This is the conclusion of a paper entitled, “Journaling: A Researcher’s Self Check,” which I wrote as part of the Qualitative Research course taught by a fantastic teacher, Dr. Joanne Cooper. In the paper, I reflected on how journal-keeping as part of the course has helped me re-discover my heart. I thought I was setting out on a purely intellectual / academic journey. But I was pleasantly surprised by Dr. Cooper’s challenge to us on the role of the qualitative researcher which is “to bring forth the voices of the participants [in a research]” without imposing our own biases on them. She introduced journal-keeping as a kind of researcher’s self-check.
Summary
Through these two weeks of reflective learning, I have arrived at the conclusion that this doctoral journey actually has not begun. I realized now that I haphazardly declared to the world through my blog that a new journey has begun with 25 other sojourners. In reality this Ed.D expedition is far from leaving the shores. It is my responsibility and my moral obligation to my community to stay on shore a while, perhaps 3 more years, preparing my mind (academic) and my heart (journaling) to be a competent navigator.
As a Micronesian researcher, I know I am bound up with my Micronesian community whose voices and expertise have yet to be illuminated. As such I must take these next three years on shore to prepare myself mentally, spiritually, and intellectually, to undergo rigorous academic work, consistent reflection and journaling to isolate my biases, and re-learn the virtue of silence to become truly a competent, conscientious, compassionate researcher.
Perhaps I said it better in the conclusion of my reflection,
I am cautioned to always remember that the real value of the doctoral degree in professional practice in education is bound up with service to others especially in helping children to become the best human beings that the Creator intended them and all of us to be on Her Canoe.
I am reminded that we are all paddlers on this canoe we inhabit called Earth. That the most valued knowledge is the one that is shared for the common good of humanity.
I am inspired to fully embrace my new journey with all its challenges (funding, time, less time with kids, etc) and humbly and courageously paddle my canoe out to the open sea. There, I pray someday I can find a fraction of Mau’s humility, courage, and wisdom to raise my sail and carry people to fulfill their own dreams and destinies. (Raatior, “A New Journey Begins” 5/3/2014)
If there is one thing I can take away from this learning process so far it is this: as a Micronesian doctoral student it is my duty to consistently journal as an important educational tool to grow into a researcher of “competence, conscience, and compassion.”
