reflections on grad school

After two quarters of grad school, I feel like I can now reflect a little on my experiencias en grad school-
 1. First of all, figuring out what to write for my thesis is difficult, with my background in art, my experience in community work, I am interested in a cajillion different things. I started off wanting to do border art. Then I decided that ultimately, I needed to write a thesis around more practical matters- taking into account future job opportunities. I decided to ground my work on policy and law around immigration- I considered immigration raids, but after research and discussion with other grad students/professors, didn't think there was a viable argument in that arena. Now I have finally decided on doing my work around the latest anti-housing city ordinances and their racial implications- perhaps a continuity of previous laws designed to racially segregate.
 
2.  We need more people of color represented in higher education- while we need more people of color in undergrad, the number of people of color at the graduate level is ridiculously low. It really frustrates me that sitting in a class on immigration- there is one or two people of color to represent. while academia continues to break from eurocentric ideologies, we still need more of the voices of us that have actual real experiences in this spaces that academia studies. Our viewpoint and knowledge is invaluable and necessary for academia to advance in its understanding

3. Academia has too much theory and not enough application. I completely understand and believe that theoretical framing is important in understanding movements, actions, etc, but this theory cannot just remain that. Academia is wary of activism and vice versa. These two fields need to be in constant communication in order to bring about positive change, activism informs academia and vice versa, imagine the collaborations possible if this were to happen?

4. after these past two quarters, a phd, seems too long. For me, it means putting my life on hold for far too long- personally, and financially... perhaps though, I just haven't found something I am passionate enough to study for 5-6 years, and as far as community and social justice work, well, i would rather do more of it than theorize around it.

5. There is a lot of amazing work being done at this point in academia. I have read tons of great articles and books int the last two quarters

6. in academia, as in all other aspects of life, there are many egos involved.

7. I am glad to be right here