve on the team. So when my advisor gave the green light for me to send the proposal, I was a little nervous. For one thing, it's summer, and tenured professors want to be left alone on their vacation time. So I was definitely cautious about not pissing off the very people that I need to work with.
Thankfully, in the past few days I've "randomly" run in to two of my committee members. One, walking on campus with her family and the other at a work event for this summer program I assist with. Timing could have been nothing more than perfect! So you know I casually alerted them to the fact that they would be receiving an email from me!
The third committee member has been on sabbatical so I haven't had much contact with him. Prayerfully his time off has put him in a good mood and my email will be received warmly! (Pray for me, y'all).
Anyway, I don't have much else to say, but "Let's get this thang poppin'".
Operation May 2015 in full effect!
I was so anxious about pressing send on those three emails, but God helped make it easier for at least two of them.
Since I've been hibernating in my writing cave, I have not had much contact with my committee members since asking them to serve on the team. So when my advisor gave the green light for me to send the proposal, I was a little nervous. For one thing, it's summer, and tenured professors want to be left alone on their vacation time. So I was definitely cautious about not pissing off the very people that I need to work with.
Thankfully, in the past few days I've "randomly" run in to two of my committee members. One, walking on campus with her family and the other at a work event for this summer program I assist with. Timing could have been nothing more than perfect! So you know I casually alerted them to the fact that they would be receiving an email from me!
The third committee member has been on sabbatical so I haven't had much contact with him. Prayerfully his time off has put him in a good mood and my email will be received warmly! (Pray for me, y'all).
Anyway, I don't have much else to say, but "Let's get this thang poppin'".
Operation May 2015 in full effect!
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Don't Judge You.
Today, I made a cold call to try and identify a site for my study.
I'm always nervous about those things. You know, phone calls.
I get all worried about how I'm going to sound and if I'm going to get my words out right. I anticipate a whole lot of rambling and incoherence. Today, was no different.
I set a time for myself to make the call happen: 1:30PM...Then I fell asleep and woke up at about 1:45. So new call time: 2:12PM.
I dialed the number and secretly hoped for an answering machine--one where I could listen to what I've done and erase and re-record it a million times until it sounded right--but, when I got an actual human on the phone, the actual person I needed to speak with, I went into immediate panic mode.
"Hi."
Once I got going, I could tell I was trying to pack a lot in so that the listener could get the reason for my call all in the first few minutes. I grew anxious about whether my pace made me sound like a babbler and jeopardized my opportunity for getting a great setting for my study. I kept taking these weird pauses and inserting awkward questions…smh. In my mind, this was going really badly.
In the end, the guy on the other end indicated that it wasn't a great time for him to talk--death to ego, dagger to the heart. But, just as I'm going off in my head about how I ruined the call, he proceeded to indicate that he would instead set aside time to speak with me about it on Thursday. WHEW!
I immediately noticed how much I actualized all of my fears and negative self-talk. I created all this confusion and anxiety in my mind and then just acted it out. Afterwards, I proceeded to dissect and scrutinize everything I'd done.
I know I have this habit of being overly critical of self and others. And today, as part of this doc process, I get another reminder of how much this pattern doesn't serve me.
So, right now, I release self-doubt and judgment. I acknowledge my humanity and the fact that I took a leap and actually did not get a "no". I now have time to prepare for my next discussion and in the meantime pray for a calm disposition, the right words, and for the Creator to lay out the steps to making this or something better work out.
. . .
I look forward to telling you about the day that I secured a research setting for my study.
#Comingsoon
I'm always nervous about those things. You know, phone calls.
I get all worried about how I'm going to sound and if I'm going to get my words out right. I anticipate a whole lot of rambling and incoherence. Today, was no different.
I set a time for myself to make the call happen: 1:30PM...Then I fell asleep and woke up at about 1:45. So new call time: 2:12PM.
I dialed the number and secretly hoped for an answering machine--one where I could listen to what I've done and erase and re-record it a million times until it sounded right--but, when I got an actual human on the phone, the actual person I needed to speak with, I went into immediate panic mode.
"Hi."
Once I got going, I could tell I was trying to pack a lot in so that the listener could get the reason for my call all in the first few minutes. I grew anxious about whether my pace made me sound like a babbler and jeopardized my opportunity for getting a great setting for my study. I kept taking these weird pauses and inserting awkward questions…smh. In my mind, this was going really badly.
In the end, the guy on the other end indicated that it wasn't a great time for him to talk--death to ego, dagger to the heart. But, just as I'm going off in my head about how I ruined the call, he proceeded to indicate that he would instead set aside time to speak with me about it on Thursday. WHEW!
I immediately noticed how much I actualized all of my fears and negative self-talk. I created all this confusion and anxiety in my mind and then just acted it out. Afterwards, I proceeded to dissect and scrutinize everything I'd done.
I know I have this habit of being overly critical of self and others. And today, as part of this doc process, I get another reminder of how much this pattern doesn't serve me.
So, right now, I release self-doubt and judgment. I acknowledge my humanity and the fact that I took a leap and actually did not get a "no". I now have time to prepare for my next discussion and in the meantime pray for a calm disposition, the right words, and for the Creator to lay out the steps to making this or something better work out.
. . .
I look forward to telling you about the day that I secured a research setting for my study.
#Comingsoon
Friday, July 11, 2014
Flowers for the Lady.
Today, I had the pleasant surprise of having a mixed bouquet of vibrant flowers waiting for me at the concierge desk.
After a crazy day of trying to figure out when the school will make good on overdue funds and being slapped in the face by the harsh reality of really having to pony up money for classes this semester, it was a breath of fresh air to come home to a token of love.
Thank you Miner!
<3
After a crazy day of trying to figure out when the school will make good on overdue funds and being slapped in the face by the harsh reality of really having to pony up money for classes this semester, it was a breath of fresh air to come home to a token of love.
Thank you Miner!
<3
Thursday, July 10, 2014
76 pages…and we're getting there.
This past Wednesday, I submitted maybe my fifth draft of the dissertation to my advisor.
When I pressed send on that email this time, there was a huge sigh of relief and a different heir of confidence. It finally felt like things are actually taking shape.
Yes, I will need to await her feedback, but I am truly excited about finally feeling like it's coming together.
I'll keep you posted, but her's to continuing to count the small victories.
When I pressed send on that email this time, there was a huge sigh of relief and a different heir of confidence. It finally felt like things are actually taking shape.
Yes, I will need to await her feedback, but I am truly excited about finally feeling like it's coming together.
I'll keep you posted, but her's to continuing to count the small victories.
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