I have a Testimony
This is part of the reason why I've been MIA for a while....
Dr. Saga. How does that sound?
I'm trying it on for size, to see how it feels to say that. How it fits into my mind, how it feels in my mouth, how it looks on paper. Dr. Saga, PhD.
See, my first instinct was to summarily dismiss the whole idea of getting my PhD. It's too lofty a goal, it would take too much work, too much effort, too much sacrifice and too much ____ for someone like me. But.....well, let me first tell you a story.
I just want to be Certified:: Have I told this one before? I dropped out of school in 1988, after 5 years of basically messing around. Frustrated by my parent's rejection of my acceptance into FIT (students with 1210 SAT scores, and A's in math & science just don't go to school for fashion design), I half-a$$ed my way through 5 years of school. Got kicked out of one school, and dropped out of another. Lost interest in the idea.
So after my life basically hit rock-bottom, I did some soul-searching and investigation, and decided to return to school. I like computers, and after networking with some professional geeks, I decided to get an A+ Certification. Go back to school for 12 months, get my certification, and start fixing computers. That's all I wanted at age 33 - a little extra scratch to make the ends overlap, instead of just meeting.
A funny thing happened:: on the way to the school...apparently I took a wrong turn. I ended up at Atlanta Metro College, instead of Atlanta Area Tech. (Note: this was after Georgia Tech took one look at my transcripts and started giggling). Further thwarted by their lack of a certification program, I resigned myself with pursuing an Associate's Degree in Computer Information Systems. Yes, resigned. I was still focused on minimizing my time investment, while maximizing my potential cash return. I wanted that A+ cert, damnit!
God has a plan:: ...when you have no plan, and will make a way when there's no way. My stint at Atlanta Metro, led me to meeting some wonderful, inspiring professors who instilled things in me I never asked for: confidence in my intelligence (I was 33, starting college over, remember?), a yearning for knowledge, a passion to question authority and not accept "the norm". I made some wonderful, inspiring friends, like Eon, who hooked me up with jobs, contacts, a social network, etc...etc...ad infinitum.
See, here's how God's plan was implemented unwittingly by my people: Eon hooked me up with a job at Earthlink. A CSR (customer service rep) position, answering phones, but the pay was slightly more than I was making at the time, and it was an IT gig. Cool. I spent a year there, and got promoted. I also hit the glass ceiling there kinda hard (crony environment, and I didn't have the Georgia Tech pedigree). And as anyone who's every been a CSR knows - it can be hellacious at times. So, one day a customer goes OFF on me...threatening my job, and to beat me in the parking lot...I mentally write my resignation. I've had enough, and I tell my boss I'll work on paperwork or filing, but I wasn't up to taking any more calls. Fed up, I spend the day searching for gigs on Monster...and find the internship that led to my current position. Call it fate, destiny, luck, whateva - I know He moves in my life, so I know how those particular planets end up being aligned.
so how'd I get from 1 degree, to 3?:: the internship was a joint program with Georgia State and theGig, for credits. Matter of fact, 5 months worth of classes ended up equating to 30 hours - a huge chunk of my bachelor's degree. Ok, so given that one's kinda obvious, how's about degree number 3? Well...here's the scenario. At age 33-ish, I decide to change careers. At age 35, I land a job in my new chosen field - an internship leading to an entry level IT position. I'm now competing with folks fresh out of college, who chose their field at age 22 and 24. I have lot of management experience...in retail. But IT managers don't give a dayum what I did before I stepped in the door. I also have to account for a) being female and b) being black. Is the playing field level? Ok, then how do I make it a lil more level than it is....? The MBA.
and now...the PhD. Dr. Saga. Hm....
thePath:: I've never been one to wax religious here, and I'm really not trying to start now. However, I do firmly believe that we all have a journey, the proverbial path that God wants us to walk, and He guides our steps. So when things happen that seem to guide me, I turn it over to Him. I've been approached by, lessee now, 4 of my professors, and had an additional one confirm, that I should seriously consider pursuing my PhD. Why? My writing's at the appropriate level (it's dayum excellent in some of my future colleagues' eyes). My research is there as well. I have a passion for my subject matter (information services/systems, particularly as they relate to the issues involving globalization, repressed or developing economies, and issues involving race and gender inequities. I have a mentor who's well-versed in this subject matter, and my particular interests as well. Matter of fact, my mentor has a former student who specialized in this very same domain. My department is very familiar with the quality of my work, both as an undergrad and grad. The planets are aligning.
But beyond that, I have a responsibility. I realize that, along with my passion for altruism, volunteering and philanthropy, that giving back to my community just feels good. Volunteering time, donating money, putting forth energy to do what I can to help what ails us. And as the first professor who recruited me so aptly pointed out, what better way to give back than to inspire the next generation of students? From what they've told me, there are very few black, female, business school PhD's with an IT in this country. Maddeningly few. We're seriously underrepresented. Matter of fact, I haven't encountered a black professor, from any country (US or other) in my entire MBA program, and only 2 in undergrad (1 of who was an African Studies professor). So along with the planets aligning, I feel it's my duty. And something I'd be passionate about.
One huge hurdle. It's a full-time commitment. No job - I'd take a huge paycut, and live off stipends and part-time teaching positions. Bye-bye to Fortune 500 cheese.
theMoral:: of the story is, that sometimes you have to just take that first step, to allow amazing things to happen in your life. Or those first few steps. I never imagined I'd be an MBA. I never imagined that I'd travel to South America. I never imagined I'd get a free trip to Chicago, just to consider getting my PhD. I never imagined that I'd buy my house, my car, etc. I never even imagined that I'd have the FIRST degree, let alone three (and maybe four). I just wanted my A+. Everything happens for a reason.
The other moral is - education is important for much more than the piece of paper. I hate that I had to wait 20 years, and do it the "hard" way, but I'm glad I learned it. The social networking and connections, the life experiences and lessons, the life-changing opportunities. God placed a lot of things before me, but my education ensured that I was ready to take advantage of the opportunities given to me. And both God and my education are leading me in a direction.
Dr. Saga, PhD. I have to find a way to make that happen.