The challenges of being a learner at my age may be divided into two parts: (a) internet access and shortage of resources plus (b) family and work commitments.
I am neither a computer nor an internet wizard. The idea of failing to navigate my way through worries me. Worse, Lebanon has four seasons. In winter, the weather conditions get quite stormy at times. As a result, the servers go down and the internet connection cuts off for days in a row. What do I do then? And there are resources to worry about. I live in a country that, unfortunately, has no public libraries. The private ones are located on universities’ campuses and are restricted to institutional use. This might lead to a shortage in my resources, and so far I count mainly on what the program as well as online databases offer. But when there is a will, there is a way.
Another concern or challenge is related to my personal and professional life. I work full time as a university instructor of English as a second language. My full time contract requires that I work 40 hours a week: 22.5 teaching hours in addition to 17.5 office hours and writing assistance center. I have a three-year old daughter that takes a lot of my time when I am home, which is only natural. But the most demanding aspect of all is my social life. I am a Lebanese, and my people are known for their hospitable and open-home nature (it is also a man’s world where a woman is weighed down by most of the marital responsibilities: cooking, managing a house, raising kids, entertaining guests, etc). As part of my culture, I am expected to entertain anytime someone feels like popping up. I do have considerate friends but when it comes to family members—the older generation—I have to reset my priorities and make them feel I am still as available as I have always been. The pressure here lies in the fact that I study long hours late every night as well as on weekends (48 hours in a row to catch up sometimes!!!) to balance among: family, work, study, marital duties, entertainment, and other responsibilities.
The joys of being a learner at my age prevail over the above challenges. I feel I am blossoming academically as I acquire new knowledge, develop my teaching skills, remedy weaknesses, and improve strengths. Additionally, it is a joy to indulge in so many cross-cultural insights by learning along with other doctoral candidates from different parts of the world; I am enjoying the process of enhancing myself from their wide experiences and diverse backgrounds. I am also flourishing professionally knowing I shall soon earn a title that would allow me to progress at work and have more autonomy in implementing instructional approaches that address my students’ needs. But the greatest joy of all is being able to pursue a doctorate degree and at the same time raise my daughter in a convenient environment with no restrictions that could hazard my daytime job duties. With my time management skills and the flexibility of the program, I am coping quite well, I think! I love every moment of my chaotic life! I know the rewards will be worth it.
My hopes for the next decade as a learner are not incredibly clear yet. I do know, however, that in two years, I will have finished the doctorate but only for a new journey to begin. It is going to be an expedition of publications. This is because in my country a doctorate is not valued unless it is accompanied by a minimum of three (the average is five) publications based on extensive research sponsored by an educational institution of a good status. As you may see, there is a lot awaiting me and earning the degree will not be an end but a beginning.
My advice to those who are entering my decade as learners is as follows: (1) Work on your communication skills; it is a key factor in a doctoral study. (2) Manage your time wisely; every minute will become valuable. (3) Be a team player and share experiences, beliefs, thoughts, and insights; you’ll learn from such collaboration more than you would from textbooks. (4) Research and read. (5) Accept cultural or other forms of differences and use them to empower you because your understanding of them shall one day have a great bearing on your students’ education. (6) Last but not least, enjoy every moment, keep off things that stress you out, and find soul mates to accompany you through your long yet exhilarating, glorious voyage.
If I can do it, so can you!
