Okay, I admit it. I’m a bit of a geek. Or a nerd. Or more likely a combination of both. I love to gather knowledge, and practicing my trade feels a bit like playtime. To demonstrate just how geeky I am, I looked up the difference between the terms. Slackpropagation has a very interesting chart for the rest of you geeks out there.
I digressed.
Still working full-time, I am helping doctoral students progress a few baby steps forward toward achieving their Ph.D. This weekend’s intensive Dissertation Research Seminar was spent honing topics, research methods, theoretical foundations, sampling plans, ethical considerations, and more. Each time someone received an email saying their topic was endorsed, the entire room burst into applause.
They are forging ahead on dissertations about human trafficking, Special Operations fathers, equine-assisted therapy, transgendered youth, supervision of counselors experiencing vicarious trauma, and so many other very interesting research topics related to our field. It is encouraging to see people struggle through the process, and come out successful. Many of these students are first generation graduate learners, so it is quite an achievement. To know I had a small part in their success gives me pleasure.
Tomorrow’s final session consists of presentations, where thirteen learners will share what they have accomplished so far. Peers will be their audience, and feedback will be welcome as collaboration strengthens their research. We will all leave in our airplanes or cars to our respective homes, some in the U.S. and others overseas (one of my students flew in from Germany). The journey will take them one step closer to achieving their dream.
One day they will write up their findings and submit to a professional journal, or present at a national conference. Who knows, you may see their names on national television when they have become experts in their field.
Life goes on…are you living it?
À la prochaine (Until next time)…
In December 2016, almost 4 years to the day of my first diagnosis and later being deemed “cancer-free,” I was told I have Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer. (I was first diagnosed with Stage IIIb in December 2012). This isn’t my first rodeo, so this time around I have a different perspective. The first time I ignored recommendations for alternative medicines. This time I am targeting the cancer with lots of guns fully loaded. The first time I was scared speechless. This time, I just said, “okay,” and started treatment. The first time I had millions of questions, and my head was spinning constantly. This time, I still have questions but I don’t worry about the answers. There is a certain comfort in knowing what to expect. I knew the doctors, the routine, the chemo (although this time it would be a different kind), and I knew how to get to the cancer center. I knew that having a positive attitude would be the key. The first time, I believed that God would heal me and my faith was in God’s healing of this earthly body. This time, I believe God will heal me, but it may not be on this earth. He can miraculously heal me and remove the cancer from the body, but even if he doesn’t, I will trust him and remain faithful. I have learned that faith can be a source of strength, and comfort comes from knowing that God is in control…regardless of the outcome. True faith stands by the Lord even if we do not get our way. After all, the Lord Himself said “not my will, but Thine be done,” and then He died on the cross. Sometimes we have to put our own will aside, and let God do His thing. And it is always a beautiful thing!
