Pearls of Wisdom from ELP 23
For ELP 24 – The below are inputs from various colleagues to provide you pointers
as you begin the ELP program to use as you see fit
And please feel free to use the “buddy list” to contact us individually, as you may find
you have any further questions, are located nearby, or have similar interests.
Warmest Regards, ELP 23.
Ellen
Congratulations! Enjoy this new exciting path you have chosen! Write down when
you plan to graduate and keep it on your mirror, desk, or other prominent area… Dr.
Jane Smith, 2016; Dr. John Brown, 2017.
As you do your assigned readings, think about how they may inform your future
dissertation topic.
Get to know your classmates on a personal level, you will be presenting in teams for
the most part and you need to support each other.
Appreciate the diversity that surrounds you in your classmates, and use it to find out
more about each other and the world.
Know that each of you was selected for this program based upon your huge set of
talents, skills and experiences, and each of you has something valuable to contribute to
the discussions. Even when you disagree – remember everyone has a story. What can
you learn from ALL of your peers.
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Learn that it is not as important as whom speaks the loudest most often in getting
their opinions across in class, but one who also listens before speaking to others
opinions and gives credit to them.
You are in it for the long haul, so take care of your health: exercise, eat healthy, and
get enough sleep.
Keep a handle on turning assignments in timely, and read articles before coming to
class.
Contribute on email, conference calls and other communications, and volunteer as
much as possible.
Keep focused, and except during class breaks, don’t check personal emails or the
sports team playoffs, it is disruptive to neighbors and is a demotivator for others.
As soon as you begin to develop ideas around your research area of interest, begin
sharing them with your instructors and classmates for any valuable insights they may
have to offer.
Respect your instructors and let them lead the class, don’t talk over them.
Adina
From her blog http://insideadinashead.blogspot.com/2012/06/i-wish-i-knew-that.html
• Decide now what you're going to give up, because you're going to have to
give up something. TV is always a good thing to give up. It may be giving up an
avid hobby. It may be giving up your propensity to 'step up' at work. But
something has to go, so decide what it will be now.
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Don't give up family time.
Don't give up your exercise routine.
Decide how you're going to organize yourself. I've written posts about this before and
I think it's critical. Pick a system and stick to it; it only really needs to get you
through comps.
If you're a paper person, figure out how you're going to house all of the
articles you'll be reading- I believe by the end of the first month my paperclassmates had three of those huge three inch binders filled with articles.
If you're a paperless person, do some research on a document storage
system. I love Mendeley (here's my overview of it), but there are lots of
systems out there and most are free.
Don't read everything; it'll make you crazy. Read summaries, conclusions, key
sections. As you get into research methods, look through the methods section
and make sure you understand them. Make sure you get the gist of the articles
before you come to class. Write up a one-pager with the article name, year,
authors, and a quick summary you can glance at in class.
Make notes after class. On that same piece of paper, take your notes. I add my notes
to Mendeley after class is over. I focus on key words and concepts. Beyond that,
I try not to worry too much about the details.
Write from outlines. This is actually extra work for me, because of my process. But
learn to use outlines and follow them. There will be so many ideas floating
around in your head that it will be hard to resist the temptation to jam every
thought- every connection- into a paper. If you need help writing, the university
has a writing center that will help you.
Give yourself some quiet time. I live in the District and I take a shuttle out to the class
site the night before class. I try to have all my assignments and reading done
before I get out there (I haven't been 100% successful in this, but almost). I don't
watch TV at home, so this is an opportunity for me to completely veg out before
classes the next day. I order in food, watch crap TV, and go to sleep early.
This may not work for you. You may need to veg out the day after class;
I've found that doesn't work for me- I'm too hyped up from class- I must
collect my thoughts, put my notes in Mendeley, and usually blog.
Know you're going to feel alone. You're going to feel like you're the only one
struggling- struggling to keep up with the work, struggling to understand some of
the ideas. But you're not. It's not until I started to open up to my classmates that I
realized that everyone was just as freaked out and lost as I was.
