The anticipation builds as we eagerly count down the days to Aspen University’s 2024 Commencement ceremony! One of our outstanding doctoral graduates is Dr. Bernie Justilien, who completed his Doctor of Education in Leadership and Learning with a specialization in Organizational Psychology program in March 2024. We are so honored to celebrate this milestone with him!
My favorite phrase throughout my doctoral program has been: “Along the way! Along the way!”
Reality has not settled in yet; I have graduated with a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Learning with a specialization in Organizational Psychology–along the way.
As I reminisce on my educational journey at Aspen University, I consider the experiences that have brought me both laughter and turmoil. It was challenging. It was tough. If it were not for great mentors, the difficult path would not have been possible to navigate and overcome–along the way.
Specifically, it took an incredible academic community at Aspen University to help me achieve the goals I had set from the beginning to the end of my doctoral journey. However, it was up to me to accept the constructive feedback that was given by instructors, classmates, and advisors throughout each course who cheered me on and kept me in check–along the way.
That’s right! To succeed throughout my doctoral program I had to learn how to take feedback, even when it hurt. It was one thing to hear “You’re doing a good job,” but it was another to swallow, “You could do better.” I admit that it took time to mature in taking various forms of constructive feedback and to attain the positive attitude that was necessary for me to continue along the way.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned at Aspen University was the importance of embracing advice and applying it to my learning, personal growth, and professional pursuits. I believe that maintaining a positive mindset is key to embodying the spirit of a lifelong learner. Toward the middle of my doctoral journey, I began to focus more on how I could attain a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset. I began asking myself, “What could I do differently to help me apply my education to my real life along the way?”
My take on the doctoral journey is to listen, take advice, don’t take it personally, and enjoy it. You’ll do just fine! Learning is a lifelong journey, no matter how many A’s or B’s we obtain. The only thing that matters is that we give our best, continue to take constructive criticism, and apply it along the way.
Certainly, I plan to take my dissertation study to the next level and apply it to further research. I aspire to understand what causes individuals or groups to “quiet-quit” or disengage in the workplace. Today, I am exploring different areas that will allow me to apply what I have learned at Aspen University to the real world. To all who made this possible, I say, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for helping me greatly along the way!”