Finally Moving On
I suppose the title for this point could refer to two things...
First, I'm finally transitioning into the later stages of graduate school. For some, it's a very clean transition. You finish class, you move into exams, and then into your final research project. For me, it has been and will be a very messy transition. Because I decided to transfer universities as I was finishing my MA and moving into the PhD phase, I ended up in the unfortunate situation of having to take at least one more year of classes than I normally would have. For someone who doesn't do lab work, this is not necessary a bad thing. My primary context of contact with professors is through seminar groups wherein we are assigned readings and get together once a week to discuss our responses to them as well as possible research opportunities and pedagogical strategies. You pick classes with people you would like to work with later on, essentially, and get to know their research, teaching, and writing styles. Without that extra year, I would have had only four opportunities to do so and wouldn't have been able to introduce myself to and get some practice working with the professors I want to work with later. But an extra year wouldn't necessarily make my transition messy.
No, it's messy because with one more semester left, I've decided to go ahead and jump into preparations for my oral exam. It goes by different names at different institutions and in different fields (the preferred terms are usually "comprehensive exam" or "special fields exam"); but I stick with "orals" or "oral exam" because that's usually the medium, although some people elect for a written option. I have one more research seminar next semester, so I decided that I might as well use my extra time to start reading through the list of materials I need to know thoroughly to be considered an "expert" in my field. I won't take my exam any earlier than I would have otherwise, but I also won't be taking it any later than I'd planned either. Essentially, I'm giving myself a 5 month headstart on preparation.
Yesterday I took the big step of beginning to form my dissertation committee. I have a professor leading it now, and within the next month or so I'll be recruiting 3-4 others to flesh out the panel of advisors that will help me finish out my degree. It's a big, big decision as these professors will be the only ones I really associate with for the rest of my time at this university (unless I opt to TA for a lecture, in which case I'll have someone outside the committee as my boss for a semester). It's going to be an uphill battle since my speciality, while "hot" among younger and recently tenured professors, is not exactly formally recognized as a hireable category by the MLA. But my committee chair is very enthusiastic about it and even mentioned he would be able to offer me a research assistantship later on down the line doing coding work for a database application he wants to design.
All in all, a very exciting time...darkened only by the specter of Marx (my union is about to go on strike for reasons I don't 100% support).
Second, my brother is getting a divorce. I can't say I blame him, but I know he hurts. His soon to be ex-wife has not treated him well, and I'm almost glad she ran off with another man. My brother deserves better.
In general, I find my brother to be an interesting case. He's an extremely hard worker, always dedicating 100% to whatever he's doing whether it be retiling my mom's bathroom or fixing his car or planning trips for himself and his wife or working in a factory. He used to have terrible problems with rage, but now he's very calm and quiet.
I think I intimidate him. Granted, I'm older, but he's much stronger so I find it a bit puzzling. I suppose its because of my education. He comments often that he wants to go to school, but whenever I do actually sit down and tell him about what to expect (always honestly, but never less than encouraging...I really do thing he's got what it takes to do well in college), he becomes passive and seems less interested in actually following through. He's been avoiding it, however, because of his job. His soon to be ex-wife was always after him to spend money, and now that she's gone he'll have more on hand and will accrue less debt. But...I also heard today that the day before she ran off with another man he was laid off from his job.
Undoubtedly, he's depressed. I hope that when I go home for Thanksgiving, though, that I can talk him through it. It may be a very dark time for him, but he's lost the only excuses he had for not going back to school.
Transitions all around.
First, I'm finally transitioning into the later stages of graduate school. For some, it's a very clean transition. You finish class, you move into exams, and then into your final research project. For me, it has been and will be a very messy transition. Because I decided to transfer universities as I was finishing my MA and moving into the PhD phase, I ended up in the unfortunate situation of having to take at least one more year of classes than I normally would have. For someone who doesn't do lab work, this is not necessary a bad thing. My primary context of contact with professors is through seminar groups wherein we are assigned readings and get together once a week to discuss our responses to them as well as possible research opportunities and pedagogical strategies. You pick classes with people you would like to work with later on, essentially, and get to know their research, teaching, and writing styles. Without that extra year, I would have had only four opportunities to do so and wouldn't have been able to introduce myself to and get some practice working with the professors I want to work with later. But an extra year wouldn't necessarily make my transition messy.
No, it's messy because with one more semester left, I've decided to go ahead and jump into preparations for my oral exam. It goes by different names at different institutions and in different fields (the preferred terms are usually "comprehensive exam" or "special fields exam"); but I stick with "orals" or "oral exam" because that's usually the medium, although some people elect for a written option. I have one more research seminar next semester, so I decided that I might as well use my extra time to start reading through the list of materials I need to know thoroughly to be considered an "expert" in my field. I won't take my exam any earlier than I would have otherwise, but I also won't be taking it any later than I'd planned either. Essentially, I'm giving myself a 5 month headstart on preparation.
Yesterday I took the big step of beginning to form my dissertation committee. I have a professor leading it now, and within the next month or so I'll be recruiting 3-4 others to flesh out the panel of advisors that will help me finish out my degree. It's a big, big decision as these professors will be the only ones I really associate with for the rest of my time at this university (unless I opt to TA for a lecture, in which case I'll have someone outside the committee as my boss for a semester). It's going to be an uphill battle since my speciality, while "hot" among younger and recently tenured professors, is not exactly formally recognized as a hireable category by the MLA. But my committee chair is very enthusiastic about it and even mentioned he would be able to offer me a research assistantship later on down the line doing coding work for a database application he wants to design.
All in all, a very exciting time...darkened only by the specter of Marx (my union is about to go on strike for reasons I don't 100% support).
Second, my brother is getting a divorce. I can't say I blame him, but I know he hurts. His soon to be ex-wife has not treated him well, and I'm almost glad she ran off with another man. My brother deserves better.
In general, I find my brother to be an interesting case. He's an extremely hard worker, always dedicating 100% to whatever he's doing whether it be retiling my mom's bathroom or fixing his car or planning trips for himself and his wife or working in a factory. He used to have terrible problems with rage, but now he's very calm and quiet.
I think I intimidate him. Granted, I'm older, but he's much stronger so I find it a bit puzzling. I suppose its because of my education. He comments often that he wants to go to school, but whenever I do actually sit down and tell him about what to expect (always honestly, but never less than encouraging...I really do thing he's got what it takes to do well in college), he becomes passive and seems less interested in actually following through. He's been avoiding it, however, because of his job. His soon to be ex-wife was always after him to spend money, and now that she's gone he'll have more on hand and will accrue less debt. But...I also heard today that the day before she ran off with another man he was laid off from his job.
Undoubtedly, he's depressed. I hope that when I go home for Thanksgiving, though, that I can talk him through it. It may be a very dark time for him, but he's lost the only excuses he had for not going back to school.
Transitions all around.