Dr. Trudy, the Adventure
Dr. Trudy Beerman is a new identity taking shape. This experience has changed, stretched, excited, and frustrated me simultaneously. I am not sure I would recommend it to anyone.
I am often asked why I bother to pursue my doctorate. I include the word ‘bother’ because that is the word choice of those asking. They see this path as a waste of entrepreneurial energy. Had I been an academic educator, I doubt that question or its phrasing with the word ‘bother’ would come up.
Obtaining the doctorate has interrupted my entrepreneurial progress and does not promise new opportunities for additional income since my employer is me. So why ‘bother’?
On My Back to the Future
In October 2020, I came down with a strange illness that is yet to be diagnosed. Both my feet had what appeared to be ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria wounds that were etched to the shins of both legs. Despite multiple blood draws, biopsies, and other tests, no explanation was found, although they suggested a remote possibility of Stevens-Johnsons syndrome, a crazy skin reaction to new medication.
After weeks in the hospital, followed by months of dermatological and physical therapy, I decided to make use of the time I was lying on my back in bed. I considered my future growth and figured now was a good time to check on getting my doctorate from my bucket list.
I pursued a Ph.D. in Psychology and eventually switched to my Doctorate in Strategic Leadership (DSL).
This era had me considering the days ahead when aging or other illnesses could keep me out of circulation. As I thought about that future possibility, the doctorate made sense as a way to open authoritative doors my feet could not kick open.
Liberty University offered a program aligned with my Christian belief and even encouraged and expected Biblical references in the work submitted. I enjoyed all my classes until…
Once the phase of courses for grading was complete – I moved into the phase of being a doctoral candidate. Statistics document that 66% of those who begin a doctoral program do not complete it. I almost contributed to that fact. Staying on task when everything that happened next was up to me was a new academic experience. No more writing prompts and deadlines with consequences. If I twiddled my thumbs, no one would check up on me. My growth, if any – was totally up to me.
The research process was brand new to me, and I have a complaint—nothing in the course preparation included how to conduct qualitative case study research. The Research Chair and Methodologist kept kicking back my research proposal, and for three semesters, I played submission ping-pong with them.
At the time of this writing, my research proposal has been finally approved, and I am about to start data collection. That step will likely return to the submission ping-pong phase before they say I can present my findings and be declared—Dr. Trudy Beerman.
I see Dr. Trudy Beerman as a new identity awaiting me, similar to how I felt when I was about to get married and change from Trudy Gallimore Marley to Trudy Beerman. I expect my visibility with PSI TV will increase once school is behind me.
New names bring new identities. This is why the witness protection program renames the witness. This is also why God renamed Abram – Abraham, and Jesus called Simon Peter. So, as I wait to slip into the name and identity of Dr. Trudy Beerman, I write this as a reflection of the exciting frustration this journey is.
Growth and change. It’s scary, exciting, and bringing in the new.
What about you? What are you doing for growth, change, and to welcome the new as you look into your future? Please share that with me, and let us share this wild adventure called life.