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NESSA’S NOTIONS: Words go deeper as actions

Posted on December 28th, 2020No Comments

By VANESSA W. SNYDER

I’ve created my own definition for the word “dissertating.”

It’s actually in the dictionary as a form of “dissertate,” a verb. Not surprisingly, it is the act of writing a dissertation. Silly me thought I was making up the word. I mean, why is it a verb when all everyone talks about is the dissertation (a noun)?

Here’s my definition of dissertating: “The act of writing, researching, thinking, hoping, praying, believing, dreaming, and working toward a doctoral degree.”

It’s probably a bit blasphemous for a former English teacher to make up her own definition, but forgive me. Dissertating is causing me to think in all kinds of unusual ways. And because we’re at year’s end, I’m reflecting.

So, I believe dissertating – as a concept – is a thing. You probably understand if you’re working on a dissertation or another major goal.

At any given moment, I’m dissertating. If I’m not thinking about it, I’m actually doing it. When I’m not doing it, I’m planning when I’m going to do it. If I’m not planning it, I’m for sure praying and believing and hoping for it.

It’s a cycle, all day and every day to varying degrees. Dissertating never quite stops. Even in this moment, awaiting feedback from my committee chair, I’m thinking and wondering.

Could the draft I submitted been better? Did I miss something? Did I read the rubric closely? Will my chair find something new? Will the second chair agree?

However, as 2020 comes to a close, I’ve come to a realization. If dissertating is a verb that permeate my life so thoroughly, perhaps there are other nouns in my life that should become verbs.

Nouns like peace, joy, and humility come to mind.

If I can work this hard at “dissertating,” then I can work equally hard at “peacing” everywhere, “joying” in all things, and “humiliting” through life. Those actions join two common nouns/verbs – love and belief – that deserve as much effort as I expend dissertating. I can work equally hard at loving others and just as hard at believing in myself and, most importantly, God.

Once again, I am reminded that this doctoral journey is about so much more than a few more letters behind my name. It’s about growing and becoming who I’m meant to be. I hope that you’re encouraged to create more verbs in your life as 2020 ends.  

Happy New Year!

(A former journalist currently working on her doctorate in Social Emotional Learning, Vanessa is a dedicated and passionate educator in the DC Public Schools system. She loves learning, leadership, innovation, collaboration, and discovering new ways to drive student gains and support staff members).

NESSA’S NOTIONS: Take your medicine and get better

Posted on December 4th, 2020No Comments

By VANESSA W. SNYDER

I’m wondering if feedback is just another word for criticism.  

It’s not. Dictionary.com defines feedback as a “reaction or response to a particular process or activity.” (I already knew that but needed confirmation).

The sting of feedback is real, especially when you’re on the doctoral journey. Sometimes you just don’t want to hear it. And don’t get me started on disagreeing with the feedback and trying to challenge it.

Today my chair finally sent some feedback I was waiting on and oh-so-anxious to receive. Now I can move forward in my doctoral process. As I’ve said before, opening emails from your chair is a scary act, but there’s no way around it.

Sitting here after absorbing the feedback, I’m feeling some kind of way. I’m glad it came because now I know what to work on. But it doesn’t feel that good. As an educator who consistently delivers feedback to teachers, the shoe is now on my foot.

And guess what? It’s not much fun. I don’t necessarily feel as professional and mature as I expect my teachers to be when they’re on the receiving end.

In this case, much of the feedback I’ve received over the past few years relates to scholarly writing. Though I consider myself a good writer (at least before beginning this project) writing in a scholarly fashion doesn’t come naturally.

The point I’m trying to make is this: Feedback is about growth and about mastery. It’s important to keep that front and center.

Still, it’s hard to accept that I’m not a whiz at scholarly writing. However, that’s the truth. I have to take my medicine (i.e., feedback) and get better so I can finish this journey.

The broader lesson is something all of us can learn from. In what areas have you had to accept feedback in order to improve? We can’t grow without taking constructive assessments and applying them to areas of life. School, work, relationships … all of these elements can be better with proper feedback.

Our challenge is to take it, incorporate it, and advance.

You can guess what I’ll be doing this weekend.

(A former journalist currently working on her doctorate in Social Emotional Learning, Vanessa is a dedicated and passionate educator in the DC Public Schools system. She loves learning, leadership, innovation, collaboration, and discovering new ways to drive student gains and support staff members).