Years ago, I had a heart-to-heart with my Aunt Joni. I was thinking about getting into teaching, a profession she’d long practiced. She told me “The three best reasons to become a teacher: June, July, and August.”
I don’t write much in this blog about my day job, but my own career has progressed from teaching high school, to college, to higher ed administration. And with that last move, I’ve given up those three delicious months of freedom.
Still, my mind remains attuned to the rhythm of the seasons, and I find myself slowing down during the hot summer months. I guess what I’m really saying is: sorry I’ve been so lazy about putting out this newsletter lately. I’m sure y’all have been pining away for it.
But things are happening in the background, too. Where the usual flooding of Target — wayyyy too early — with back-to-school supplies usually bums me out, this year I have reason to get excited. Namely, I’m going to be a student again.
I’m proud to say that I’ve been accepted into the doctoral program at George Washington University’s school of education. Specifically, I’ll be going for an EdD in Human and Organizational Learning. What the heck is that, you ask? According to the school’s website, the program “focuses on organizational issues such as strategic change, transformational leadership, individual and group learning processes, organizational development, and global and international issues.” So… a bit of everything.
Why go back to school at all? Well, professionally, it’s time for me to get a doctorate. I’ll need one if I want to climb any higher on the academic career ladder (which I’m not sure I do). Add to that the fact that my boss has encouraged me to go for it (several times over). But mostly, I’m deeply, deeply jealous of my colleagues who get to wear that wizardy-looking puffy hat and those stripey sleeves every year at our graduation.
I spent a long time looking around for a program that excited me. When I stumbled upon GW’s curriculum, with its classes in things like Adult Learning and Development, Leadership Theory, Organizational Culture… I realized that this is the stuff that I spend a lot of my 9-5 doing, and a lot of my free time reading and thinking about. It also jibes with my purpose in this newsletter: teach a little, write about what interests me, have some fun, and hopefully help others to thrive, no matter where they are in life.
So I went to an open house in the early spring and met some of the people who run the program. They were great, and I walked away thinking, ok, I can see myself here. I applied, I interviewed, I got in. That was about it.
I tend to make decisions this way. I spend lots of time researching, listing out pros and cons, maybe working up a whole spreadsheet, and then just… go with my gut. It’s how I decided to transfer as an undergrad, how I wound up in New York City, and ultimately (after the conversation referenced above) how I ended up with a career in education. Maybe it’s not the most sensible or the most scientific way to make a decision, but as Joni told me about teaching that day, “If it’s in your blood, it’s in your blood.”
I’ll keep you posted as it goes. Right now, I’m equal parts excited and nervous. Later this month will be orientation, plus the first on-campus residency. Which means I will likely continue to slack off in this newsletter. So, you know, bear with me, if you’ll be so kind. Learning is living, and the adventure continues!
Congrats David. Love that you are going for this. Please keep us updated.
Congratulations, but don’t discount your Wednesday / Friday therapy sessions as a vehicle for success!