Teresa's Advice

Hello Kay,

Here is my response to your 3rd journal.

In your time here, you will hear many things about what to do or how to be, especially in the pro-seminar since it is in part devoted to the subject of doctoral being and becoming, but the question of "when" as well as what you feel comfortable with is in your hands. A forced or preempted learning process is a contradiction in terms. Not only will you not enjoy it but it just won't bear the same fruit. I mean, it's possible to look at the doctorate+ as a career--and in a very pragmatic sense, it is, as signaled by the tenure dossier in an academic timeline, mandatory within 5 years of being hired as tenure-track--but it is much more than that; much, much more. Don't worry. Keep a good relationship with your supervisor; talk to her about substantive subjects; write about what you talk about and develop your own thinking (what you agree with/don't agree with); write; read; talk with your colleagues in/out of courses; attend REFs, conferences, etc.; apply for scholarships. If you do all of these kinds of things, you are already doing what doctoral students do, and things will happen in the time they should. The tenure file ought to be the same. As Anthony frequently told all of us when we were new, just do what you're already doing.

So, I suppose that would be advice, Kay. Just keep on going as you are. Enjoy. Yes, keep your eye on making sure that you're doing what you're supposed to. Challenge yourself and seek out opportunities that will enhance your doctoral/academic learning but don't take on too much, or the kinds of things that might detract you from your main goal. And do as you are--pay attention to your learning process as you learn, and write about what you are experiencing and thinking about.

Teresa

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