Get Clear. Get Into Grad School. Get On With Your Life. by Dr. Khia on January 9, 2012
As a bonafide grammar Nazi, I do understand that this blog tittle is a hellified vivid example of incorrect verb tense usage. However, this title speaks directly to my heart, and the value of being exactly who you are. No more and no less.
I have been away at the National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology conference for most of the week. As you may have guessed from the name, this particular conference was dedicated to learning new techniques to teach and engage students in the field of psychology.
Over the years, I have developed a small habit of scanning conference crowds for familiar faces. Not necessarily of people I know, but for people who look like me. If you’ve seen my photo (and how can you miss it since it’s right at the top of the blog), it should come as no surprise that I am an African American woman. And in some academic spaces – well, most – I am one of the few. [click to continue…]
Get Clear. Get Into Grad School. Get On With Your Life. by Dr. Khia on January 5, 2012
Every now and then, I pull my attention away from the hallowed halls of academia and try to catch up on the happenings elsewhere in the world.
Who am I kidding? I’m something like a celebrity gossip and reality TV junkie in my spare time. Hey, there’s no shame in being well-rounded. At least this is what I tell myself to make myself OK with mindless entertainment. While taking a “blog break” away from conferencing this week, I happened upon this article on my alleged celebrity look-alike, Serena Williams.
Random fact about me: There was a time in my life when I would get stopped by people rather frequently and asked, “Has anyone ever told you you look like Serena Williams?” Hasn’t happened in awhile, but nevertheless, my ears always perk up whenever she’s in the news.
Now I’m no sports blogger. I don’t even watch tennis. And despite having an uncle whose profession includes teaching folks how to play tennis, I never learned. *hangs head in shame*
The most interesting part of this article was Serena’s admission that she didn’t LOVE tennis. At first, I was semi-shocked into silence. How can one of the most winningest (is this a real word?) tennis players in the world “not love” her sport? Does she mean like if she were to never play again – gasp – she wouldn’t miss it? [click to continue…]
Get Clear. Get Into Grad School. Get On With Your Life. by Dr. Khia on December 30, 2011
Welp, it’s that time of the year again. Another year comes to a close and fades into the next. It’s par for the course to expect a bunch of New Years Resolutions posts and this blog is no different!
YGSC is still in its infancy and there is a whole lot in store for 2012. And not just for YGSC, but for myself. My personal philosophy is if you’re not taking a step closer to what you want or where you want to be, even if you’re just standing still, you’re still falling behind. In that spirit, there is one thing I would like to speak into existence in this upcoming year:
We’re going worldwide, baby
OK. Maybe not so literally. But one of my major goals is to spread the reach of YGSC. Why? Because it’s critically important and I’ll tell you why.
Brilliance makes the world go round. And there are tons of brilliant people who have something to contribute to the world who may not get the chance without the proper letters behind their name. [click to continue…]
Get Clear. Get Into Grad School. Get On With Your Life. by Dr. Khia on December 5, 2011
Now is that time of the year that Grad School Application season is coming to a close. It seems like graduate programs all across the country MUST have conspired to make applications due at the same time. If you’re still in college, it’s right before or during Finals Week, and right smack dab in the middle of the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Yup, the Holiday season.
Anxiety levels are running high for a lot of applicants – ordering transcripts and test scores, studying for the next entrance test examination, putting some polish on those essays, and shaking down professors or supervisors for letters of recommendation. The end is in sight – the day when you drop the finalized packet in the mail…. and wait.
While checking out the Hip Hop Affirmations blog, I thought that this message was more than appropriate to sum up what’s really important, right here and right now:
Source: Hip Hop Affirmations
You’re done. You’ve made it. You’ve tried. You’ve worked hard. You’ve done your best.
And while playing the Waiting Game most definitely sucks, take a few moments out of your day to congratulate yourself for tossing your hat into the ring to really pursue the career of your dreams. It’s a step further than a lot of people make.
Get Clear. Get Into Grad School. Get On With Your Life. by Dr. Khia on November 12, 2011
Whew, it’s been awhile!
*looks at date of last blog post*
Welcome to… um… mid-November. Where is time going? I don’t know about you, but it’s been flying by for me. The end of semester is rapidly approaching. Students aren’t the only ones feeling the crunch, so are professors, such as myself. These past few weeks have been a flurry of class lectures and quizzes to prepare, papers to grade, visits to the gym, and just living life in general.
Very literally, I think it has been at least a MONTH since the last time I have visited my neighborhood Panera Bread, which is where, you know, I get stuff done. Like writing blog posts. Which I have fallen behind on. Sadly.
And this is why I find myself sitting in a booth in Panera Bread on a Saturday evening. And I have photographic evidence. [click to continue…]
