Giving Thanks

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, let's take a moment to think about how that relates to your dissertation. As a dissertation student, you have come so far in your education! The doctorate is considered the terminal degree, meaning, there are none higher than that. Just making it to the point of working on the dissertation is a great achievement- take a moment and realize how far you have come!

Only 1% of the population has a doctoral degree, you are very privileged, you are bright and capable, or you would not have gotten this far. Think of all of the faculty who have given you their time, effort, and wisdom to help you get here… they stretch out far beyond graduate school… all the way to high school, elementary school, and kindergarten. Send them blessings.

Think about all of your classmates and friends who have helped you reach this point. All of the people who have shared your frustrations and your joys, who have been there for support. Send them thanks.

And finally, think about your family members who have given up so much for you to achieve this goal. They have given you time to work, held you in crisis, and celebrated with you in your accomplishments. They may be your cheerleader, or your silent supporter, but you know they are behind you. Take a moment to let them know you appreciate them.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned during data collection. Next time we will explore data collection problems and their resolution. 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! Send me an email with your ideas. leann.stadtlander@mail.waldenu.edu