A few thoughts about starting a Doctorate from a #HullEdD Doctoral Researcher

In this post, positive visionary and Doctoral Researcher Roan Williams considers what it means to undertake an EdD

First EdD blog Raona Williams: what is it like starting/doing a doctorate?

Finishing the first Professional Ed D weekend as a member of the new cohort and picking up on advice from my new network of aspiring doctoral research students and accomplished Doctoral lecturers I am posting this first blog. I have been inspired by a post from a lecturer that I read in a discussion page from ItunesU on my new EdD iPad (what a perk!): What is it like starting/doing a doctorate?
First and foremost it is in an incredible feeling of achievement – absolutely priceless for me and off the scale of ‘material wealth’. Coming from an aspirational background and living my mantra of ‘always push on to the highest point in life’….don’t be deterred by the ‘isms’ in life…I feel a phenomenal and gushing sense of success – and it’s only the beginning of the course! I am a very positive ‘cup is always half full’ ‘what doesn’t break you makes you stronger’ kind of person and I live the life of critical, argumentative, reflective practice.

Being a creative professional leader and manager, innovating and developing and inspiring new knowledge is fundamental for me and my ‘purpose’ in life and I think this is what it will be like doing a doctorate! Being in a constant state of higher order thinking, researching, analysing, evaluating, creating, which no doubt may feel uncomfortable at times but will shape and develop my ‘life path’ in so many more ways than just my professional development! Secondly starting a doctorate has shown me how much my vocabulary will increase! The first weekend was like an episode of Countdown on a whole new level! I’m going to have to search for one of the most comprehensive digital app dictionaries I can find. But at the same time I will be making a conscious effort to simplify ‘things’ ‘situations’ and ‘issues’ – mainly to reduce potential increased stress levels but also to help with the concept of scaffolding and explaining my ideas. Thirdly starting the doctorate this weekend reminded me how so very important and rewarding in life it is to network, get to know, talk, share and laugh with new, like minded people! Seek and have good people around you and ‘ditch’ the negative naysayers! It also highlighted how, in some ways, the digital age we are living in is enhancing but it is also limiting verbal discourse.

Starting this doctorate in education – a social science by its very nature; will foster (for me) an even greater desire to talk, laugh, and keep in touch with people who share a similar ‘energy’ not linked to ‘academics’ Finally, I think doing a doctorate is exciting! My journey will create a ‘stamp’ for those I came/come into contact with (in our huge yet tiny world) to share an aspect of what I stand for and how my ‘minute’ contribution in a global sense could potentially have ‘one day’ a colossal impact in the passage of time (told you I was a positive person…along with being a visionary lol!)
I aim to blog often to reflect, develop, create, enhance, share with those minds that want to read about my thoughts in their own time, destress, invigorate, laugh in writing, and remind myself of the passion and true love I have for educating and what I believe in- after all..EVERYONE on Earth is an educator, some just decide to make it more of their life focus:)

ThIs first blog post is for me (and anyone else) to look back on for that retrospective ‘Back to the future – Oct 2015’ analysis…especially for when the draft feedbacks, work demands, life demands, put me into that mindset of: ‘Ooh no did I make the right decision starting all this!?’

So I think, starting/doing a Doctorate in Education will be like all of the above (and lots more but I am keeping my blog short) along with absolutely positive and lots of reading with active/dedicated writing! An amazing investment in your ‘self’ and your loved/liked ones around you.

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