Oh, for the love of wisdom

Last week I learned that starting Tuesday January 18th, I begin work towards a PhD in English Education. 

Needless to say, I am thrilled!

And if ignorance is bliss, then I'm in for a lovely ride, because deep down, I am 1,028% certain I have no idea what I've bitten off. 

And I'm starting to get nervous. 

Next week, I receive the formal acceptance packet, meet with the Dean, discuss academic goals, pick courses, outline a research plan, purchase books, and kiss my three-bubble-baths-a-day goodbye. 

Earlier tonight my five-year-old niece unknowingly summed up my concerns when she asked the adults, "What's a PhD?"

An excellent question met with a steady stream of blinking. But we tried our best. We really did:

“It’s, uh, like a doctor, but not with medicine,” I explained.

“It’s Latin for…something,” someone suggested.

“No, it’s the study of the field of Philosophy…” offered another.

By then, my niece was no longer in the room (clever girl). And the answer still eluded us. 

So, just now, I Googled it:

“PhD [is] Latin for philosophiae doctor, literally translating tο the love of wisdom…It is used in the original Greek sense, loosely meaning "the pursuit of in-depth knowledge" and does not refer to the field of philosophy.”

There you have it.

The love of wisdom.

Now, when someone describes me with the word wise it's usually followed by the three-letter alternative for 'donkey'. So for the sake of comfort, let’s substitute learning for wisdom.

The love of learning...

"The love of learning, paging Dr. Davis...Dr. Davis to love of learning, please...."

 ...That I can wrap my head around.

I’ve always loved learning. Especially college. Everything about it...the campus and professors and syllabi and crappy dining hall food and endless rewrites and moldy libraries and inaccessible archives...

As far as research goes, what I'm most interested in is J.K. Rowling's effect on American trends in literacy and young adult publishing, and how, if cognitive functions of literacy instruction differentiate in communities whose gross mean income is...

...This is where the Old Me would slap the new, studious me across the mouth and scream: "Nerd? Party of one?!"

Oh. My. God. 

It's already happening...

I’m turning into one of those uber smart people the Old Me used to make fun of! Thankfully, I'm past that now. When I started looking into PhD programs I swore I would stop making fun of anyone who called themselves "doctor" who didn't work within three feet of a syringe disposal bin. 

But, my God, I already want to make fun of myself and the semester hasn't even started...MUST...RESIST...MUST...FIGHT...THE URGE...

Old Me: Oooh look at meeeee, Everyone! I’m an academic "Doctor" of English! What I know about literacy rates in low income communities would fill the Grand Canyon! Nyeeeeah!

New Me: That’s clever, Old Me. And a really good idea for an alternative essay assignment. You’re welcome to explore the idea for your mid-term paper, if you like.

Old Me: Shut up Doctor Nerdy McNerderson!  You’re not even a real doctor! You can tell by your stupid face!

New Me: Silly. Now, class, if you could all turn to page 303--

Old Me: --You'd better leave or you'll be late for your elitist snot convention, Doctor!

Dear God, I hope I don’t ever have an Old Me in my class. She'll ruin everything. Or, worse...she'll wake up the others.

Not that it matters now. I’m too freaking excited. I still I can’t believe they accepted me. For a PhD!

Though, it doesn’t hurt that I'm a Davis Girl. 

Brought to you by Erica B. Davis, PhD ‘14