It’s a plan

The first plan for my PhD journey has been requested and is in process. I’ve developed the plan for the next four years and sent it to my advisor for revision and feedback. I’ll need to then submit this to the Graduate Office for signatures from the Chair of the Grad department and the Dean of the Faculty. I’m not sure how accurate or effective this plan is, or how detailed it should be, but it’s a beginning. What I realize as I’m doing this, is the work that will be required as I work toward the end goal of a completed PhD. As A.VB. shared with me this past week, the only good PhD is a completed PhD. It doesn’t need to be wide and deep, it just needs to be done. I’ll try to remember this as I move into the course work. Keep it focused and specific, doable and achievable. SMART goals should be the framework – keeping elements measurable and manageable.

I’ve now also gotten a place to stay while in Thunder Bay this coming summer. Pete and I are looking at the logistics of getting to/from and back again, with holidays and other events managed into the schedule. As I look forward through the long view, the upcoming view and the short view, I’m making mental and physical lists of what to do, arrange and organize as I begin this PhD journey. I’ve just blogged about getting from Point A to Point B and thinking this may also be applied to this plan for a PhD, since I’ll be bringing others along on this journey with me – husband, children, friends, colleagues, students, perhaps even other PhD navigators from the GO_GN Network.

What is still to come and needs to be planned with greater detail is the PhD question and research components. This will come, I’m sure, as I navigate through the initial courses, but I’m anxious to move beyond the messiness of getting started. I know I can’t avoid it, can’t maneuver around it, and need to traverse through it, but I’m having some hesitation with fear of the unknown. Just let it begin!