Out of Her Mind -- Musings on Education and Life

Two years ago, on June 10 2010, I met Cohort 18 for the first time. I remember looking dubiously at the 10 faces of the people I would be studying with for the next two years and feeling like I didn't fit in. At least there was Nora. At least we were doing this together; we had already been in school together fir like a zillion years in the reading department at App State and being with her in the doctoral program was like being with one of my old Skool forever best friends from college. I knew I could be me and I would be understood. Not much else has stuck with me from that first encounter at our orientation, with the exception of two things. First, when one of our soon-o-be professors (or maybe it was Jim) said we would go through the program as a cohort an he explained that the cohort model was such a support, I was dubious. I had been in a "cohort" before and it felt no different from not being in a cohort. The second thing that sticks with me from that day was the

After receiving the news that I had  been accepted into the EdD program. I am halfway through my doctoral course work, and I have hit a wall of stress, fear, and frustration.  I realize that my classes won't go on forever.  Soon, I am going to be an "expert" in an area.  I will have to design a study (and my shaky stats knowledge has got me quaking).  I will have to gain entrance to a research site or sites.  I will have to conduct my research ethically.  I will have to run the right analyses and draw the correct conclusions. I know that my dissertation won't change the world.  I am aware that no one will likely read it aside from my dissertation chair and perhaps my mother.  I know that the best dissertation is a done one.  I realize that the dissertation is not the end of my scholarly quest but rather the beginning. However, I am stuck at point A.  Before I do research, etc., I have to find a topic.  Then I have to narrow that topic.  I have to do a literat