Build your support system. Family and friends are awesome and they
have their own place in supporting you, but I'm talking about academic
colleagues. I've done this by tweeting, blogging, and being active on
LinkedIn and Mendeley. Know who's who in your field and how to get to
them. Attend conferences. And listen to what people have to say. There's
always a nugget of advice in there some where.
If you have any hopes of an academic future, publish and attend conferences. Now.
Find your favorite journals, see what people are talking about. Attend academic
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conferences, submit proposals for poster sessions or presentations or
publications and just do it. I've received very little faculty encouragement to do
this- I've had to find this within myself.
• You're not allowed to quit in the week period before class. This isn't my rule- it's one
of my classmate's and I think it's brilliant. The week before each residency
weekend will be grueling. You'll have thoughts of giving up. But don't allow
yourself the leeway to decide to quit the program that week. Get yourself through
the weekend and then see how you feel. I usually feel this exhaustive high at the
end of a weekend.
• Keep a journal (or a blog!) of your experience.
• Forgive yourself. You're going to make mistakes. You're going to get behind. Most of
the time you're going to feel sufficiently whelmed; still other times, you'll feel
overwhelmed. Just give yourself a break and some time off and then get back on
track.
Scott
Make note of your spouse or significant other's name. Write it on a sticky note. Tattoo it
on your arm. It will help you remember it. Have a child? Repeat. Have another child?
Repeat. It is really your only hope.
- Listen to what others are saying. Don't think about what you want to say that sounds
better than what they are saying. If you find yourself saying "I'd like to pile on what (so
and so) said," don't. Did I say that out loud?
- If you do talk, ask questions. Then go back to "listen to what others are saying"…
above.
- Keep exercising. That and that alone will at least make you still resemble a human
being while your spirit withers away into a gooey mess of scholarly knowledge that all
sounds the same and ends with some first author's last name and a year.
- Maybe someday you too will be a first author's last name. Maybe. Maybe not.
Probably not. You left your practitioner’s hat at the door, and it is still hanging there.
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Maybe. Maybe not. Someone in your cohort might steal it. They might steal your
dissertation topic as well. Watch 'em. Watch 'em like a hawk watches a rat in a field.
- You have to know everything you hear, every word that is said, every word that you
read for comps. Start worrying now that you won't remember it all. Worrying helps.
Throw in some self-generated stress. Stress adds flavor.
- Don't quit. Give up that stuff in your life that really doesn't matter. Stop doing it. It frees
up time. The throw pillows can stay on the floor. Don't put them back on the bed, etc.
For the stuff that does matter, well...see the tattoo advice above.
- Your best sleep will come while reading. I promise. I have quantitative data on this
phenomenon.
- If someone younger in your cohort uses all electronic articles and books and such and
tells you that you should do the same rather than carry around all that paper, just smile
at them like you do when your daughter just doesn't get it, and call them by the name of
"Adina." If EVERYONE in the cohort is younger than you, you better finish your
dissertation on time, 'cause you don't have much of it left. Then call yourself "Frank."
- Remember that we're all just making this stuff up, so don't take yourself too seriously.
- You aren't special by-the-way. Several hundred people have already come through the
program. Suck it up and stop whining. You could have been born in a shack in the
South Sudan, but you weren't. You could be eating rice off the back of a UNICEF truck.
You aren't. Although it is a perky little flower, don't be a pansy.
- "You aren't the masses"...best quote to date from the faculty in my opinion. But you
still ain't special.
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Mark –
1. Do not get frustrated if you cannot understand everything you read.
Understanding will build with time. Much of the vocabulary and many of the
concepts you encounter in this program will be new to you. Like learning a
foreign language, you will pick it up with time. In the beginning, dictionaries and
Wikipedia will be your closest friends.
2. You will not get to write perfect papers every time. Time constraints and the
number of assignments being what they are, you will sometimes have to accept
“good enough for government work” and then move on. Do not be too enamored
by your own work – accept criticism of faculty and peers as constructive and
learn from it.
3. Adina made a great point above – you will not have time to read everything you
are assigned. When asked, many faculty members have admitted that they do
not coordinate with each other when constructing syllabi and assignment
timelines. Sometimes, you are going to have to emphasize one class or set of
assignments over another. Use the same time management and prioritization
skills that have gotten you this far in life to help you manage what you will and
will not have time to read. That said, written assignments continue to flow like a
waterfall…getting behind on writing assignments makes it harder to catch up.
