2014 - A Year-End Review

2014 has flown by! Every year, I think that no year could go by as quickly as the one that just ended and 2014 is no different. In fact, sitting around the Christmas dinner table with my family, we reflected on how fast the days went. I feel like I missed about 8 months of the year! :) 

However, despite being quick, this year was also one of the best so far. I believe the years keep getting better and better, which means 2015 has big metaphoric shoes to fill. Here are a few of the highlights of the past year! 

January 2014

I began my year with big aspirations of dissertation progress. Starting on January 2nd, I hunkered down to complete my comprehensive exams. For nearly three weeks, I read, wrote, thought, breathed, and ate writing research. The final product was worth the investment as I passed my comprehensive exams with flying colors! 

All ended well! :)

February 2014

February marked the beginning of my pilot study for my dissertation. This included collected data from over 230 pre-service teachers and 8 teacher educators in the form of surveys, questionnaires, and classroom observations. It was a lot of data and a great learning experience.  At this time, with my comprehensive exams behind me, I also began writing my dissertation proposal - a massive document that detailed my action plan for my dissertation.

I travelled with a few friends and colleagues to the wonderful city of New Orleans, LA to present at a regional graduate student conference. NOLA was a blast! I had never been to Louisiana or this famous city, but now have dreams of returning someday. While at the conference, I was surprised to win the overall graduate student paper award. It was nice to see my hard work paying off some dividends like this! This award has proven to be beneficial on the job search.

March 2014

March is always one of my favorite months because it gives me some time to catch my breath. The weather starts to change and things feel lighter. After some big accomplishments, I was ready for a break. I spent part of Spring Break week in Arizona with my bestie! We got some time to catch up, visited a fun butterfly exhibit, shopped, and just enjoyed time together. 

April 2014

April was another big month! First, I traveled to Philadelphia, PA for the largest education research conference in the country. I had attended this conference the year before, but this year, I got to present some research I had been working on with my advisor and a team of colleagues. We were so excited to share our study at this venue! We also enjoyed time together and got in some fun sight-seeing to the the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. 

I also spent the rest of April completing my dissertation proposal and setting my defense hearing. :) My advisor repeatedly told me that conceptualizing the dissertation study and selling it to the committee is the hardest part of graduate school. I agree! It took me approximately three months to pull the proposal together and it felt so nice to have it completed. Now, the hearing was the next major step! 

In some of my favorite news of the year, April is also the month I learned I would become an "auntie" for the first time! My best friend and college roommate announced she and her husband would be expecting their first baby in the coming year. YAY babies! 

May 2014

A month I will never forget is May! Two major events happened this month that have shaped my life ever since. First, I passed my dissertation proposal defense. We did this early in the month, just before finals. That way, I would be ready to work on my dissertation with my advisor gone on sabbatical to Norway (now that is a true adventure). At this point, I became an ABD (all but dissertation) graduate student. This means I have only to write my dissertation to be finished with graduate school. 

The second major event is that I finally got to travel outside of the United States! I helped chaperone a study abroad excursion to London, England. This was a week-long, literary tour of the city. I was in Heaven. I've never traveled to a city that I thought matched my personality so well. London is a true gem! The city is beautiful and inspiring. I wanted to write and admire everything around me. I can see why so many great authors in history have come from this place! London has sky-rocketed to my favorite place on this green Earth. 

June 2014

June included a few trips and some new adventures in teaching. I taught my first ever 100% online course. It was interesting to say the least. I feel like I spent the entire month grading, though it could be done outside and by a pool. Teaching online is very different from teaching face-to-face and took considerably more time on the instructor side of things. I had to be very strict about when I would reply to emails and even more strict on my policies for group work, etc. 

Mom and I traveled to Baltimore, MD for a conference I was presenting at/girls' weekend. Mom came to the conference and it was the first time she got to see me present some of my research. I loved it! It was a special experience to share with her. We also got to see the Orioles and Ravens' stadiums, the National Harbor, and visited the aquarium and zoo. The weather was beautiful, especially for us heat-stroked Texans! 

After traveling to Baltimore, I came back to the Northeast for a conference in Boston, MA. I got to travel with one of my colleagues who was originally from this city, which made the trip more exciting. I had my own personal tour guide! I've become very interested in American history as I travel to different cities, so Boston was a good location for site-seeing. We walked part of the Freedom Trail, ate yummy seafood, and visited the top of the Prudential building for a birds-eye view of the city. 

July 2014

July proved to be a more quiet month. I chose not to travel during this month (at least by plane), and I spent much of my time writing. July is a busy month for proposal writing for conferences, so most of my work is spent doing that. 

