First Generation PhD Means...

My younger brother earned his bachelors degree before I did. He's three years younger and didn't fail out of college the first year like I did. As I sat and felt proud of his accomplishments as he walked across the stage, I also felt the pain of failing myself. I had quickly failed out of college at 18 and enrolled in Winona Technical College for a Cosmetology degree. His graduation motivated me to get back in college. It would take three more years to start, but I finally did. I started back at Austin Community College (now Riverland Community College) and earned my Associate of Arts degree. Then transferred to Mankato State University (now Minnesota State University, Mankato - do you see a pattern here?) and earned a BS in Psychology and Women's Studies and stayed three more years for a masters in Counseling and Student Personnel. I was happy to be working in a career I really loved and felt mattered to students. My parents never really understood was I was doing, I tried to explain it but they always came up with a better way to describe it. I started my doctoral program in 2002 and took one, two, or three courses each semester (depending on the course offerings and those I just HAD to take). Writing the dissertation was an experience that really puts the final perspective on the whole program of study. It was an exciting, thrilling day that Dr. Nancy Evans placed a hood on me! My family - two adult children (both in college), life partner, parents, and sister - were in the audience at the ceremony. They people helping us line up had been through this before and knew it would be easier if we lined up by numbers versus alphabetically. They trained us to walk on stage with our Major Professor, turn toward the audience, bend for the hood, and rise. Turn and shake the President's hand, your Major Professor's hand, pause and walk off stage. There was a lot of hooting, screaming, and whistling when I crossed the stage. I recognized my Dad's whistle - he used to call us home for dinner with that whistle. I was must worried about bending down to be hooded and not being able to get back up. It all went just fine and quickly I was back in the second row watching others walk through. My family helped me celebrate at home. It had been a long time since I had time to relax and really enjoy their company. It was a bit uncomfortable because I kept thinking about what I had forgotten. It didn't really get to that "completely relaxed and peaceful state" I had hoped for. It was a magical day. It was December 18, 2009. It was the day I officially became Dr. Penny J. Rice. What does it mean to be a first generation PhD? It means my folks had one questions for me,  "Do I still do haircuts?" My response was, "Sure, but the price just doubled." Dad said, "Good, that is twice of nothing."