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4. I have heard that some deride this program (ELP) in that ‘GW’ stands for “group
work” instead of “George Washington.” I actually think this is a key strength of
the program. Life is a team sport. In the “real world” of practitioners, most of us
work in organizations that are comprised of other human beings…we don’t go
through life alone…so why should we study and learn alone? Stay true to the
other members in your cohort – they are the ones that will make the good times
good, and the bad times bearable.
5. Fifth and finally, do not quit. Everyone thinks about it, but do not allow yourself
to dwell on it. Take this program one assignment at a time – otherwise the
combined weight of what lies ahead of you might feel like it is too much to bear.
Tom
1. Take the time to get organized; find a system that works for you. Get your readings,
assignments, contact lists, etc. squared away. This is time well spent.
2. Manage your time—treat it like project management. Give yourself assignments, due
dates, and a schedule, then follow it. If you don't, you will get behind and overwhelmed.
3. Try not to fall behind. Turn stuff in, and move on, even if it's not perfect.
4. Don't try to read every word, but get the gist. In class, make sure you really
understand the concepts and how they apply and how they fit together.
5. Take the time to build relationships with your cohort—you will need them and they will
need you.
6. Get email addresses. And maybe even phone numbers.
7. Talk the to professors, but remember they have a certain point of view.
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8. It's good to get many points of view.
9. Don't worry about grades as much as getting everything done. Your grades will be
fine, if you get the work done.
10. Enjoy the learning process. It's hard to do, but you will have some fantastic, mindbending conversations.
11. Figure out a game plan for snacks. Snacks are very important.
12. Set some ground rules with your group. You won't like everyone necessarily, and
you will be spending a lot of time together.
13. Try to guard your school time—at home and while you are here. If you are so busy
working, dealing with your family, and doing other stuff, you are going to have a hard
time focusing and being successful.
14. Beg forgiveness from work and your family.
15. Try not to over-schedule your life before cohort weekends. You will need the time,
despite your best efforts to get ready.
16. Remember: It gets easier. You will get better at being a student.
Michell
Don't sweat the small stuff.
Read Burrell and Morgan
Rashid
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Know why you are here
It’s okay to readjust your initial view of why you are here
Get to know as many people as possible, including faculty members on the main
campus and graduates of the program
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John
Take one day/class/chunk at a time
Get to know your classmates; they will help you get through this by sharing your
personal experiences
Talk through concepts/issues/approaches with classmates in between weekends; the
process of verbalizing your thoughts and brainstorming together will help you to narrow
your focus
Make time for family; if you don't consciously do it, your time will slip away before you
know it; don't wait until your dissertation to thank them for their support
Lane
Be curious - all the time. If you approach every encounter and situation from this
perspective, it will remind you that there is always more to learn.
"I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing. That is, that I know nothing." - Socrates
Be kind - to yourself, your cohort, the faculty, to all of your family and friends who
support this journey.
"Be kind - for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Plato
Don't focus on the cost, be it money, time, or effort. Focus on then benefits. They will
come sooner than you think if you look for them - and they will continue to come. Most
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likely for the rest of your life.
Think and reflect. Often. If you do not make time for this, learning cannot occur.
Get to know everyone in your cohort. They are amazing. They are just as intelligent and
gifted as you are. Each of them view the world through a different lens. The chance to
see things from these other perspectives is a great gift. Reach out. Offer the gift of your
perspective as well.
You won't be able to read everything. Don't try.
Never be afraid to ask a question. Be sensitive about WHEN to ask your question.
Class time with faculty is precious and they have much to share. If you are going to ask
a question during class time, make sure it's relevant and has the potential to help
everyone in the room.
Have fun. If you worry about the details too much you will miss a lot of the beauty in the
experience
Kevin
1) Come to the program with the ability to change your mind on your research interests.
Feel free to dream, but when you have to wake up, be prepared to wake up to a notion
that you have not previously considered.
