A Village-Wide Endeavor

One of the most individualized, long-term experiences you will ever take on is that of your personal education. As a product of the public school system through and through from elementary all the way up to my doctoral degree, it's easy to fall into the fold of assuming that everyone is walking a similar path. But the schools you attend, the experiences you have along the way, the degree programs you embark upon, are all quite unique. From selecting your courses each semester to finding your key mentors, it is an experience you must build yourself - hour upon hour, event by event.

Yet, for all that is self-made and elected in the education long-haul, it truly "takes a village" to complete the full spectrum of degrees that one can obtain in the academic system. As an elementary and secondary student, the reliance you have upon the village is most obvious. Your parents or guardians sacrifice time, money, living arrangements, and attention to ensure that you have the best possible chances of success. That support often continues in large degree in college, although you are given a greater capacity to make choices and take risks on your own. But even upon embarking on the most solitary and lonely of the degrees, the PhD in which you are becoming the only expert out there on XYZ, the support and guidance of family, friends, and mentors continues to be fundamental to success.

For me, my village extends far beyond my immediate family to the many friends, colleagues, and funders that have propelled my academic career along the way. This blog is dedicated to all of you. Thank you for your support of Goal: Graduate Education Bachelors, Masters, PhD.