Around Taupo to DGov

First, I've got to share what my sister said when I said (via text) 'I've been accepted! I'm doing a PhD! Her response... 'a what?'. A what?

Its only about six weeks later that I really have started to think 'a what'. Study wasn't really on my horizon this time last year. Or even this time three months ago.

Don't get me wrong, I finished my masters and thought it was pretty cool. I really enjoyed the research part where I went out and talked with all these passionate people who made me think, rethink and think again about what evaluation is and how you can get better value out of it in government. I know, most of you will go 'a what?'. But for me, evaluation is one of the most powerful tools a government can use to really fix in on making things work really well - and stopping doing the stuff that doesn't work well. And a lot of the time the effort and money that goes into evaluation in government is wasted. So I had a look at why. And I came up with some answers.

Anyway, most of you probably stopped back there. And the purpose of this blog is to share why on earth I've signed up to do six years of study. It's not about getting to be called 'Dr' at the end of it. Really its not. Well, that's not the biggest part.

For me, the Doctorate of Government fits for me right now. Its a practical course, designed to be undertaken alongside a full-time job in government. Now, I've never conceived of the notion of being anything less than a full-time worker. It's my security but even more than that, it's my sanity. So doing study at the same time as working suited me. And doing a doctorate... wow, what an opportunity.

I wonder how much my excitement for this is similar to what I felt about doing Taupo. Taupo, for me, challenged me beyond belief. It gave me a whole new perspective on what was possible and what I could push my body to do. There was science involved - what to eat, what to wear, how to ride. But there was something much more visceral than that - it caused a fundamental change in the way I view myself, my body and my mind.

So, a few weeks ago I did the Graperide. What a fantastic ride that was. I wasn't well, I woke up in the morning saying 'I'll pull out, I've been coughing all night, I feel bad, I won't do it'. Needless to say, I didn't have a choice. The rough advice was 'start it, if you need to stop, they have people who can bring you back'. So I was out of bed and on the bike before I knew it. My time for the Graperide wasn't that good. 4 hours 38 from memory, for 101kms. My main problem was a sore back - my new bike hadn't quite been set up right for me and it had aggravated a weak point - my back. But a lot of the time I was having a ball - riding in a bunch hitting a steady 32-35km/h - a huge improvement over Taupo.

So anyway, back to the DGov. This wasn't really a decision I took. When I got the offer of study, there was no question in my mind that this was the right thing for me. I don't even recall a decision on whether or not to apply - it just happened.

Is it that I'm so much more confident now that I can do anything I put my mind to? At times, my heart stops, thinking about how much work I will be doing in the next six years. But then my natural optimism kicks in, and reminds me how much fun I will have doing it, and then, how proud I will be of myself when I finish (there is no if in finish - its a definite when - I can see it all now). And I think it is a great thing for my daughter to see me do.

The DGov, like Taupo, will take a lot of hard work and commitment. But I know I will make some good friends along the way, learn a heap of stuff that is really fascinating and it will change the way I look at the world. What more could anyone ask for?