I got one of the sociology classes I was interested in, on race and ethnic relations, so now my schedule for the semester is settled. It’s an extremely heavy reading class, but I expect to enjoy the material and learn a lot about history and current theories of race and ethnicity.
I introduced myself at the beginning of class, and for the first time ever, someone asked me whether I was a student of my advisor, and I felt what it’s like to begin to take on and be associated with someone’s research and way of thinking about education questions. I also felt, as I described what I’m interested in first in the measurement class, and then in the sociology class, how rusty I am at ruminating on and describing my own interests. Yet this is what it’s all about, what I need to focus on this year: how do my interests coalesce into 3 areas of specialization and one basic question?
I am thinking about applying for a Fulbright to go to Spain next year and do research on education policy responses to immigration.