Professional Despair

My proposal has not been approved by the academic review board.Sigh...
I know I was told that they NEVER approve someone the FIRST time...Sigh...
Yet, I am sad and despondent. This picture is a great metaphor though..I am going through a bad patch, but I am still moving, and can look stylish, professional and well turned out.And yeah though I watch through the Valley of Death...

Loosing Momentum...I think I need a Pepsy

I am well on the way to chapter four of my dissertation:
I have my note cards for Grounded theorizing,
I have my data categorized, with section tabs, in specific binders
I have drafts of my proposal on CD, thumb drivers and my PC and laptop
I have seminal reference texts...

But I am alone and tired...
I am missing the interaction of the group for meetings, chatroom discussions, IM cross conversations...sigh.

I have been looking at the sculpture of Susan B. and Frederick Douglass entitled "Let's Have Tea" by Pepsy Kettavong. I have gone and seen it in person, several times, and it motivates me. I am hoping to meet with him to get permission to use it for a metaphorical imagery in my research.

Metaphors motivate me. (Three M's...oooh!)

Welcome to the Summer Solstice

I wanted to share this lovely photo from Diary of a Goldfish
As the summer season officially begins, and we are the closest to the Sun we will be all year, I could not think of a better way to reflect and show appreciation and joy for life, love and my son passing Living Environment (9th grade science). Enjoy the time on the porch, back stoop, 3rd story walk up window or fire escape.

The Season of Hope and Renewal: Dissertation Proposal Submission

I have submitted my proposal and it has passed muster with the forms review of A.B. It has been sent onto the Academic Review Board-- I must wait up to fourteen [14] days for a dispensation.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11.......

The Season of Doom and despair

This doctoral journey can be compared to a rollercoaster ride, or a the experience of bipolar disorder, without the personal chemistry.

I achieved committee approval of my proposal, only to be tormented in new, and creative ways by the ARB process. I have submitted by proposal packet four, count them, four times to the forms review chick.

Ways to thwart the Doctoral Student in the ARB Process

1. DO NOT tell them what is required on the forms

2. DO NOT explain how to subscribe to the newsgroups to submit a proposal packet.

3. When documents do not meet standards, do not tell the student why they are deficient.

4. Do not send any helpful information in writing.

5. When a student calls, do not provide any information, unless directly asked.

The further I go in the process, the more I understand why doctoral students:

1. Get depressed
2. Get manic
3. Quit.

The Future Doc Wilson: Occam's Razor or the Law of Averages?

Occam's Razor Cuts Like a Knife

I have met my Waterloo. I have now submitted by proposal application packet to the University Academic Review chick FOUR times. Yes, count them, four. You ask why, gentle reader? That is because there are sand traps, quick sand and sinking sand all along the way. This is the desert of Forms Review. (No one tells you about this part, alas and alack.) This is now this game is played:

1. Require items you do not tell the student about.
2. When the student omits something, do not tell them
what is it, only that they are missing something.
3. Do not put anything that may be helpful in writing.
4. Make them call for clarification.

The Future Doc Wilson: Occam's Razor or the Law of Averages?what it is