I am Linda Smith of Mead’s Bay, Anguilla. This missive is to announce my recent graduation with a doctorate degree in the Literatures and Languages of the Anglophone Caribbean at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, the institution’s oldest and flagship campus.
I commenced studies leading to the PhD in August of 2015, succesfully defended my dissertation in December of 2018 entitled: “Unlocking the Portals of the Political Culture: Marginalized Feminist Voices of Color and Fictional Women Leaders” in December of 2018, thus completing my program in record time of 3 academic years and thereby, making a significant contribution to Anguilla’s and the field of Contemporary Caribbean Scholarship.
In retrospect, I have the following to say about my Doctoral Journey:
“The overall journey to the PhD was an intellectually gratifying and empowering one. Hardwork, the curtailing of social life, initiative, self-motivation, determination and grit are what characterized my modus operandi and ascendancy to full candidacy. It actually started in 2000, when I left Anguilla to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in English and French. Further to the pursuit of the BA, I traveled to Puerto Rico where I enrolled in the Master of Arts programme in English Education in 2005 at The University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus where I worked and gained some useful experience as a graduate teaching assistant in the areas of Writing and Literature, and graduated in June of 2008. Shortly after, I sought employment with the Government of the USVI as a public school teacher of English and English as a Second Language, and later as a part time instructor in Adult Education Literacy Programmes as well as in the teaching of English Composition at the University of the Virgin Islands. The latter gave me a superior motivation for teaching at the tertiary level. At last, it was felt that my background in English Education coupled with my teaching experience provided the underpinnings that were necessary to pursue a doctorate in Anglophone Literatures and Languages. Hence, my decision in 2015 was to begin the vigorous doctoral journey at which, I excelled. And I would suggest to students the following Four D’s or Nuts and Bolts for succeeding in a doctoral program:
1. DISCIPLINE
2. DILIGENCE
3.DEDICATION
4.DETERMINATION
