The below reflection was written by Shelbee Nguyen, a current student in our Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching. It may be of interest to students who are considering a doctoral degree in their future.
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Embarking on a new academic journey is always a little scary and truthfully when I first thought about myself as a Ph.D candidate a rush of emotions and anxieties filled my thoughts. Within my first week in the Department of Interdisciplinary learning and teaching these feelings appeared to seamlessly melt away. My advisor, instructors, fellow students and support staff created an opening and welcoming environment where I felt comfortable and secure communicating my hopes, dreams and aspirations for my professional future. Together this group culminates a support system that allowed me to create and execute a plan/agenda for my up coming personal, professional and research goals.
I chose a concentration in Adult Learning and Teaching in order to delve further into the intricacies of effective teaching, training and higher education. Within this program, I found myself at the epicenter of critical reflective engagement and current social issues related to both my research and personal academic interests. Throughout my first year with this program I was immersed in new kinds of inquiry and teaching practices, overwhelmed by the new knowledge, and excited to be a part of something that I really valued. In this department you are not just a student, a filled desk, or a name on a roster, you are an individual and you are cared for.
Throughout the course of the semester I worked together with my instructors and was able to utilize my cohort as a peer support system that offered constant and continual feedback and advice. I started the year with hope and ambition about a research topic and ended the year spending a small part of the summer in Italy working on the pilot study to my dissertation research. The program, faculty and staff have provide endless opportunities for learning and advancement in the educational field. The Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching gave me the tools and resources necessary to excel not only in academia, but also in the professional world. As I begin my second year, I look forward to new adventures in research, my official LAST year of course work and the optimism/hope for the imminent future in the world of university life. The relationships I have cultivated in my time here at UTSA have been an invaluable and memorable experience. I know now that I will be afraid no more.
