Shonell in TCR Land

About three weeks ago, I did it. Did what, you might ask? Completed my first year of doctoral work. It was challenging and at times, extraordinarily difficult, but I have learned some major things about myself as a person and as a student that I believe will carry well as I journey through the rest of this process…and beyond.

The main thing I learned, especially this past semester, is I do good work. No matter how tired I am, no matter what I’m going through, I give 150% (sometimes more) to everything I do, and at the end of the day, knowing this and believing this about myself will keep me sane and keep me focused. A grade doesn’t define the job I do. This has been a hard lesson for me because I’m used to doing well academically (well meaning “A”). And many times I put a value on myself based on a grade. This happens no more. I’m good at what I do, period. A grade will not change this way of thinking for me.

In my last Tag Cloud post [can read here], I talked about the things I had accomplished since coming to TTU, the editorial intern with TCQ, invitation to submit article on the social networking of letter writing, and other things.

Since that post in February, my main goal has been just to finish the semester. Goal accomplished.

Along the way, however, I did fall into a great opportunity. Starting this summer, I will be working with the VP of diversity as his research assistant. I’ll be researching article topics for him and developing annotated bibliographies for said articles and helping to write the articles. I’m nervous and excited about the opportunity because it allows me to broaden my skills and interests even more.

I also finished another course, New Media Rhetoric during May Seminar. It was grueling, a [theoretically] semester-long class in two weeks, but it was a class I loved because I love new media and I loved the readings–most of which will find a spot on my reading list.

I’m about to start yet another class today, Internet Writing, which I’m psyched about because my dissertation chair is teaching it and because I know I will find sources for my reading list and for possible articles I’m interested in writing. After Internet Writing, I have two more classes to take, and then I am done with coursework come December.

With Coursework Completion blinking like a neon sign in my near future, I have–of course–been thinking beyond course work to the big enchiladas–quals and dissertation.

During May Seminar, I talked with my dissertation chair and pitched new thoughts about my dissertation [these thoughts will probably be in the next Tag Cloud post]. I made the goal to have a very [and 'very' is not even a strong enough word to illustrate just how rough this rough draft will be] rough draft of my reading list done by the beginning of the fall semester so that we can use the semester to hammer it out, find me a third committee member, and have a pretty little list by the end of the semester. My goal is to begin to study for quals next spring and hopefully sometime in early summer to take qualifying exams.

I’m pretty excited about what I’ve accomplished thus far and what’s to come over the summer. There is a lot of work ahead between now and mid-August, what with class and with academic gigs, but I am determined to keep moving forward and to complete goals and set new ones.