PhD update!

 I haven't posted much this semester because I've been fully immersed in completing my assignments. While I've finished most of them, I still have two left to submit before the semester officially concludes next Friday. It's been a demanding nine-hour stretch, but it's also been incredibly enriching in terms of learning experiences.

Throughout the semester, I've tackled numerous papers and journals. Notably, I've completed a "mini" literature review spanning 17 pages, titled "Shifting Paradigms: Indigenous Perspectives on Autism and the Path to Inclusive Societal Understanding." Additionally, I've penned a 15-page autoethnography titled "An Autoethnography of an Autistic Inclusive Leader and Therapist Advocating for Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapeutic Practice in Mental Health Care." In one of my classes, I've wrapped up with a final assignment titled "Aligning Personal Philosophical Principles with Decolonial and Inclusive Leadership for Transformative Change and Community Empowerment." These endeavors have been both demanding and rewarding, contributing significantly to my academic journey. My dissertation is shaping up to be a culmination of the themes explored in all three of these topics.

This list covers most of my reading materials, though not all. I also left out some digital articles that I didn't print out. Additionally, I didn't read every page of the assigned textbooks; rather, I focused on the sections discussed in class. Some textbooks were mostly read, while others, I only managed to cover a few chapters.

Regarding "Decolonizing Methodologies," I've only made it halfway through so far. It wasn't mandatory for any specific assignment, but it's on my personal research list. I anticipate it will greatly benefit my upcoming summer course on Research Methods, although I must admit it's been quite the "gut punch." 

As for "Inclusive Leadership," it's a recent release comprised of various articles rather than a conventional chapter book. While it wasn't required reading, I've utilized it in several assignments due to its relevance.

For the next few semesters, I anticipate a lighter workload, with each semester comprising only 6 hours of coursework. However, I do have another 9-hour semester planned for Fall 2025. This scheduling allows me to reserve my final semester for my dissertation defense, which is projected to take place in the Fall of 2026.

So, my apologies for being MIA. I am trying to fit in some much-needed rest in the next 5 weeks before my summer classes begin. Thank you to all who have been super supportive throughout this. 

Before you start feeling sorry for Steven for managing my demanding schedule, it's worth noting that he's been incredibly busy himself. Alongside his classes and final projects/portfolios, he's also completed a whopping 180 hours of internship on top of his regular teaching job. Remarkably, he's on track to graduate with his second Master's degree next month. Furthermore, he'll be joining me in pursuing his PhD starting in the Fall, albeit in the same program but with a K-12 Education Leadership emphasis. His dedication and hard work is as impressive as ever!