Here is a piece I wrote for a presentation featuring a series of academic articles our class wrote on our PhD pathways. This was a terrific project, two years in the making. Thank you Derya and Jenny for your tremendous leadership throughout all of this.
Here is a link to the journal Education Review
Entering a Ph.D. program was for me has been a prolonged acclimatization to a new culture. Previous to starting here, I had worked as a teacher, guidance counsellor, elementary vice-principal and principal in a variety of Catholic public schools here in Ottawa and Bramption. This was a challenging and very rewarding experience. After 31 years, it was time to leave and I did so happily.
The great thing about leaving a formal employment situation is that it gives one time to reflect and pick up the elements that still hold the most meaning. I continued to do work in education and three years ago after teaching a few courses at the University of Ottawa, I decided to apply for a Ph.D. in education. This was the beginning of a great adventure in new learning and also enculturation.
It is truly humbling to start over again. The academy works very differently from my familiar public education sphere. When confronting a new culture, there are several things one can do. You can look askance and critically consider the different elements of the new culture, or you can enter with humility, and accept that you are again a new learner and allow yourself to be enveloped by that culture. I struggled with this for awhile, but I loved the work I was doing so I made the decision to be open myself up to this new (sometimes strange) culture.
a new culture a new climb
I feel more comfortable here now and I really enjoy the life of an academic. I actually remember the first time I was referred to as an academic by my supervisor, I felt pretty good about that! A new culture, new learning, but what happens to all that went on before? One important thing – while I now consider myself part of the academic world, the nature of my research and study is fully informed by my years in public education. I sometimes wonder, why didn’t I start this earlier? But, I believe I needed every one of those 31 years to shape the nature of my academic journey.
creating new knowledge: part of the climb
At this stage of the journey, I am seeking new knowledge – how exciting is that! My supervisor has always told me that is what academics do. I am starting to do this. What a unique and liberating experience this is! Over the past weekend while canoeing and portaging in Algonquin Park, I had lots of time to reflect on this three-year (so far) journey. I characterize this part of the journey as a constant energetic humming. This best describes how I feel now at this stage in the journey. This is a unique privilege and for me a sound accomplishment. To have wonderful colleagues and teachers and to be seeking out new knowledge to me is like a magnificent, challenging climb up the mountain.
Whole-Hearted 