I did take a weekend to visit my best friend and college roommate and her husband. This was an extra special trip as I knew they would be welcoming a new baby at the end of 2014 or in early 2015. I enjoy trips where we don't plan much and just use the time to catch up. We did go to a Rangers game in the brutal heat, but besides that, had a very low-key weekend. 

August 2014

I love August because my birthday is included in all the fun! August also provides another break from work before the craziness of the fall semester comes. This year, I was excited to be home for my birthday and wanted to spend the time with the people I love before school began again. 

I also got to travel back to Dallas to see what gender the new baby would be. My friends hosted a house warming/gender reveal party with family and friends. It's a girl - which means lots of pink, bows, and sweetness in the new year. I also started my final year of graduate school. It feels amazing to be so close to the finish line, but also slightly sad to be leaving behind a place that has given me so much.

September 2014

Now, we begin the parts of the year where things get fuzzy for me. In September, I began data collection for my dissertation, which included collecting survey data from over 500 pre-service teachers and conducting 57 classroom observations with 14 different teacher educators. It was a lot of people and a lot of information to keep straight! I was so busy that I don't remember much from this time. I do remember that my bestie and her husband came to town for the first Aggie game in the new Kyle Field. We had a blast, even though the game was delayed two hours. I love having friends in town and cherishing the time together. 

October 2014

October started my traveling season. I went to Delray Beach, FL for a conference. This marked the first conference I attended completely by myself. No other representatives from my university were there. It was a great experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I had to initiate conversation with faculty from across the country. In the end, I made some great connections and successfully networked! I also got a little bit of writing time on the beach! 

November 2014

Without a doubt, November was my busiest month! First, I got to help host a baby shower for my best friend in San Antonio. The shower was perfect (her sister did an excellent job coordinating everything). I was so happy to get to spend the day with her and her family and give lots of love to the sweet baby and mother-to-be. These really are some of the sweetest moments in life! 

Second, I travelled to Washington D.C. for a teacher-oriented conference to present some research. My mom came along since she had never been to D.C. I had been back in high school, but not since then! Though it was just before Thanksgiving, the city was already decorated with Christmas trees and lights. It looked like a winter wonderland. The weather was absolutely perfect! It was cool but the sun was shining so it didn't feel too cold. We enjoyed seeing all the decorations, went to the National Museum of American History, the National Archives, and walked by the White House and Capitol building. We also ate some yummy Italian and seafood and saw ice sculptures of Frosty's Wonderland. It was a great trip and so much fun to spend the time together! 

After our trip to D.C., it was time to celebrate Thanksgiving! Luckily, with the help of my amazing research team, we completed data collection prior to the holiday. This meant I went to Thanksgiving break with all of my data sitting on my computer waiting for analysis. :) It made November very busy and stressful, but that's ok. I am also part of another research team that was actively engaging in data collection, too. From this experience, I can say that it is a bad idea to be collecting data from two studies simultaneously! It's just stressful! In fact, one day, I taught class, gave out three surveys, and administered a writing prompt to 7th graders. When I got home, I realized I had been wearing my shirt backwards all day! 

Thanksgiving was a breath of fresh air. I loved spending time with family and eating yummy food! The Sunday after Thanksgiving, I was once again on a plane headed to my first face-to-face job interview! (More to come once my job hunt is officially over.)

December 2014

We made it to the end of a whirlwind year! By the time December hit, I could barely recite my own name. December is always a doozy because the biggest literacy research conference is the first week of the month. It also falls during finals and every faculty member at the conference agrees it is hard to juggle. As my last trip of the year, I traveled to Marco Island, FL. The weather was beautiful! Sunshine and the beach is exactly what I needed to end the semester. There was lots of good food to be eaten and catching up with colleagues at other universities. 

I finished the year by celebrating Christmas with my family and pushing a very tight dissertation writing deadline! 

That's 2014! I can't wait to see all the adventures 2015 holds! 

Best Books of 2014 - #1

We've reached the end of the countdown and my top book of 2014! 

There are so many decision I make as I make my top 10 list each year, but the #1 book is always my easiest decision. I honestly do not overthink it and let my emotions and heart guide the way. When I started making this year's list, this book was the first to come to mind. As I compared other books to it, none of them compared. Moreover, I feel that this book encompasses many of the issues other books discussed that I loved. It's a perfect mix of many of those books while standing on its own. And because I happen to read so many books I love on planes, this novel was read on a flight from Phoenix, and I didn't even try to mask my tears. 

1. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes 

This book might come as a surprise if you know me well because I haven't talked about it much. It seems to personal to discuss. This book hits every piece of my heart and in the quiet moments of life, this book comes back again and again. Written in 1959, Flowers for Algernon was ahead of its time. To think that the author had explored something that could not be fathomed at the time, but is all too real today. This novel is a cautionary tale of the dangers of science. We could be destroying rather than helping ourselves. What cost is too high? Are people made equally? Whose life is more valuable? 

This is the story of Charlie, written from his perspective through diary entries. Charlie is mentally retarded and signs up for an experimental study to alter his intelligence. Keyes so elegantly captures the writing abilities of Charlie that I never question the authenticity. As Charlie undergoes more and more experiments, we see the changes to his intelligence develop through his writing. We also get to see how his view on the world changes, what becomes important to him over time, and what he loses. He also addresses the ways in which people treat him differently. Paralleling Charlie's story is the story of Algernon, a small white mouse undergoing the exact same treatments as Charlie. Algernon is our guinea pig who first tests every procedure. The turning point of the story comes when Algernon begins to digress. Charlie, now intelligent beyond the researchers, wonders what will become of him. 

While I won't give away the ending, the story does not truly reach its final destination. My only criticism, which was a masterful choice by the author, is that the novel just ends abruptly. But, really, there was no other way for it to end. My recommendation, is go out, grab a copy, and do nothing until you have savored every piece of this one. It's a perspective-changing book. I think a little bit differently about mental disability, the power of science, and the consequences to those we study. 

2014 was an amazing year for books! Some of the most heartfelt novels I have read were in this list. I cannot wait to see what 2015 holds! 

Best Books of 2014 #4, #3, & #2

It always gets harder to keep the posts short as I near the top of my list. 

Here are my fourth, third, and second favorite books of 2014!

4. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I chose to read this book for three reason: (1) it was a YA; (2) it won some kind of award (though I don't remember what); and (3) what a title! Just from the title, I knew this would be an interesting read. Combining a philosopher with one of the greatest authors of the past...and of course, they would know the secrets of the universe. I did not read any reviews on this book or the author prior to reading it. I chose this book on a whim and devoured it within 72-hours. I read most of it on a flight to Florida and it was one of those books where I became so entrenched in the story, I basically forgot life was happening around me. 

As I have researched reading practices and studied different cultures, I have become more open-minded about things. I would certainly say that this book is not for everyone, but everyone should read it. Saenz combines issues of multiculturalism (true cultural differences, not just race), GLBT discussions, and coming-of-age into one beautiful story. This is the story of two Mexican-American boys living in El Paso, TX and their growing friendship. All of the elements of YA that I love are present, including some realistic though far-fetched events. I have been telling everyone I meet in academic circles about this one. Multiple perspectives are present that give the reader deeper insights into the struggles of being a teenager today. Of all the books I have read this year, this one has gotten more discussion from me than almost any other. 

3. Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Wonder is another YA that hit the bookshelves a few years ago with a bang! I have heard so many academics, students, and friends talking about this book. Of course, that meant I had to see what all the talk was about. I realize in reviewing these books, that 2014 was my year of reading without reservations. Again, I knew nothing about R. J. Palacio or the novel when I picked it up. I read this one on a flight to Baltimore and it was everything in me not to burst into tears in front of everyone at several points. This book cuts deep. 

This is the story of Auggie, a boy who won't describe what he looks like because "whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse". What?!?! I was so angry at this line because I like descriptions, details, and knowing what characters look like. Auggie has been home-schooled his entire life due to his facial deformities and many, many surgeries, but his parents decide to send him to school, for the first time ever, for middle school. This sounds like a recipe for disaster as anyone who has previously been in middle school (or taught it) can testify. It is coming-of-age, which I love. What made this novel different, though, is that chapters are told from different perspectives. The reader gets to see the world through Auggie's eyes, but also his sister's, his sister's boyfriend, his friends, his enemies, his family. It's beautiful. I cannot imagine a person who cannot relate to someone. It also shows how one person can affect so many people in both positive and negative ways. It shows how each person has come to handle and accept Auggie's unique circumstances. I cannot wait to read more from R. J. Palacio, who will be on my ever-growing favorite authors list! 

2. Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

What a debut novel by this author! Honestly, I cannot wait until she writes another as I will be purchasing it on day one! My book club chose this book, and I probably would never have read it myself. I don't think I can do this novel justice. This is the story of a young girl who learns some harsh secrets about the world. She has a wonderful relationship with her uncle, who she loves dearly. When he becomes ill and dies, she learns that she only knew a tiny portion of his life. Revelations surface and she learns that he died of AIDS. Taking place in 1987, AIDS was still very taboo and people did not know much about it. She also discovers that her uncle lived most of his life with his long-time partner, but that her family kept him from her. The two meet and bond over the loss of their loved one. 

