Goal for the Future
The one aspect of academia I have always enjoyed but also lamented at the same time is knowing there is always more to improve and learn. For many years, my goal was to obtain a PhD to be as educated as possible and have nothing more to do. Quickly into my journey in higher education, I found out that was wrong. There is always something that you can learn or improve upon, and I want to share some of the things I look to continue developing as I start my PhD. My first goal is to develop skills to conduct my research in the field or by using data that has already been collected. Next, I would also like to improve my time management skills on minor projects. Finally, I want to increase my knowledge of technology and how researchers can use it to help develop their writing.
For years and years, I have been taught how to read a paper, assess its credibility, summarize, and respond to it; however, I want to know how to conduct the research we are reading about. Within research, there are so many nuanced elements that a researcher needs to pay attention to, and I would like to develop my skill of knowing what needs to be done to keep a study ethical. Since I want to explore graduation rates and how Critical Sustaining Pedagogy can increase them, I might need to go to school and see how different pedagogies are used. Without knowing how to conduct an ethical study, I won't be able to use the material I collect. I plan to develop this skill through the PhD program first-year courses and courses like EAD 922 Analyzing Education Systems.
Time management has always been a big issue for me and something that I am continually trying to improve. Recently, with the birth of my son, I have gotten better at starting long projects early to have ample time to complete them. However, small tasks are what get me even to this day. Things that take less than five to ten minutes are pushed repeatedly until it gets to the point where it would take three hours to complete the task. I want to improve this skill by following the 5-minute rule, which states that you set a five-minute timer to work on the task you are avoiding. If it is so horrible after five minutes, you have to stop. You can, but most of the time, you will finish the task. This will help with small projects because if I know there is an end time to the task, I won't feel so daunted by starting it, but if I am close to finishing it, I will most likely finish it.
Sometimes, I feel like a dinosaur trying to keep up with today's rapidly evolving technologies. However, this feeling fuels my eagerness to improve my general technology knowledge. Technology offers numerous opportunities in the field of research, and I am excited to explore how it can make my work more efficient. I am actively seeking resources to stay updated on the latest technology used in research, as I believe this will significantly enhance my knowledge and skills in the field. Berkeley Student Technology Services is one resource I found to help me keep up to date on different resources. This site includes resources for research, teaching, device lending and aid, and tech support. Michigan State University also has technology support, which could benefit me if I encounter issues. The librarians at Michigan State University have abundant resources to help students and researchers find the materials. Using resources like these ones will help me to stay up to date on technology used in the research field.
My academic journey has reinforced a fundamental truth: pursuing knowledge is a lifelong journey of continuous improvement. Initially, I was drawn to a PhD as the pinnacle of my education. However, I soon realized that true mastery is not about reaching a peak but about embracing the ever-expanding horizon of learning. As I embark on my doctoral studies, I am committed to honing critical skills that will enable me to conduct ethical research, manage time effectively across projects, large and small, and integrate cutting-edge technologies into my scholarly pursuits. Each challenge is an opportunity for growth, and I am determined to embrace these opportunities with enthusiasm and dedication as I continue to evolve as a researcher and scholar.
"Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." - Benjamin Franklin