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Re-Enter With a New Perspective

Re-Enter With a New Perspective

I have just finished my first year’s residency with the University of Phoenix doctoral program, and I am on the plane back to Houston on this first Saturday in September. As reflection on the past eight days begins to fill my thoughts, I consistently return to the concept of re-entry. In a little more than an hour, this plane will land, and I will be back on familiar ground. The normal everyday grind of my world will be at hand.

It is not a world of academics or scholars. It is not a world of critical and creative thinkers. It is not a world of positive attitudes and marked innovation. It is the every day life of a caged civil servant looking for an escape. Education is my escape. I left that world more than a week ago, and there has already been a change in me. As I put my thoughts on paper, I pose several questions to myself. First, I simply ask . . .
· How can I go back?
· How can I again re-enter the life I left nine days ago?
· How can I be that pebble thrown into the lake to create the gentle waves of positive change?
Surely, I can make a difference.

I must tell you about my experience. The last hour of the class ended with a ceremonial truth session incorporating the instructor’s personal truth stick. The stick is an authentic Indian relic about three feet long, pointed tip on one end, which is somewhat weakened and compromised from past student participants in the ceremonial truth sessions of yesterday. The other end of the stick is carved into one pointed antler fashion in a weird shaped hook. About one inch in diameter and decorated in worn colors of red, black, and green, the stick represented to me past, present, and future doctoral learners giving back to this huge universe. As each of the twenty-eight students passed it along after voicing their “truth,” I could feel an overwhelming mountain of emotions welling within me. My tears slowly tricked down my cheeks, sobs and cries echoed in the room, and emotions sprang into action revealing a classless unity among all the learners. There was spiritual awakening transcending biases, backgrounds, and beliefs. We had not only completed the class successfully with everyone still intact, but had joined our personal truths together to commit our lives to success in education, life long learning, and serving others. There was “truth” and oneness. How can I re-enter and not give of my life in service through education?

That was only the last hour, but I had a full nine days of learning and open inspiration. I truly know now why I must complete this doctoral program. It is not solely for me, but for those who may be coming after me, and those who may need inspiration along the way. The instructors were so inspiring and awesome in teaching the content of the course, as well as teaching the behavior modifications for future scholars. What took me so long to make up my mind about this program? I do not know if everyone’s initial entrance into a doctoral program is the same as mine, but I do know that I am forever changed and more committed now than ever before.

When one enters a doctoral program, he or she must have a good reason to be there. That reason must sustain them through the entire process of learning. I definitely have a reason. I want to be here for future African American students that have a desire to learn, a mindset of helping others, and the opportunity to make changes in this universe. The experiences I have had over the last nine days have exponentially solidified my need, desire, and calling to pursue a terminal degree. I can re-enter with a purpose.

Stephen L. White, MBA
Slloydwhite@aol.com
September 3, 2005

Using an Instant messenger (MSN)

Do you use MSN Messenger?? You should! Joey, Debbie, Kathy, BMW (Stephen), and I use it all the time. Join in and IM me. Once you download the program, you can find me by looking up my email address through their "Ad a Contact," feature. My email is as follows: brianstover@bellsouth.net. Send me an IM and I'll ad you to our conversation. Come on, where are you!

Download from this website: http://messenger.msn.com/download/