Work School Balance

Hello Everyone!

It's been a while since my last blog. There's been so many changes with my personal life, that I'm finally at a point after a leave of absence for a year, that I'm at the dissertation phase. Over the next eight months, I will be working at my leisure with guidance from my lead and community advisers. In addition, having supports in place from my current cohort, family, and friends. 

I completed my first week and half of the first eight weeks and learned I definitely have to set a side time specifically for school. In my first Blackboard meeting with the lead adviser and cohort, we were informed to set a side an appointment for ourselves to work on our proposal. To not let a week go past without setting eyes on our work.

With a new job that requires a lot of time for meetings, calls, and long documentation hours, I am exhausted mentally afterwards to work on my proposal and find new research to build up my conceptual framework, but that's no excuse. I have to make sure if I'm unable to work during the weekdays, that the first part of Saturday is school work, with my reward being able to enjoy myself afterwards by practicing my yoga/teaching, going on mini adventures on my motorcycle, going out for lunch, catching a movie, or just relaxing at the house.

I'm at the last stretch of the race and can't quit at this point. Dr. Stuckey is attainable and in reach. The only person that can hold me back is myself.

Well Until Next Time...

Future Dr. Stuckey

Photo Calistro Productionz

And We Survived

Hello Everyone! This will be a quick entry. Today was D-Day at work. The organization I work for is a Managed Care Provider Network that provide services to those within the developmental disability population. There's two other MCPN's that secured a contract to continue services in Metro Detroit and we were to learn our fate by a voting process during a public forum. Our residential providers, which I monitor, rallied at the forum to speak on our behalf why we should also secure a contract. After a three and half hour forum we learned that our organization will receive a contract to continue services for the next 18 months starting January 1, 2015. We definitely have to show that they did not make a mistake with us!

In between my reports, I got some homework done during breaks and lunch. Just a few more days to submit my final drafts this Sunday. I was able to schedule a time with a fellow friend that is in need to study for the clinical social work exam. This will definitely help to keep me on track to take the exam this January. Looking forward to the weekend!

Well Until Next Time...

Future Ed.D

End of the Day

Hello everyone! So today was a busy one. Went to work and got some school work done in between my residential summary reports. Met with my colleague to review the site description and received some valuable information to tweak my assignement. I have to review my peer site description which is due tomorrow for analysis purposes. There's only one week remaining and I need to review my site description and annotated bibliographies for the final draft. These past few weeks have went by so quickly, before I know it, the program will be over and I'll have my final degree. Going into work early tomorrow so I can complete this weeks assignments.

After work, I visited my mom for her birthday. I also ran into my little brother. Seeing both of them made my day. Learned some new yoga poses today. I'll take photos tomorrow to see how acccurate I'm doing the moves. It's not about being perfect, but being in the moment. Slowly improvng with my backbends which is relaxing. Speaking of relaxing, watching the TV for some R&R. Well that's it for now.

Until Next Time...

Future Ed.D

Ohh It's Monday

Hello Everyone! There's officially two weeks remaining of my first course. I spent Saturday and most of Sunday evening wrapping up my assignments for Module 6 and didn't post until 11:30 pm Sunday evening. I cannot do this again and procrastinate to finish my class work. The next two weeks require me to review and finalize my Site Description and Topic Exploration annotated bibliographies. I will begin working on this after work so I can submit no later than Saturday.

On the upside, I met with my god-sis today for lunch. We have to do this more often since her job is up the street from mine. I also ran into a classmate from high school that works across the street. Oh what a small world. 

Well back to work!

Until Next Time...

Future Ed.D

Augh homework day...

Hello everyone! I had to take a mental beak from my school work. So originally we created a work calendar that charted our work, school assignments, and leisure activities. In the beginning I did follow my schedule with a few times not following as exactly planned. This worked for me at first, but for the past two weeks, I have fallen behind and now rushing to complete assignments before Sunday midnight deadline.

I'm still completing my site description, which seems as if I've been working on forever! I took a nap earlier due to waking up before 7 am on a weekend. I sometimes question, why did I go back to school again? I enjoy learning, just not working on projects and assignments. At least it's only one class per term. I have three more sections to work on for my assignment, which hopefully won't be as tedious as the second section. Well back to the school work flow.

 Well Until Next Time...

Future Ed.D

It's Friday!

Hello everyone! It's finally the weekend and as usual I'm playing catch up to finish some last minute assignments. I met with my study group yesterday and I'm not the only one ready to wrap up my annotated bibliographies. I finished highlighting areas to write a summary for my possible topic exploration and just need to type up my last two articles. Afterwards, I'll finish my site study description and hopefully submit by the end of the day tomorrow.

Since it's the weekend, I'll get caught up on TV shows I missed earlier this week. Maybe go to the mall for some retail therapy with all these Columbus Day Sales. Outside of that, I'll just try and relax with two weeks remaining before course one wraps up. I'm still thinking about my topic and probably will view some of the resources online that talks about the different stages of the dissertation process.

Well Until Next Time...

Future Ed.D

Study Group

Hello everyone! So today I will meet with my cohort Study Group to review our Topic Explorations. My original topic related to mentoring adolescents in the inner-city, but after reviewing articles and previous dissertations it appeared that quite a few people have already researched this area. I know as a researcher you should take a topic and find additional information to find a different perspective, but honestly it seemed overdone. 

I have a passion for working with the military and started focusing in on this area, but still tying it back to mentoring. I will receive feedback tonight to see if I'm going in the right direction. Research can be intimidating, especially writing a dissertation.

Not only am I studying for my school work, I'm in the process of studying for my clinical social work exam. I plan to take the exam by the end of January 2015 with the goal of taking it once as you take a final exam. Come February, I will be fully licensed as a Clinical Social Worker.

Well that's it for now. The work day is almost over, and then I will work on my site study assignment before study group!

Until Next Time...

Future Ed.D