Strategies and Barriers for Completing PhD Program

As we hit the final week of the semester, I can say, participating in the PhD program is no easy task. I have been stretched, pulled, and grounded to a pulp. Although not necessarily an enjoyable process, it is good. A fresh doctor used the metaphor that as students, we are oranges. The program can grind us up and squeeze us painfully so. But what comes out is a sweet nectar. This imagery continues to give me hope to keep pushing forward.

I have spent this first semester just experiencing the program. I took on only a few extra projects and few extra tasks so that I could just experience being a student. In apart this was a strategic decision as well. I did not want to plan and set expectations for myself that I could not fulfill. I also did not want to be bound by projects that I would later be disinterested in because new learning and interests developed during the semester.

Pushing off the planning has been a difficult task as I prefer to plan, organize, and prepare. The time has finally come that I can begin to strategize.

So I did engage in some preliminary work this semester. Whenever I read about someone that was in my area of interest I stored their name in Evernote. I especially stored their name if they worked for IUPUI, IU, or Purdue. This almost meant that I tracked the organizations and committees they formed. Although, I was tempted to reach out immediately, I held off. I designated this holiday break to create an official plan of engagement.

The summer before starting the PhD, I created a “Strategy Manifesto” for myself. This document outlined my mission, values, strengths, current social circles were I had influence, and a rough timeline of where I wanted to be in five years. The engagement plan would be an extension of that document.

The Strategy Manifesto was an enjoyable exercise in taking asset of myself. While I will update and make some of points in the below except more clear over the winter break, you can see the starting point for the PhD program. As I outline my engagement plan, you will get to see how my goals and vision has changed.

Except from Strategy Manifesto

Vision: I envision a future where all people have equitable resources to promote their autonomy and freedom.

Mission: To give life in all that I do, especially by crafting community through creativity, relationship, and science.

Values:
- Act in loving purpose.
- Nurture family, friends, and community
- Establish mindful solitude
- Advocate for justice
- Show genuineness and passion

Focus Areas:
- Nonprofit data fidelity
- Community development
- Program evaluation
- Research

Fortunately, not much has changed in terms of my vision, mission, or values. I still think that these are key criteria for how I should engage the PhD program and life. Not surprisingly, my focus this past semester has been oriented towards developing a research topic area. And fortunately, I believe I had made some progress this semester in defining a research area.

With Health Equity as my emphasis on what I wish to focus on for research, my goal for the upcoming semester is to link up with other individuals in public health and medicine that have equity as a focus. As mentioned above, I have kept track of key players in health equity on IUPUI’s campus. The work that I will do over the holiday break is to determine the best way for me to engage these people. I am currently unsure how to approach these organizations or how to say what I have to offer.

I think one way for me to tackle this problem is to think about it in terms of bonding and bridging on the topic of health equity. First, I wonder if students in the social work programs can be gathered together that may have an interest in community practice (“settings-based intervention” in the language of health equity). This task includes helping social work departments to take asset of their resources and students that have interest in this area. Second, if social work students could be brought together in this way, how to do we connect with other key players in the school. For example, public health, medicine and law, each have committees or projects that focus on a indiscipline approach to equity. I am led to wonder how to get social work into the conversation. We have much to offer, however we are not making ourselves available.

If you cannot yet tell, my main strategy for success is to engage. My tendency is to hide away, read, and write. I believe this tendency is one of my greatest barriers. While such meticulous planning for engagement may seem bizarre to others. For me, it is crucial in envisioning the future I wish to see for the world. Acting without purpose often leaves me exhausted and lost. I try not to be rigid in my structures, however without some structure I feel disoriented. Knowing where I am going is crucially important to me (even if it may change).

I also need to be sensitive to the needs of my family during this journey through the program. I do not wish to be so busy that I am disengaged from the development of my daughter. I want her to see me be active in helping with the home and not to push her onto her mother because I am unavailable. This also means helping with my daughter in the middle of the night. This has been especially challenging this semester.

I often hear faculty and students alike pride themselves in the lack of sleep they get, as if it’s a badge of honor. This seems crazy. I’m more impressed when one says that they valued themselves enough to care for themselves. I’m unsure why it such an oddity to care for yourself in our profession. That being said, it seems as if those who receive much recognition work tirelessly at the expense of their health and their relationships. I have no plan on doing either. I do however plan on being focused and consistent on the work that I do. This is why meticulous planning is so integral to me. I don’t want to be washed away by the endless stream of tasks the insentient business our culture promotes. I do however have an impact I wish to make with my life.

This semester I have set aside time from 5:30 to 8 to be with my wife and daughter. I felt this to be responsible but however I still feel pressed to complete my projects and tasks. By the time 8 o’clock comes I’m tired, distracted, and unfocused. Having a child has been challenging in learning a new groove for being productive. My previous tips have included spreading tasks throughout an entire day while giving myself permission to take many breaks. This was an enjoyable mode of work for me, but no longer seems to be a feasible strategy.