A new focus

It has been some time since I have been here; a lot has changed for me and my epistemological growth. I am wrapping up my spring quarter having taken six courses of 17 hours. I certainly overloaded myself, but by doing so, I have pushed to understand my limits and to focus on the absolute core of what I am trying to accomplish. I now have a research focus! After speaking to Dr. Trundle, I have centered on the study of using earth science simulations in distance learning. I am spending my summer writing my first IRB to begin research on a separate but related study that will help me understand the entire idea of how research works; the do's and don't's. Dr. Irving has been great and very supportive. I am very fortunate to have the advisors I do, who are helping me to obtain MY goals, not just working on a branch of their own. I have also had the opportunity to put the rest of my coursework requirements down on paper, into a plan. I am now working to finalize my committee. I have just three weeks remaining in the spring quarter, a week break and right into the summer quarter and my first qualitative research course. The rig is beginning to move downhill at a much faster clip now. Somedays I need to stop myself in order to focus on the journey, not just the goal at the end. Working full-time during this process really takes a way a lot of what this journey has to offer. I wish I just had the opportunity to be a student. Regardless, I have learned so much about myself, so much about the theories surrounding cognitive process, all in such a short time...and I still have another year of coursework.