December 2022 my Book, Developmental Education Preparation, was made available and I could not be more proud :-)
Seven Years Ago
“That Chapter was written specifically for me to Snap me out of my Imposter Syndrome.”
Seven years ago, I started my PhD Program. That was before marriage, before kids, and before my current job. I remember the process of applying and it was not a simple situation. LOL I remember it being two essays, two interviews, the application itself,
updated resumes, GRE scores, and just the networking with current and past students. After all of that, I made it in... and for some reason... I felt like I got in by accident. It was such a weird feeling taking my first couple of classes. Even though, I was such a better student than I was in undergrad and for my masters (My advisor called me a socialite LOL); for some reason, I felt like I got in this program by mistake and wasn't enough to make it through to the end of it. Only a few weeks in, I went to Amazon to find something to help my mindset and some motivation. My search landed on Destination Dissertation by Sonja Foss & William Waters. The very FIRST CHAPTER helped me tremendously and probably saved me from stopping the program. It was like that Chapter was written specifically for me to snap me out of my Imposter Syndrome. I belong there at that school in that PhD program.
The Expectation of my Committee
“Don't just Talk about it, Make it a Reality.”
When I reached my Preliminary Exams, I presented my research and expressed my desire to write a book using my research. SideNote: I passed my Exams! My committee took a moment to speak with me. One of my committee members looked at me and said, "Listen, I hear you saying that you want to publish a book, but don't just talk about it. Make it a reality." He was straight to the point in telling me to make a plan and make this work. I followed his advice and developed a plan. I was informed how hard it would be to get a publishing company to accept a proposal because they get so many throughout the year. I completed 7 different proposals for my book, including the company that published Destination Dissertation.
Full Circle
The work I put into submitting 7 proposals was challenging, because each publishing company has their own format for their proposal. Even though your topics and summary are the same, the items needed to be submitted change significantly with each company. Months later, One company contacted me back. It was literally a moment when I thought all the stars had lined up in my favor. I was beyond ecstatic when the editor from Rowman & Littlefield contacted me personally to say "we would Iike to talk more about your book". Rowman and Littlefield is the very same company that published the book that got me out of my negative mindset my first semester in the PhD program. When I signed my contract with Rowman and Littlefield, it was the biggest full circle moment of my academic career. After I received my PhD, I spent the months planning and coordinating with the company to get my book ready for publication (edits, formatting, additional request). It was another long journey to get that work completed. Lots of emails and phone calls. But December 2022, my book was fully published; and January 2023, I ordered my first bulk order of books to start my adventure with this book.
The Author ~ Dr. Ajai Cribbs Simmons
“When I signed my contract with Rowman and Littlefield, it was the biggest full circle moment of my academic career.”
I had a new Title already added in 2022 when I defended my dissertation, which officially completed my PhD mission. I became Dr. Ajai Cribbs Simmons, and that is taking some time to get used to. Now, I can add another accomplishment and title in 2023 as being a Published Author. My book Developmental Education Preparation: How Faculty Preparation in Higher Education can Lead to Student Success. This book helps people understand the challenge students have in being successful with mathematics, and it shows how educators can be better prepared to help these students. The reality is this: there are a significant number of students that graduate high school and are not ready for college level mathematics. As educators, let's prepare ourselves as much as possible to help these students!
I join my daughter, who is also a published author of her very own story about her Daddy; it's called Daddy Shoo Them Away. I feels good to create moments that will last though our lifetime and on to the generations after us. Our books will be in the search of books forever. My hope is that it doesn't stop there. I want to publish more in education and in the children's book world. However, for now, I will enjoy this moment and really take it in.
Until next time...
~Dr. AIC54
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