The Blogger

I had a really interesting experience last night at the Faculty Open House that I have to share.

Several people approached me and asked if I was “The Blogger”?

I really didn’t know what to say at first. This blog was never designed to be about me or create this image but more about “life” as a PhD student/learner and my experiences at Union. As time has gone on, I have never felt that people were reading it and thinking about my posts.

The two comments that I got were interesting to me. First both individuals stated that it was good to hear that “it can be done” even though life would change a bit (they felt this encouraging). The second comment was that learners hoped to comment on my posts in a forum. In the next day, that feature will be open and will enrich the experience for me by getting feedback or questions that might perhaps stimulate more dialogue.

So today I look back at the first year and a half of my PhD program and wonder what I would have wrote if I had blogged the entire time. What would it say about my journey? What would it say about the transition of the person that I have become?

Today we move forward to a new place, the journey continues…

-j-

Some Time to Think

The leadership cohort had the opportunity to have a great conversation led by Peter Block. It was a great time to think. Think about where we are, and where we need to go. Peter is leading our class on leadership, and I am choosing to use this opportunity with Peter to talk about community development and how I might be able to take his ideas and meld them into my dissertation project. It is all starting to make sense to me.

On a side note, the weather is great in Cincinnati. Being able to walk outside without a winter coat is something that I enjoy doing in the month of January. Being stuck in classrooms all day, I am looking forward to taking a jog this afternoon and getting some fresh air.

In the days to come, I will have some guest bloggers. I am looking forward to reading others’ feelings about this week, and the experiences that we are having.

-j-

"The Real McCoy"--Guest Blogger

I am happy to say that I have the ability to pass the blog along to someone I admire. When I first came to Union in June of 2006, next to me sat Peyton McCoy (Peyton similar to Walter Payton, or Peyton Manning, McCoy like “The Real One”).

Listening to Peyton’s ability to tell a story and speak in public is amazing. She is a one of a kind, a real natural, and I admire her dearly.

-j-

Here is what she has to share:

My colleague Jeffrey Shepard approached me about penning this blog submission. I beamed with pride. You see, Jeffrey Shepard is an innovator par excellent. Not only that; one cannot help but beam at the distance traveled as a cohort in this parade of progress, which is evidenced in our inventions. What a marvelous family, the Union family. I kept thinking about my friend Roland, a new band director at an urban high school. I went to their football game a few weeks ago.

Round silver tubs started tapping a rhythm that converted even the non rhythmic. It could not be denied–the drum line was tight. The half-time show evangelized the audience. The drum major led 200 novice marching musicians into a frenzied exciting energy surpassed only by executed precision. It seemed that some invisible compass was navigating chaos into constructive tension. Effortless exactitude. First we sat on the edge of our seats wondering what was about to come. Then we were on our feet infused with exhilaration, invigoration. Next we were cheering and applauding with fierce urgency. But things are not always as they seem. That which appeared effortless was the result of extraordinary effort. Those novices—moving 200 strong–transformed the field, the fans, and themselves. From the player’s bench to the sky booth it became evident—there was a transformation coming on.

Simultaneously, five hundred miles west in Cincinnati, Ohio, there was another half-time going on. Admission tickets were high and expectations higher—there’s another transformation coming on:

It can be downloaded or uploaded
It’s for the information generation

It’s for the rough road and the heavy load
It’s a soulful rejuvenation

It recycles sorrow’s dump truck load, oppression’s dirty load,
And the weary blues overload

It’s a great migration towards an overdue celebration prior to a consummate transformation

It’s for the lost, the found, and the almost found
The bound, level to the ground, and the underground

There’s a transformation that’s yours (and mine) for the asking

So we’ll work longer—and care stronger—towards our transformation Union Institute style

If there’s a high road to take, take it
If there’s forgiveness to give give it
If there’s a thank you to say, say it

Then we can have a transformation, real inter disciplinary transformation–Union Institute style.

Peyton McCoy
Union Institute & University
Cohort 1

Getting Ready to Start Over Again

So as we hit the mid-point of the month of December, I start thinking about what is less than a month away, and make final preparations for what will be ten great days in a great city working with some of the most talented people I know.

What is the same is the housing; we will be making our second stay at the Garfield Suites in Cincinnati. This is probably the best solution for going away and staying somewhere that doesn’t have a beach. Feels like a home away from home.

What is different this residency is that we are also having our classes at the same hotel where we are staying. To me this is a comfort–no coats, no boots, no snow, and no commute. It will be a relaxing situation.

What I am most excited about is the use of technology this time around. Sure, we have always had all the comforts of home (wireless access and Starbucks coffee), but this time I will be active in a technical matter. First, daily blog entries are planned (in some cases multiple daily blogs). Also we are going to experiment with some other technology.

The other item that I am excited about is the fact that I will be teaching a class back in Rochester with the use of technology. I am hoping that my master’s students are as excited as I am about me teaching them about “Leadership in the E-World.” The most exciting part here is that some of my colleagues will be teaching along with me and taking part in the action.

So much to still prepare…. Looking forward to our time together in a few short weeks and creating something special … again….

-j-

Life of the Ph.D. Student

I have been away from the blog for a couple weeks while I get the time to take a deep breath and reflect on what a difficult semester this has been for me personally, and begin thinking about new ideas as to how I am going to tackle yet another semester of learning, running a business, being a faculty member, and trying to live a family life.

I am here to say it can be done. I was told that with a little flexibility and a lot of Starbucks coffee, anything is possible. I can attest that this is true.

Now just a couple more loose ends to tie up, with some classes and one class that needs a little more than just tying up. I will be 3/4th of the way done with the course work. Now if only I felt 100% sure of my dissertation topic.

Hopefully this time away will give me some of the fire back. Based on experience, I know that it will. It is like finishing a marathon; when you are done, you are not surprised since you knew that you had it in you, but you really feel more tired than excited about being finished.

Now it is time to get in line at the starting gate for the next five months of running… I hope to improve my time. The fact really is, at the end of the day, I will just be happy to get done and try to enjoy the run.

-j-