As my coursework for this program comes to an end and I prepare for graduation, I can honestly say that my final two courses, EDLD 5315, and  EDLD 5320 have provided meaningful opportunities to reflect on all the work I’ve put into my innovation plan, while also helping me prepare for its implementation. These courses pushed me to think critically and stay focused, and I’m proud of how I managed to juggle the many responsibilities and roles I hold. I believe I earned a 98/100 in 5315 and a 92/100 in 5320, which I feel reflects my dedication and consistent effort.

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Throughout both courses, collaborating with my classmates Khelia Olison Williams, Melissa Richards, and Patricia (Patty) Hamilton, was incredibly valuable. I was fortunate to share both classes with these amazing women, which created a strong sense of continuity, trust, and support. We regularly connected outside of class via Zoom calls to exchange ideas, offer feedback, clarify expectations, and support one another through every assignment. Their encouragement and willingness to share insights helped me deepen my understanding of the course content and get the most out of my EDLD experience. Whether we were discussing research strategies or exploring ways to integrate technology, our conversations reminded me that I wasn’t alone on this journey.

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Balancing the demands of being a wife, mom, full-time teacher, and graduate student ,especially during state testing season, has been incredibly challenging. The long hours, stress, and competing priorities often left me feeling overwhelmed. However, having a dependable group of classmates to collaborate with made a real difference. They provided not only academic support, but also emotional encouragement that helped me stay grounded and keep pushing forward. This experience has reinforced the importance of community, collaboration, and connection in professional learning environments.

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EDLD 5315 gave me valuable opportunities to plan for what comes next after graduation. I appreciated how the course encouraged us to build on our existing work while continuing to grow, refine our ideas, and learn new strategies. Creating the outline for my innovation plan felt natural and straightforward because of the foundation I had already established, but it was still a meaningful step that made me genuinely excited about implementation. The literature review helped me deepen my understanding of the importance of my topic and led me to additional research that supports further exploration. This assignment also allowed me to collaborate with more classmates and receive thoughtful, constructive feedback through peer editing and review. The community we built in this course reminded me of the power of peer support—something I believe every classroom should strive to cultivate.

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EDLD 5320 was especially helpful for reflection and revision. The assignments allowed me to evaluate how far I’ve come and envision what lies ahead. I appreciated the opportunity to receive feedback, correct mistakes, and showcase my growth and learning. My classmates and I communicated frequently via GroupMe, where we shared reminders, encouragement, and essential feedback. For both courses, I made an effort to submit my drafts early so others could use them as examples and spark productive conversations. I truly enjoyed the lessons, the relationships formed in this cohort, and the collaborative spirit we developed. I’m excited to see what the future holds for all of us.

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EDLD 5315 and EDLD 5320 were two of the most helpful and meaningful courses I’ve taken in this program. Since I had already worked on my innovation plan in earlier classes, I felt more prepared and focused going into these final courses. The discussion posts gave me great feedback from my classmates and helped me think more deeply about the assignments. In EDLD 5315, creating the outline and doing the literature review helped me understand why my topic is important and how I can move forward with my plan. EDLD 5320 gave me the chance to reflect on everything I’ve learned, fix mistakes, and make my work even better. Both courses helped me grow as a learner and made me feel more confident about using my ideas in the real world.