Today, in honor of Christmas, we have a guest writer, Susan
Ruiz, Ph.D. Susan recently completed her dissertation at Walden and shares with
us her view from the finish line.
As I look back over this journey, I have come to realize
that there were certain key points that forever changed the progress that led
to the completion of my dissertation:
1. Accept that the best thing to happen to your research
study is when you have partnered with a chair that is knowledgeable with the
University’s policies and procedures which mandate the development of a viable
research study. They are strategically in place to align your research to
offset potential pitfalls behind missing or unexplained areas in your study.
2. Any time there is
a rewrite of a chapter or section of your dissertation, accept that revisions
are going to be required and that if you are susceptible to vocalizing
frustrations- check your attitude and apologize. Your chair and your committee
are there to ensure that the very best project will develop under their
guidance. They have worked through their
own dissertation and probably understand better than anyone, the frustrations behind
revisions.
3. While no one truly enjoys waiting, it is important to
consider your frustrations as you near the end and begin your preparation to
defend your study. Once the defense, and all the reviews and revisions are
behind you, exhale. You are finally done writing your dissertation. The next
few emails will be recognition of your completed study, the steps to publish in
ProQuest. Before you realize the pace- someone will call you, “Dr.”
While working through years of dissertation development, the
doctoral degree seemed out of reach, something I strove to attain but the
magnitude of this accomplishment is that completing the dissertation was only
the beginning! Now that I have completed my journey, I look forward to new
studies, new information that will continue the research I started in my
dissertation. Being done is not the time
to fold it up, to tell yourself that you are done and that is it. No, this is
the time to take on the higher heights that you once dreamed of. Remember what
you told yourself you would do with this research once you are done? Now is the
time to embrace your next project. The finish line for one journey is the
starting line-up for the next!
Once you have completed your journey, seek continued
mentorship with others who have been engaged in your specialization. Glean from
their wisdom and insight- continue to learn how successful people accomplish
their goals beyond the dissertation.
Above all, be willing to entertain the questions and inquiries from
others who are still on their journey- share how you managed the steps in your dissertation,
as it is possible that you experienced certain difficulties in order to be able
to relate to someone else.
One lasting impression I have is the realization that my
study will be reviewed by other students in the years to come. The issues that
were present in my population could be successfully addressed by those who take
what I have started and develop new theories and methodologies. For me, there
is no better legacy than this.
Next time we will continue our review - Chapter 3: Threats
to Validity- internal validity. Do you have an issue or a question that you
would like me to discuss in a future post? Would
you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu
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