Exploring your
Vision and Community Support
Danielle D.
Miller
Northcentral
University
Exploring your
Vision and Community Support
A government employee’s child, I am the
nonmilitary version of an “army brat.” Every
two years meant moving boxes, sorting belongings to deem “worthy” or “not
worthy” of relocation, a new phone number to memorize. By seventh grade, I had lived in 7 houses
across 3 states. Education was my
constant.
In
kindergarten, classes resumed following the holidays and I was fascinated to
learn that the year had changed! I had
never encountered the concept of “year” before.
Asking my father how much I had to learn before I knew “everything,” he
laughingly responded that the goal is to continually find new things to learn,
not to finish learning. And so my
question has always been, “What else can I learn?”
In
second grade, I read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Farmer
Boy. I loved the descriptions of a
one room schoolhouse. Fascinated that
children could learn without all the things that surrounded me in my own
classroom – in 1987, I had multiple computers, learning centers, listening
stations, a classroom library, etc. – I realized classroom supplies were not
nearly as important as the teacher. My
career journey through the world of education was chosen and set.
Background and
Interests
I
continued my “What else can I learn?” quest successfully. Upon high school graduation, I attended the
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, graduating with a B.S. in elementary
education. I taught math and computer
applications for parochial schools for three years. While teaching, I completed my master’s
program through Gannon University, attaining my M.Ed. in Curriculum &
Instruction.
A
nonprofit contacted me, asking if I would become museum educator for a small
children’s museum. Four years there gave
me opportunities I would not have experienced otherwise: writing and
administering grants, developing and operating school district in-service
programs, designing educational programs for school children.
In
a public school district for three years, I began PSSA remediation. Working with students deemed “in danger” of
scoring poorly, I individualized lesson plans targeting student weaknesses.
Five
years ago, I began teaching for the community college’s mathematics
department. I love my job – I have loved
them all. And, yet, I am not where I
think I will be in five more years.
Personal and
Professional Vision
I
want to move from the classrooms of higher education into administration. My training in curriculum would be an asset
to the institution. I toy with the idea
of moving to the administration end of education while maintaining the ability
to teach one course a semester. I want
to maintain that “touch” with students that I feel administrators occasionally
forget.
Northcentral and
You
I
made a promise to my three sons not to continue my education until they
completed elementary school. Contemplating
doctoral programs almost as soon as I stepped off the stage holding my M.Ed., I
fulfilled my promise to them – my youngest started his middle school adventures
6 weeks ago. Now I am continuing my own
journey.
Relocating
for school was not an option. My
children deserve the stability of a single district to avoid educational
gaps. I needed a program allowing me to
still be the mother my sons deserve. I
was almost convinced there was not a program for me. And then I received an NCU postcard in the
mail….
The Northcentral
University Doctoral Process
NCU’s
orientation was extremely helpful. As a
“pen and paper” based person, the idea of a completely online program made me
leery of both quality and content. The
orientation put my fears to rest. I also
was highly impressed with the amount of support available to students at all
times throughout their program.
Strangely, the most frightening thing to me is APA documentation –
having lived in an MLA world.
I have decided to
approach my doctoral studies in a step-by-step method. I am going to focus on the course at
hand. I know I become overwhelmed thinking
of the end goal. I have learned to focus
on just the step in front of me, not the entire staircase.
Academic and
Professional Communities
Having
changed jobs frequently over the years, I am not a member of any professional
communities. My current position as
part-time faculty mostly has me traveling to satellite sites, severely limiting
my contact with full-time faculty. This
is definitely a lacking on my part, which I will be looking to remedy.
During
orientation, I discovered that tutoring is offered as part of the process if a
student feels it is needed. Although I
may never use it, simply knowing it is available is reassuring.
The Northcentral
Community
The
NCU Dissertation Center currently is very overwhelming – but with return
visits, it becomes less so. The Commons
are a great source of information – I love posts from nervous students just
starting. It comforts me to know my
jittery nerves are not alone. Not having
taken a class in 11 years, “Can I do this?” is a frequent thought of mine. I
tend to be the student that doubts her abilities and needs reminding that
something is achievable.
Currently,
I am blissfully ignorant of the questions that will arise during this
process. I am sure this phenomena will be
short lived. I will be trolling the
Commons in search of answers before long.
Conclusion
I
believe in education for education’s sake.
I was fortunate enough to be raised in a house that valued education and
I have continued that legacy within my own household. I pursue this degree for myself, because I
can and because I want to – not for a job – but for me.
