Doctoral Persistene Plan
Doctoral Persistence Plan
Educ 710
Monica Tucker
Persistence Plan
Understanding how strenuous and persistant the doctoral program will be I have set
several strategies in place to ensure that I finish. I will use several strategies that were listed in
Navigating the Doctoral Journey: A Handbook of Strategies for Success.
The first strategy I will use is open communication. In the last few years I have been an
open book about my life allowing people in, so that they can continue to see how God works in
my life. I am very big on open communication and try to be open as much as possible. My
husband is one to shut down before I will, so we have decided that we would work on being
more open with each other, especially while on this journey as a lot of my time will be taken
from him and my family. I have asked him to take on more responsibility as keeping the house
clean and helping more with our younger daughter. He has agreed so that I can be successful
while on this journey. My husband does a lot now as it is and I am only grateful that he is willing
to take this journey with me.
That brings me to the second strategy and that is being able to organize my time. I have a
hard time with balancing things and tend to procrastinate, which most times adds unnecessary
stress and I can’t deal with that right now. I plan to do so by using my planner to write down all
assignments and setting time away, to ensure that my work is done on time. Being able to
dedicate time to my assignments will allow very little time to steer away from the plan, since I
am easily distracted.
Additionally, I have set up an area in my craft room where I am able to sit down, read,
meditate and finish assignments. In the past I would try to do work in my bedroom, but that led
me to becoming distracted and I just want to be more focused this time. I haven’t yet, but in the
Persistence Plan
past I have found going to a quiet place like Panera Bread has been a success in me getting work
done.
Seeing that practicing meditation was a strategy in the reading for this week gave me a
relief. I often find that playing worship music helps clear my mind and give me clarity as to what
I am to do for each assignment. Being able to speak to God and understand the plan he has for
me is important that I take the time to meditate and pray. It also allows me to keep an open mind
and remain from stress as much as possible.
Another strategy is to develop a personal work schedule so that everything is not running
together. This year my principal has stated that our lesson plans will be due every Sunday by
7pm for the week. Though I am use to getting my plans done nightly, this will allow time for me
during the week to get work done for my classes. It opens up my schedule a little more to ensure
that I am not running into the 11:59 deadline.
Maintaining a healthy life, that includes eating, sleeping, and exercising is another
strategy I plan to have. Typically when life is going in circles, I tend to not take care of myself.
Eating out and not getting the proper sleep. I have stated to meal plan and have a mindset to
shutdown at a particular time whether I am done or not, so that I am able to function fully the
next day.
I have a few reasons why I have chose to obtain a doctoral degree, so identifying personal
rationale for obtaining a doctorate is a strategy that I have decided is useful for me. One reason I
have chose to is because I understand my role in education and know the impact that I have, not
only as a teacher, but as a leader. I plan to change the minds of racial bias of our studens so they
can see that they too can lead. I also want to be able to support my family financially. Having a
Persistence Plan
daughter in her second year college, whom struggled her first year made me want to push more
to get this degree to show her that anything can be done as long as we put our minds to it.
Setting goals and sticking with them is my final strategy. I have not set big goals, but
small ones first. This help me get closer to the bigger picture of actually completing my degree,
but I know that if I take baby steps I will see the light at the end of the tunnel eventually. I need
to use this plan and rely others and God to encourage me when I am down as well as to celebrate
my victories (Szapkiw & Spaulding, 2014).
The verse I have lived by this far and will continue to live by is Phillipians 1:6, being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until
the day of Jesus Christ. This verse has gotten me through a lot. Times when I wanted to give up
and God would put this verse in my spirit and it allowed me to keep pushing. Just like times
before I plan to lean onto this verse and allow it to push me through this journey.
References:
Rockinson-Szapkiw, A. & Spaulding, L. (2014). Navigating the Doctoral Journey. A Handbook
of Strategies for Success. Lanham, MD: Rowan & Littlefield Education.
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