What's Next for 2021

2020 has been hard, especially for me such as losing family and working remotely since March, but good things have occurred as well. Based on those wins or losses, I'm focused on making 2021 my year of success and growth. So what's next for the new year?

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The Graduate/Teaching Assistant Life

My favorite Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader for the course I support as a TA has graduated, and it breaks my heart, but I'm proud of them. However, we've been pretty active in the onboarding process with their replacement. We've held a few faculty meetings and individual meetings to discuss trends we notice with learners and any resources or tools that we feel would be beneficial to the learners throughout the course. It's been great exposure for me to connect with the faculty who teach this course and discuss the SI sessions in-depth (I.e., what we're doing good at, areas of opportunity), while receiving praise from the SI leaders' supervisor on being so "hands on" with the learners during these sessions and providing insight to assist in helping them succeed. However, as I progress through my doctorate program, I know this is not permanent but I will take what I've learned during my time as a GA/TA as an experience that can serve beneficial, especially on my curriculum vitae (CV).

As the new quarter approaches, I'm looking forward to supporting the learners the best I can and to help them succeed in learning and passing the course. It's so interesting to learn of everyone's academic and professional backgrounds and watching them have the moment where they can apply what they've learned to real-life scenarios.

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The PhD Candidate Life

For anyone who thinks getting your doctorate is easy...it's not. With all the steps to become a PhD candidate and a PhD, it is mentally challenging and exhausting, as well as emotionally. From getting the dissertation topic approved to IRB approval to defending, it is an emotional rollercoaster. So what's next for me in this PhD life? Getting my remaining chapters completed and approved, since data collection has been completed, then presenting to my committee to defend. It is both exciting and terrifying at the same time, because this has not been easy, especially during 2020.

I've also been inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), as well as joining 3 APA Divisions (Division 1 - General Psychology, Division 5 - Quantitative and Qualitative Methods, and Division 35 Section 1 - Psychology of Black Women). I selected these divisions based on my faith and determination to make an impact on the populations I represent amongst others (though one may identify as Black does not mean they identify as African American). I want to continue my research in "minority" populations (I.e., race, ethnicity, SES, religion, sexual orientation, etc.) and I feel 2021 will bring those opportunities to me.

Though I get super worked up, I plan on presenting at conferences throughout 2021 and facing my fear of public speaking, whether in person or virtual. I believe this provides an opportunity to speak on circumstances that are impacting different populations in different settings, show why the research and practical implications are important, which can go into my professional or work life (and my CV).

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The Professional Life

As a full-time data analyst, I'm constantly being challenged with building different reports and other asks of me, so for 2021, I want to improve my coding skill set. So this means I plan on taking workshops, completing courses, and things of that nature because this could also serve beneficial in my PhD life. I like using mixed methods, so coding will help in the quantitative aspect to determine if there is a relationship between the quantitative analysis and qualitative, and comparing what is statistically significant to reoccurring qualitative trends.

A goal for 2021 I plan to achieve is getting published and booking more speaking engagements. Hopefully, the more I participate in events like that, the more comfortable I'll become. So fingers crossed I'm given the opportunities to do presentations and conduct workshops, actually I'm speaking it into existence, as well as the opportunity and ability to monetize from some of the opportunities.

Not only do I plan to speak more on my area of research and focus, I plan on bringing back the panel discussion events in 2021, focusing on underrepresented populations in various settings. So stay tuned!

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The Personal Life

I wish it didn't take me this long to learn, but financial literacy, freedom, and abundance are big goals I'm working to do better in. That consists of budgeting, living under my means, and growing my portfolio, such as investments in different companies. I'm late to the game, but I'm learning!

A thing I've been horrible at overall, especially as an individual contributor at work, is taking time away from work. I can get so overwhelmed, worked up and stressed about who is backing me up, if they're doing my reporting correctly, what questions may come from higher-ups, you get the picture. But after not realizing I had 80 hours of vacation to use in December, I got a lecture about using vacation time. So I decided I will use my vacation time for self-care, trips, going home to visit family and friends, graduation and attending conferences. They give you that time for a reason, so use it to avoid burnout! Though, I actually didn't like taking that much time off during December, I was able to take care of things, along with write a bit of my Chapter 2. But seriously, use that time to take care of yourself.

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So those are a few of the things I plan on getting under control or accomplishing in 2021, which I pray and speak into existence will be better than 2020. I hope the new year brings you lots of positivity and accomplishments, no matter how big or how small!

Candace