2) Do the reading PRIOR to class. As you may have noticed after the first week, you will
not have enough time to do the reading during your Cohort Weekends. This includes
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"the morning of." I would recommend that you spend the Friday morning of the Cohort
Weekend eating breakfast with your fellow classmates.
3) Don't worry about the grades! This is a terminal degree and your grades will not
matter after this degree.
4) If you have to prioritize your readings, stick with the main four (Change, Culture,
Learning and Leadership) The other readings are important too, but remember that your
comps are mostly on the "Big 4."
5) The previous comments on your families is ALL true! I make sure that I come home
and spend time with my family EVERY Friday (or Thursday on Cohort Weekends)
6) Everyone the program is very bright and has something to contribute; but there is a
difference between contribution and pontificating. Know the difference and know your
limits (remember that conversations can go offline) Your fellow Cohort-mates will
appreciate this.
7) Remember to appreciate your professors. You may not realize why they approach
the things that they do in the way that they do, but TRUST THE PROCESS, but allow
yourself to explore.
8) Remember to have fun and prepare for the ride of your life!
Eric
Enjoy your adventure everyone; and trust the process!
How To Catch Success
A poem by Eric Zabiegalski
Spend every available moment thinking of your interests
Explore those interests until you find your passion
Chase your passion to contented exhaustion
Teach what you have learned to others
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Anonymous
“In order to lead the orchestra, you must be willing to turn your back on the road”
Your cohort is your family and probably the only people that really get why you’re doing
this, what it takes, and just how crazy things can get
Lean on them, rely on the, accept them. Love them!
Get used to being asked, “Aren’t you done with school yet? You’ve been there forever”
It’s just their poor perception of time. It’s them …. Not you.
Franci
Great responses from others in Cohort 23 – which illustrates the massive benefit of
getting to know and participating with your cohort.
So, get to know your cohort members. They are great sources of experience, talent, and
support.
Also, don’t be shy in asking others for help you need and also for reaching out/being
ready to help others. There will be times when you need to do both.
IF you travel from other states & fly in for class, be sure you book flights/hotel rooms
early ! Especially around holidays & local events. There are 2 hotels that cater to GWU
students – they feel like extended GWU family.
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Work hard (no doubt this will happen) and have fun! Spend tie with each other --- go for
walks over lunch we can speed walk to Chic Fil A in less than 7 minutes).
Find a favorite restaurant/pub to hang out and meet in order to discuss experiences and
share stories. You’ll find common interests both professionally & personally that you
can draw on during and outside cohort weekends.
We celebrated the holidays, key events, group norms, birthdays, met at local venues,
and members’ homes. These sustain and enrich the experience.
Brian
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Get organized early. Set up electronic folders for each class now, then keep e-
copies of everything with author and date in the filename. Periodically, review your file
organization based on your maturing perspective.
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Review the course syllabi as soon as you get them, then reverse engineer a work
plan from the due of each assignment and reading requirement.
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Take a day after each cohort weekend to catch your breath and re-connect with
loved ones. THEN start working your plan for the next session. Procrastination is the
path to frustration and monthly anxiety.
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As far as "group norms" go... basic consideration and common courtesy should
prevent most cohort conflicts. An adult conversation in private will take care of the rest.
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If you keep trying, the faculty will work with you. Help yourself, but don't be
ashamed to ask for help when you need it.
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If you really want this EdD, then don't quit. Until the faculty tells you not to
bother, you should plan to come back next month.
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Time flies. Enjoy this while it lasts.
Kathi
Try to share small pieces of your cohort experiences with those you care about, at
home/work, so you can share your connections/experiences throughout the month as
you touch base and telecom with your cohort members in a way that has meaning for
those outside the program. (My husband now actually asks me about how classmates
are doing after the weekends.)
Be patient with yourself, it will all come together… your topic will emerge.
Read what you can. Take notes in the margins or on stickies. Focus on the abstract,
intro and summary first. Then re-read it again with the context in mind.
Borrow books from the library first. If you know it is a keeper look for used books on
amazon or other textbook sites.
Make friends with the librarians – this will save you time !!!
Have fun! Because learning IS fun! …And it is a great privilege to be in ELP!!!
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