It's A Marathon, Not A Sprint

Starting a school experience with two weeks on campus feels really unique.  Instead of parceling out our work over a semester of several weeks, we're spending eight hours a day in class and then responsible for doing a significant amount of writing at night.  I'm in awe of how focused the older students are----making notes, writing reflections, trading ideas for papers, etc.  I'm also a bit tired!  Like I figured, the content of the classes feels really comfortable.  My barrier is the use of technology, like designing models and templates to illustrate work.  I'm trying to breathe deep, do my best and ask for help when I need it.  A humbling experience for someone with my ego!

The great thing is that with the exception of one presenter, the rest of the sessions have been really great.  I love the topics of leadership and learning, and am already finding lots of things I can use in my work.  So...it's a one day at a time venture, and I'm just trying to keep pushing a little each day to get my papers and other work done.  I appreciate everyone's calls and emails to keep in touch!

Off to meet my study group to plan our presentation for next week.  Our final project is going to be a game show presentation we're calling, " Who Wants to be a Leader?"   Gotta have a little humor along the way, right?

Zero to Sixty

Whew!!!   I'm here, I'm fine----but my head is spinning!

I've had twelve hours of class time with my cohort over the last two days, and it's been really exciting and interesting to meet the group that will travel together over the next three years.  Here are a few of my new friends:

• William and Paula Jo, who live next door to me.  They're from Chicago, and are in the last year of their course work---They're a great source of calm and reason!
• A Franciscan nun from Kenya
• An organist 
• A woman who runs a school in a maximum security prison
• Several college instructors / educators
• A great group of administrators from Appleton, who've adopted me and are allowing me to tag along on their field trips.  :-)   Next week we'll head downtown one night to Summerfest, where Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire are performing.  It's the networking thing, really.......

We've received three major assignments while we're here....First, I'm part of a two week study group on the topic of Leadership.  We have to give a 30-minute presentation to the whole cohort on the last day.   Second, I have to write an 8-page paper on what I want to learn about Leadership over the next year, and what goals are, and what my plan is to achieve my goals.       (This kind of thinking makes my stomach cramp..... Hmmmmm)   Last, I have to write a 10-20 page paper about the major themes of the speakers, books and learning during the Summer Institute, and how they impact my thinking about my Leadership theme.  So....let the games begin!   Looks like I go to class for 8 hours each day and use my spare ( !) time to concentrate on the other work.  So.....zero to 60 mph in just a couple days!  

Our instructor for the summer and fall courses is Donna, who's smart, very kind and who is using some excellent strategies to help our cohort become a cohesive group.  Stritch also is doing a great job of helping the new people get to talk and meet with students from older cohorts---There are lots of opportunities where the instructors have been really intentional about letting us talk to other cohorts and learn from them about their experiences.  It's been a relief to have the students tell us about the high level of support and the commitment instructors have to everyone's success.  In fact, three things about that:  Donna says when we submit our papers to her, she'll get them back to us immediately with feedback.  We do changes in the paper, resubmit, and then she actually grades the paper.   In fact, assignments and course grades are Pass / Fail, which makes me really comfortable.   Last,  no doctoral student defends their dissertation until the entire faculty feels they're ready to pass that final hurdle----therefore, everyone who presents is awarded their degree.  So....I think the professors are working hard to make this a rigorous experience, but they balance that rigor with a high level of support.  Sounds like a great leadership model to me!

I'm off today to participate in a book discussion with people from other cohorts, and also hear an overview of the whole PhD  and EdD programs.  Sorry this post is so long.....I'll try not to be so verbose in the future, and save my words for my papers!

My First Day of School

In the living room in our home is a weathered picture of my brother Bill and my sister Miriam, when they were five and six years old. The year must have been about 1951 or so, and the moment captured in time is the moment cherished by parents across the years---Their first day of school. Their faces shine with excitement, and they look absolutely sure they'll be successful.

So....time has passed, and surprisingly enough that routine is beginning again, although in a much different manner this time. On Friday of this week, I start a new adventure: beginning my course work for a Doctorate in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. I'm starting this blog to help record the journey ( I'm sure I'll look back and laugh at some time in the future....) as well as to try to process the years ahead by writing about them.

So here's the scoop: As the time to begin approaches, I find I'm really excited about the learning because I love the leadership topic. BUT....I'm also feeling anxious---about being away from home and living in a hotel the next two weeks, about the use of all the technology connected to the learning, about meeting and working with twenty people in my learning cohort, and so many other things! Brian says I'll feel much better after I arrive and get into the process, and I think he's right---The anticipation and uncertainty are the worst part of all this for me! So...........I'm heading down the road at 8 am Friday, and will keep you posted as I navigate my next few days. With a brother and sister who did school so well, how can I lose?