The Arrival
I have struggled for a while with the idea of my dissertation. At the same time, I've been salivating at the idea of having to produce this major body of written work. I consider myself a writer--actually I consider myself an artist with the written word being my favorite medium of creating. So, for "a writer" someone who literally wakes up everyday drafting, someone who writes everyday be it in journals, on notepads, on a blog, or even just in her mind, the idea of a dissertation is something that I can totally do. It is not a question of can, or even will, for me it is a question of how...the process. Words just flow through me. I do not sit down with an intention or a plan, no outline no map. I flow in and with words at the same time. I've been working on cognitively not creating such a dichotomy between my joyous writing and my academic writing. I believe that it is in large part due to my own paranoia have I found there to be such a difference between the two. I have also realized that there is no way I am going to be happy writing a dissertation that is not both academically rigorous and yet poetic and meaningful. So, I decided the route I am going to take.
Earlier this week, I said to myself, "On Friday, you are going to begin. You are going to start to pull all the inside to the outside and you are going to get naked in this thing." Risk. I guess the best way to explain my decision is that I decided to be vulnerable in my work. That is what I believe separates my joyous from my work. I learned really early how to "do" school, I figured out what teachers valued and I played to that strength, however when I began my PhD program I decided this degree would be for me. So, I've taken opportunities that have scared me. I've pushed myself and sometimes failed but learned in the process. I've whole-heartedly believed in every piece of work I've produced in this program and I want the end to be an illustration of not just research but of my journey through my work.
It started with mentorship. Safe. Then spirituality, but it was too big and I got lost in that. So I pulled back out. Then decision making, but I realized it wasn't the decision it was the process. Then I read. And I found that the decision making process is different depending on where people are developmentally. So it became about development. Then, there was a question of but who? First I looked at different types of individuals. The student. The professional. But I realized something, that at the same time I am me, I am also we. So I couldn't just study the individual. It has to be both the individual, the system, at the same time.
It was a question to Brené and it is a question that I think is coming for my own research, and that is how does one encourage and promote vulnerability systemically? There are some things that happen, people open up with you or those that cannot or will not almost resent the vulnerability and act out in different ways. But how does that shape the organization? And what does the individual who was first "open" do? Do they experience shame ? Or are they shame resilient? And because I am looking at student affairs practitioners, how does this then affect the students that he or she advises?
It is still taking shape. But it's my place. It is where I fit and it involves all the other pieces. I had to leave it so that I could arrive in this place, and I am excited to share it with my advisor who will soon get a new name, My Chair. It is a tricky thing, time. It moves so quickly and even before you can catch your breath, sometimes the seasons have changed and time has marched on.
So it's Friday. I'm ready to write. I set my intention, I've taken off my armor and I've got my pen. I am right here right now and it's the only place I want to be.