The new adventure . . . . . ever since I graduated in 2003, I have planned to go back for my Ph.D. I debated for a while in what direction I wanted to take my Ph.D. in but knew it would center around early childhood education. In the last few years as I have gotten involved in the Statewide Child Care Training issues as well as
teaching more, made me realize that I wanted to focus on professional development and how program administrators help teachers bring back knowledge from training and implement change. I truly believe that without the strong leadership, the impact of professional development in most is significantly lost. That being said, I made the commitment to start my program in August 2011. I applied, I re-took my GRE (although it turns out that I really didn't need to do that), I interviewed, and I got in!!!!!
I was well on my way and thought the hard part was behind me. Oh, I was so wrong. Yes, it is in black and white - I WAS WRONG!!!! I was thinking today about my first summer at UF. It was June, I had just graduated high school and could not wait to be a Gator. I picked out classes I wanted, I bubbled my scantron, stood in line only to find that the classes I wanted were full. Back to the drawing board. As a freshman at UF, you get the last pick. This means 7:25AM classes. But I did my time. I remember in subsequent semesters, waiting in lines that spanned what seemed to be a half of mile. As I progressed through my degree, things like phone registration came to fruition and then online registration - making the entire process easier (much the way taxes have evolved - paper, phone, online) and increasing my priority in registration. When I returned for my master's degree, it was so easy - we had no choices. The program told us what classes, what time and we just registered. So simple! I naively thought that as a doctoral student, registration would be smooth. Afterall, I managed to self-advise my way through four degrees at UF in seven years. Again, I was so wrong! This program is making me truly question my thinking ability. I found out last week that I had to take three classes, which was one more than I wanted. I resolved myself that it would be OK. I knew I had one class that I absolutely had to have. I tried to self-register but that did not work so I had our amazing admin person in the program help me. She logs in and finds two, yes I said two, holds on my record. I have only been a UF student for one minute and I already had holds. But in my zen like attitude, I reminded myself to let go of things I have no control over and just keep moving forward. I resolved the holds issue and got registered for my first class. I tried to work with advisors this summer but correspondence has been difficult. I picked out a few classes only to hear that they really were not good choices. I picked a few more, which did get the thumbs up. At this point, I am thinking "OK, great - I have classes, I have alternates, let's get registered." My first attempt, denied because another department had to do it. Long story short (although at this point, if you are still reading, you would disagree this is short), it took being bounced through five individuals to get registered for my second class - yes, class number two. This means one to go. Wish me luck that by tomorrow evening, I will have my three classes.
I have always had sympathy for students who are enrolled in my coursework. My compassion goes much deeper now. I am holding onto the belief that it has been this difficult because I am on the outside trying to get back in but once I am in, this will get more straightforward. A very good friend of mine taught me to avoid the word "easy" because often times things are not easy but are straightforward.
For tonight . . . I'm just sayin' . . . .Go Gators (I have not lost my allegiance, yet!)
XOXO
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