Dr. LaVonna Miles Groce started the Counseling and Student Personnel Services Ph.D. program
Dr. Groce, CSPS Alumnus
in April 2009. She belongs to the 2012 Cohort.
Dr. Groce has been a school counselor for 12 years, and she is also currently a mentor for the new high school counselors in Gwinnett County Schools. Before Dr. Groce became a school counselor, she taught history education for three years. In the future, Dr. Groce plans to continue counseling students, mentoring other counselors, and inspiring others as a motivational speaker.
Dr. Groce was gracious enough to answer questions regarding her matriculation through the program. She provides insight about the importance of time management, the development of research lines of inquiry, and interpersonal dynamics within her cohort.
1. How important is time management during a doctoral program? Can you offer any useful tips and/or insight for ways to bolster this skill?
Time management is extremely important. Time management to me includes managing study time, household/personal duties, fun and family time. It is important to set study time during the week to get homework and the future dissertation done. A student should set a small but steady time every week that works for them to study. For example, I often studied an hour a day after work. I would also study or write for a few hours on Saturday. I also designated a space to study like a home office. I usually studied away from home at libraries or coffee shops.
A student must also remember that fun, relaxation, and fun with family are important for survival. I remembered that I needed to include fun and rest into my schedule by making sure I did something like go to the movies, take a nap, read a book (not a textbook) in order to keep and renew my energy. In order to manage time effectively, a student must also involve their family and friends by letting them know that they are pursuing a doctoral degree and they may need help. Do not be afraid to ask for help! I let my family and all my friends know that I was in a doctoral program and I may need their assistance. This allowed me to be able to call on my family and friends to help me in small things like household duties, and assistance on the job. Time management is something that is not easy. It is a struggle for every student, but I believe it is something you have to work at through the doctoral program.
2. How did you cultivate your research area of interests and ultimately complete your dissertation in this area?
At first, I chose a different topic to study when I began the doctoral program. After a lot of thought, I decided to follow my heart and change to a topic I was passionate about. That made the difference. I would tell every student to choose a topic that they are passionate about, something they like, and they will be energized to study, research, write, and get the dissertation completed.
3. How important was your cohort during your experiences as a student? Do you still interact with them on a professional basis?
My cohort made the doctoral experience very enjoyable and easier to handle. As a cohort, we helped each other study, assisted each other in remembering homework assignments and various due dates. In cases of illness, each of us would help the other keep up with what was going on. My cohort and I have a friendship that developed out of the process that helped us all get through the hard times and survive. I just graduated in May, and we still talk to each other. It is still too early for us to interact professionally right now because a lot of us are still students and many of my cohort members are still trying to finish their dissertations, but I have still interacted with them on that level. We have called each other for dissertation help and graduation parties when one has reached success. It is too early to tell whether we will interact professionally in the long term, but I think we will.
4. Were you able to develop lasting relationships with faculty members? How did you go about establishing these connections?
I believe that I have developed lasting relationships with the faculty. I have to admit that this is largely due to the gracious efforts of the faculty. I believe that the faculty of the UGA Counseling and Student Personnel Services program work hard to be very accessible to students during the doctoral program, and this formed a bond between them and me. I did not have to work hard to establish the connection; I just had to remain open as a student to opportunities to get to know the faculty. I volunteered to help with activities, contributed in classes by answering questions and talking with faculty. If a student wants to gain relationships with faculty, I would tell them that they need to remain open to the faculty—talk to them, answer questions in class, and volunteer to help when opportunities arise.
5. What other advice would you offer to students beginning their doctoral degree in this program and more generally?
I would tell students to go into the doctoral program with a successful end in mind. I would tell them to envision themselves graduating. I did, and I believe that this visualization and much prayer helped me to make it to the end. Students should understand that this process is difficult, but they can make it to the end if they work hard, study, ask for help, and remain positive. Students also need to remember that life keeps going; bad things, struggles, and trials in their personal lives may happen while going through the doctoral program. If they keep the faith and believe they can finish, they can, even if it takes a little longer than three years. Students should aim for three years in the beginning but remain realistic. You want to finish your classes learning new things, and a student should write a dissertation they can be proud of. Most of all, students should also have fun in this doctoral program, enjoying the new experiences that come, even though rigorous at times. The doctoral process is a time to try new things, visit new conferences, and meet new people. Do not take those privileges for granted.