Monthly Archives: March 2026

student blogs

On track with Part III

After our last class, I gained the clarity I needed on the literature review, specifically on how many peer-reviewed articles to include in part III and whether all of them were necessary. That understanding really helped relieve some of the pressure I had been feeling.

With that in mind, I made some meaningful progress on Part III. Although it’s still a work in progress, I have a strong sense of direction and can see how everything is beginning to come together. It’s reassuring to feel aligned and on track with my outline and confident in the direction I’m heading.

Over the next few weeks, my focus will be on continuing to build and refine Part III while being more intentional about how I integrate the literature. I want the sources/quotes to flow naturally within my writing and enhance my ideas, rather than disrupt my voice. Overall, I’m feeling motivated and excited to keep developing this section.

My outline for the upcoming weeks remain the same:

  • 3/31–4/6: Continue developing Part III and prepare for presentation series
  • 4/7–4/13: Finalize Part III 
  • 4/14–4/20: Revise Parts I, II, & III as needed 
  • 4/21–4/27: Design and format the book using Pressbook, Flipbook, Canva, WordPress
  • 4/28–5/4: Finalize all revisions and edits; submit all work

student blogs

Literature Review & Part III

After our workshop session with Craig, I found myself returning to my literature review with a more critical and reflective lens. Revisiting the articles I initially gathered was a meaningful exercise. Some still resonate deeply and align with the direction of my project, while others no longer feel as relevant as my ideas have evolved. That realization, in itself, feels like progress. The timing of the workshop was especially helpful, as it arrived right when I’m transitioning into Part III of my project.

This next section will be more research-driven, with a stronger emphasis on integrating my literature review. Going back to my sources now feels not only necessary, but purposeful. I’m beginning to identify which texts genuinely support my argument and contribute to the story I’m telling, and which ones may need to be replaced with stronger, more aligned scholarship.

At this stage of my writing journey, I’ve finished the autoethnography portion of the memoir, with just a few minor edits left and a full revision of that section underway. Entering Part III marks a significant evolution in both the structure and focus of my writing. I’m eager to continue developing this section and see how it takes shape.

Below is a draft outline for the remainder of the semester:

  • 3/24–3/30: Continue developing Part III
  • 3/31–4/6: Continue developing Part III and prepare for presentation series
  • 4/7–4/13: Finalize Part III
  • 4/14–4/20: Revise Parts I, II, & III as needed
  • 4/21–4/27: Design and format the book using Pressbook, Flipbook, or Canva
  • 4/28–5/4: Finalize all revisions and edits; submit all work

student blogs

Back in Motion

Sometimes progress comes with unexpected pauses. This past week, I faced a setback when I temporarily lost access to the work I’ve been developing all semester. It felt overwhelming at first. However, it became a reminder of how quickly things can change. It also highlighted how important it is to adapt. Thankfully, with the help of Kean’s IT team, they were able to recover my files. I’ve since transferred everything from Google Drive to Microsoft OneDrive to make sure my work is secure moving forward.

Although the situation forced me to slow down, it also gave me space to reflect and reset. Now that everything is back in place, I’m ready to move ahead with clarity and focus. The autoethnography is nearly finished, needing only a few final refinements. This week, I’m aiming to complete that portion and begin outlining and drafting Part 3. 

I’m beginning to envision Part 3. I see it as the space where everything comes together. This includes research, reflection, and lived experience. This section will draw heavily from my literature review to support a deeper analysis of trauma and healing. I want to ground my personal narrative in scholarly conversations that explore how trauma shapes identity, memory, and the body, and how healing can unfold. The literature review will serve as a framework, helping me contextualize not only my own experiences but also the themes that emerged throughout this project.

It will also include an analysis of the interview transcripts, examining patterns, shared experiences, and moments of resonance. I’m interested in highlighting where stories intersect, where they diverge, and what they reveal about the complexities of processing trauma. 

Another central focus will be the process of healing through writing itself. I plan to explore how storytelling became more than documentation, it became a method of release, understanding, and reclaiming agency. Writing created space to confront difficult memories, re-frame them, and ultimately transform them.