The Resilient Trainer Collective

Well, this happened today….

Some context…I did 4 years of my undergrad degree at Vancouver Island University (was called Malaspina University College at that time) and then moved to Burnaby to finish my degree at SFU.

In 2017 we moved back to Vancouver Island. I was hired part-time at VIU to teach a project management course in the recreation program (thanks to Laura Loudon sending me the posting and encouraging me to apply).

I LOVED teaching at the university. It prompted me to reach out to the chair of the kinesiology program to see what credentials I would need to teach full time in that program. I would need a Ph.D.

So, in 2019 I started my Ph.D at the Univerosty of Victoria.

And today, I revived my official letter of offer for a full time professor of kinesiology position at VIU. I still have a year to go in my Ph.D. But the job is mine.

I would not be here, celebrating this accomplishment, without the help of my community.

Laura Loudon, Gillian Goerzen and Jen LaFleur - you three have been my sounding board, my reality check and my cheerleaders. 🙏

My mom, Sue Dowling - you have always told me I can do anything I set my mind to - turns out, you’re right. Thank you for being such an important part of our lives, there is no way I would have made it through all this without your support.

My dad, Bob Adams - you’ve been almost as excited about the prospect of this job for me as I have been. Thank you for always supporting my love of learning.

Glen Alan Spink - I had lots of fears around starting a Ph.D. Your response? Just apply, if you don’t get in then none of the fears matter. If you get in, we will figure it out. And for the past 4 years you have been the driving force behind figuring everything out. I love you.

And my Ph.D. Supervisor, Dr. Lara Lauzon - I for sure would not where I am in this professional journey without you. You made sure I was ready to seize this opportunity.

So excited to start this next chapter!

💥BOOM! Research proposal submitted!

The next step is to defend it in front of my committee members on March 28 and when I pass, I will be allowed to collect the data I need for my PhD research! On track to finish by the end of this year.

Dr. B is almost in the house....

I PASSED!!!!! I am now officially a PhD candidate! To the person who last year that suggested that perhaps a PhD wasn’t a fit for me and that I should consider switching to a masters degree….well, I’m sure you all can imagine the words I have for them.

Not only did I pass the exam, I had fun. I loved sharing what I’ve learned and thinking of answers to their many, many questions (2 hours worth).

It was a fantastic experience.

Well, today is the day….Ph.D. candidacy exam. I wrote two papers for this exam and now my supervisory committee are going to examine me on them.

This is the exam that moves me from PhD student to PhD candidate and allows me to move forward with my own research plan.

A year ago I was utterly lost and disconnected from this work. Now, I’m so freakin excited to show my committee what I know.

Exam starts at 10….send me lots of good vibes!