Reflection of My First Semester
This first semester for me as a phd student has passed quickly. This semester is of great significance to me. The first task I set for myself is to adapt to the school environment and daily life in the US, and on the basis of adaptation, I began to explore my own research direction. Looking back on this journey at the end of the semester, I think I have basically achieved this goal and adapted well to the new environment.
In terms of academics, my research interests are mainly focused on civic education and gender equality education. These fields are of great significance to social development and educational equity. Through this semester's study and communication with my supervisor, I am more convinced that my research direction is not only of theoretical value, but also has a profound impact on educational practice.
At the suggestion of my supervisor, I took three courses this semester, mainly focusing on curriculum theory and research methods. These courses laid a solid foundation for my research and also made me realize the many challenges and opportunities in my field. During the learning process, I came into contact with many inspiring literature and teaching materials, which made me better understand the complexity and value of educational research.
Especially in the study of civic education, I learned that a harmonious and democratic society requires the next generation to have critical thinking skills. Critical thinking is not only the core ability of individuals to solve problems, but also one of the keys to social progress. Through the course study, I found that although many studies have focused on how to cultivate critical thinking, there are still many research gaps that deserve further exploration. For example, students from different cultural backgrounds may encounter different challenges in the cultivation of critical thinking, and these cultural differences have not been fully studied.
In addition, my interest in gender equality education has also been further expanded this semester. In the literature reading, I realized that although the policies and educational practices of many countries have tried to reduce gender bias, implicit gender discrimination in the classroom is still prevalent. This is not only reflected in the arrangement of textbook content, but also in the teaching style of teachers and the learning experience of students. I hope that in the future, through research, I can explore more effective educational strategies to reduce the impact of gender bias on student development.
In addition to academic tasks, the most important gain for me this semester is that I have gradually adapted to the pace of study and life in the United States. When I first arrived at Purdue University, I was full of curiosity about the new environment, but I also felt pressure. From language communication to time management, to the completion of academic tasks, each aspect has brought me new challenges. However, these challenges have also made me grow rapidly.
For example, I found that I have a lot of room for improvement in time management. In the early days, I was often overwhelmed by the heavy coursework, literature reading and research tasks, and even felt that I was "chased by the schedule". After several failed attempts, I gradually figured out some methods that suit me, such as using a calendar to subdivide tasks, set priorities, and set aside a fixed time period for academic tasks every day. Although procrastination is still a problem I need to overcome, through conscious adjustments, I have made significant progress in the efficiency and quality of completing tasks.
In the future, I hope to continue working in the field of education, and my career ideal is to become a university teacher. Universities are not only core institutions for academic research, but also important platforms for cultivating future educators and academic leaders. For me, the profession of university teacher will give me the opportunity to combine research with teaching, while influencing more people through education.
To achieve this goal, I will focus on accumulating academic achievements during my doctoral studies. Specifically, I hope to write as many papers as possible, present my research at international academic conferences, and actively participate in interdisciplinary cooperation. In addition, I also plan to gradually accumulate teaching experience, which will not only help improve my teaching ability, but also enable me to better transform research results into classroom practice.
Of course, the implementation of these plans is not smooth sailing. The experience of the first semester taught me that time management and self-discipline during the doctoral period are crucial. Therefore, I set myself several goals: first, continue to improve time management methods to avoid delays that affect the progress of tasks; second, pay attention to physical and mental health, and maintain a sustainable learning and work rhythm; third, complete each task down-to-earth, not rush for success, but achieve my academic goals through accumulated efforts.
Looking back on this semester, I am very grateful to start my doctoral career in a place with a strong academic atmosphere like Purdue University. I have benefited a lot from the mentors, classmates and rich academic resources here. I firmly believe that as long as I maintain a positive attitude and keep working hard, I will be able to achieve good results in the future.
For the next semester, I hope I can focus more on research while continuing to explore new learning methods and resources.
This journey has just begun, and my goal has never been clearer: to become an educator who can impact others with my research and teaching.
评论
发表评论