Like some of the other novels I loved this year, this one does not shy away from topics that are uncomfortable and shares them in a very human way. Rarely have I felt more than I have while reading this book. It was beautifully told and captivated me from the first page to the final one. 

Best Books of 2014 - #7, #6, & #5

Let's continue the countdown of great reads...

Best Books of 2014 - #7, #6, & #5

7. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

I have always loved books that make me feel and this one delivers! This novel is the heartbreaking story of a young girl and her rocky path to adulthood. As an older woman, the story is told in flashbacks as the woman mentors another young girl living in foster care. The story has many layers and all the characters continue to develop as the story deepens. While the story is not happy, the ending is perfect. 

6. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I put off reading this book for a long time. I'm not one to avoid hype, but typically I do not just jump into everything I hear about either. For some reason, the hype around this book just really turned me off of it. I had no desire to read it - at all! In fact, I honestly cannot remember what made me decide to read it...finally. I think my bestie read it and said I should do it. Either way, I am so glad I finally caved. This book was wonderful! So wonderful that I read about 50 pages the first night...and stayed up far too late finishing it the following night. I loved it. I thought this would be a cheesy chic book. Now, I love a good lush chic read every now and then, but I have to be in the right mood. Fortunately, this book is filled with substance and thought-provoking questions. It addresses some very sensitive subjects in a very human way. I laughed. I loved. I cried my eyes out. In the end, this book deserves its place among the best reads of 2014. And, I cannot wait to read more from Jojo Moyes - she has made my author radar!

5. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Wow. That is all I can say about this one. The story, on the surface, is about a young girl who is brilliant (genius level, definitely on the autism spectrum). Its a coming of age book that is among the saddest novels I have ever read, and that gets you through chapter one. Seriously. I began this book and was hooked, but could not believe it started so sadly. And within a few pages, I was touched and deeply connected with the main character. This book really explores the way one person can affect so many people around her. Its beautiful, inspiring, and shows how we are all connected.

:) 

Best Books of 2014: #10, #9, & #8

I love books! I knew this upcoming year would be my busiest year yet (comprehensive exams, dissertation proposal defense, writing the dissertation, searching for a job). I also realized that I would have to be more deliberate in my reading endeavors. Reading keeps me sane and is one of my greatest joys in life so I wanted to make sure I did not lose sight of this. I know that if I give myself time to read, I will be more happy and productive in other parts of my life.

This year, I ventured out of my comfort zone a bit and challenged myself to read more nonfiction. I read a LOT of nonfiction books this year...however, what I always thought to be true is still true: nonfiction is just not my genre. I didn't dislike most of the books, they were fine. They just did not capture my attention and keep me interested. In almost all of the nonfiction books I read this year, I would start off optimistic and lose interest less than half-way through. I finished most of them, though it was a struggle.

In 2013, I made my "Best Books of 2013" list in approximately 3 minutes. It was the easiest list I ever made. This year, I had to review my Goodreads account to see what I actually read (though a few books came to mind instantly). I think the craziness of this year made me forget how much I loved some of these books...and I forgot that I read them in 2014 (wow, this year was long!). But, I've made my list and I am so happy with it! Here are the first (or last) 3 books on my Best Books of 2014 list....

Best Books of 2014 - #10, #9, & #8

10. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I love popular fiction and young adult fiction, so I really wanted to explore classics more. There is a reason these are books that stand the test of time and are relatable to generations of readers. This book made me fall in love with Oscar Wilde! He has so many enlightening quotes and phrases that made me stop and savor. I appreciated the fantastical elements of the story, the hints of sexual impropriety, and the focus on moral corruption. I idea that humanity can be so cruel when it believes it's actions have no consequences is one that has plagued society since the earliest of times. I related to so many characters in this novel, and at the end, I felt both pity and sadness for the tragedies many characters faced. I can also see why Wilde caused such a stir when this novel was first published. It hits too close to home for many...the portrait shows us what we are capable of if we hide our insecurities. What a powerful message.

9. The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm

I consider myself a scientist. I study literature, reading, writing, and education to help improve the ways we teach our students. For that reason, this book was especially interesting to me. Many of my colleagues who study children's literature buzzed about this book for months. Finally, I gave in and over Thanksgiving, read this book in one day. The lexical level is brief, simple, and engaging. However, the complexity of the story and philosophical issues presented are heavy. This story nicely integrates science education into the story. I learned more about famous scientists and how their discoveries influenced humanity than I have learned in any science class. One of the greatest gems of this book, however, is that science is presented from multiple perspectives. For example, the atomic bomb is used as an example of how far science has come and how science can be devastating. Both perspectives show that issues related to discovery, industrialization, and progress can be both good and bad. This book would be excellent for students to gain this much needed perspective on science. In the end, this is the story of how science always comes with a price and poses the question: are we willing to pay it? 

8. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Again, this novel was buzzed about and recommended to me by children's literature professors. :) I devoured this book in an evening because I had to know the ending. At it's heart, this book shows the complexities of adolescent relationships: those with parents, those with extended family, those with friends, and those with lovers. At a deeper level the book addresses issues related to mental health in children. It illuminates the inability of adults to recognize what children need and how children's brains can be advanced enough to show signs and symptoms of mental illness...particularly in the face of tragedy. There is a twist, which I was able to figure out before the end. However, knowing this twist made me appreciate the novel more. I believe this book presents perspectives about how much young adults face and what they go through when adults are not looking closely. 

Coming soon...#7 through #1...

I'm Back!!

I'm back! And, I apologize for the prolonged absence.

I knew this fall semester would be my busiest semester yet (even considering I completed my comprehensive exams and dissertation proposal in the Spring), but even I underestimated just how busy it would be.

So the question is: what have I been up to the past 4 months??

1. Finishing my Ph.D. This has included many tasks...first and foremost was collecting my data for analysis. This ran from September 1st through November 21st. My research team and I administered surveys to over 555 pre-service teachers, conducted 57 in-class observations, and conducted interviews with teacher educators. I completed most of these tasks, putting in endless hours. The result is that I finished data collection just before Thanksgiving. Currently, I am busy writing away to get my dissertation completed. We've set the defense date, so I have a hard and quickly approaching deadline, but I am confident in my ability to write like a mad woman for the next few months.

2. Working...a lot! I taught the same course this semester that I have been teaching for the past year. I love it! However, as the most experienced instructor of this course, I also took on the responsibility of course coordinator. We had a few administrative updates to the course, so I took the lead on this. It was fun and a great experience! I also took on two extra jobs this semester. I worked as one of the graduate assistants for a writing program at my university. This program has revolutionized how I write and approach publications, presentations, and graduate school work. I owe so much of my success to the principles I learned in this program, so it is fun to give back. And, I get to work with some of the professional women I admire most! Finally, I was given the opportunity to be a research assistant on a major grant. The focus of the research perfectly aligns with my own research and again, I get to work with some really wonderful academics. I've definitely been working over board, but it's hard to say no to so many inspiring experiences!

3. Conferencing like a beast. When I first began graduate school, I was told I would have to present research at conferences. My first few years, I participated in a lot of research and sent it off to conferences. I received far more rejections than acceptances. This gave me the impression that I needed to submit more and more research. When using peer-review as the standard, much of your acceptance is luck. Hard work pays off, but there is that element of the right person read your work at the right time. Using this mentality, my colleagues and I over shot every conference. We submitted many things to many conferences. To our dismay (and excitement), we were accepted to almost every conference...with multiple presentations! Yikes! This made for trips to Delray Beach, FL; Washington, D.C.; and Marco Island, FL this semester alone! :) Fun...but overwhelming.

4. Searching for a job! Many people believe the culminating activity for a Ph.D. is the dissertation defense or graduation. While these are very important aspects (and two of my personal favorites), the real end goal is a J-O-B. Making things more complex, getting a job as an academic is unlike jobs in most fields. It takes about a year from start to finish. Anticipating my start date as August/September of next year, I began over the summer sending out applications. This requires writing for each school: (1) a detailed cover letter; (2) a curriculum vitae (basically a detailed resume); (3) reference letters; (4) transcripts; (5) 3-5 samples of scholarly writing; (6) a research agenda; and (7) a teaching philosophy. A few schools have asked for extra things, but all have asked for some combination of the items listed above. Right now, we are still very early in the game as most school begin campus interviews in January. However, all looks promising!

5. Staying connected with the people I love. My two best friends are having babies - yay! This has meant more time texting, calling, and attending baby parties (not to mention countless hours looking at baby stuff online). One of my oldest childhood friends recently moved to town and it has been great fun reconnecting with her over dinners, shopping, and painting. The girls' I've met through graduate school have finally decided we deserve monthly wine nights to unwind and gossip. We have really enjoyed these and grown to know each other more. Finally, I've been able to get to know my book club ladies more through our monthly hang-outs and shared love of literature.

I'll be giving more details about my travels and fun soon!