After a really busy week, I am finally able to sit down and celebrate the fact that I finished and passed my comprehensive exams. I am officially ABD - All But Dissertation. TGBTG! I have been sharing my journey to doctoral candidacy because of all I have gone through to get to this point. People tell me that I make it look easy, but they do not know how hard I have worked or what I went through to get to this point. I have worked several jobs and juggled a ton of activities/roles (i.e. music business professional, recording artist, grad student, advocate, consultant, friend, etc) for many years in order to develop my point of view as an artist, entreprenuer, and perpetual student. All of these experiences went into my exams. Perhaps I didn't have to do as much to get ready, because I stay/stayed ready! In the end, I would not take a thing for my journey; even the setbacks (i.e. being rejected left and right, year after year by programs). I am beyond grateful for where I am and how I got here. I feel blessed to have been able to write and speak the exams that I wanted to submit to represent me and my body of work to date. Though not perfect, my exams were authentic, comprehensive, and rigorous. I was able to cite work that means the world to me without having to worry about being judged for it. I am really grateful and tired and fighting the feeling of being overwhelmed by what is ahead for me. The real work begins...yesterday! #dissertationlife #doctoraljourney #YesImStillAnArtist #IDoMadStuff #ItsAllConnected #SocialLifeWhatsThat #communityengagement #scholarpractitioner