When Will I Stop Being From Away: A Teacher’s Relocation into the World of Doctorate Studies

• In Event: Understanding Teacher Agency

Abstract

Leaving behind my urban teaching career for farming in rural New Brunswick and becoming a doctoral student, I confront cultural contexts with which I have limited experience. In this paper, Giroux’s (1992) border-crossing model provides the framework to examine the dynamics of these transitions. I use self-study autobiography to interpret and connect my own shifts in consciousness which could resonate with fellow neophyte researchers and shed light on the process of growing as a researcher. As graduate students traverse the borders between cultures and communities, they bump up against unfamiliar norms and standards. A platform to sustain a community of practice (Lave & Wenger, 1991) and joint research in graduate programs could address the common struggles and isolation.

Author

• Essie Lom, University of New Brunswick