Chandra Beasley Intro to Advance Graduate Studies and Scholarship

The Doctoral Journey Learner Self-Assessment gave me a concise view of my strengths and weaknesses in writing, research, and personal preparation. I went into the self-assessment weary of what the outcome will be and if it would truly be a representation of my writing, research, and personal preparation. After a little thought I decided to refocus my thoughts before taking the assessment. Self assessment has a lot of significance. It helps in identifying the direction one is heading towards. It can help us in achieving superior results if we frequently evaluate ourselves by asking relevant questions regarding our own technical expertise, organizational and management capabilities, attitude towards others and work, confidence level, sense of responsibility, professionalism etc.

So let me begin with a self- exploration of who I am as a learner. I am first a listener. I listen to the thoughts and ideas of others without bias. I have become who I am as a person through a prism of stories, histories, tales, myths, and narratives that are part of my community, ethnicity, family, and colleagues. Secondly I am a perceiver. I use my senses to discern what is not right and to accept and learn from the lessons that are. Next I am human. I will not be successful at every attempt I make. Failure is not trying at all and I give my all at every task that is put before me. I am the key to my success. I create my own dreams and goals and place myself in position to obtain them. I become a sponge and absorb all of the information, knowledge, and wisdom poured into me. I am interpersonal. I am truly a people person. I enjoy being around people, and engaging in social and community activities. I have a genuine empathy for the feelings of others. I am able to relate, share, and participate in group environments. I am also an intrapersonal at times. I am in tune with my strengths,

weaknesses, and feelings. I am a creative, independent, and reflective thinker. And I am very determined and highly motivated.

My strengths in my doctoral journey will definitely be personal preparation. I made it my goal to be as prepared as I could be for this part of my destiny. When I was deciding if I wanted to pursue my doctorate I had a long discussion with one of my cousins that obtained a M.D and Ph.D. She gave me a few pearls of wisdom first asking me was my doctorate going to serve a purpose or will it just be a wall decoration. Secondly she asked was I going to be selfish or selfless with the knowledge that I will obtain. This blew my mind. I begin to ponder my journey and purpose and a light bulb came on. I want to teach young minds. I want to offer hope to our younger generation. I want to save the school district that was the molded and shaped my educational journey. So I knew that I was prepared to move into my doctoral journey. I have the support of my management team at work, my family, my friends, and first and foremost my God.

My weakness in my doctoral journey would be research preparation. Im not sure if I would call it a weakness more so an area of development. I am developing my ability to use SPSS and other data formatting programs. I am developing an understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods.

My journey has not been an easy one. But I am a rebel with a cause. Through my research in the doctoral program I hope to find answers to some of things that have affected my family. Things such as the importance of business funding in medical research, or if finding a cure for Alzheimers will help

bring down Medicare debt. So in closing my journey will not be one in void but one in learning and leading.