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When I arrived in Ireland, I was eager to fully immerse myself in the culture. I was open to learning as much as I could. I was ecstatic that I was able to venture over to the Health Sciences Building.

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Iara, Maddie, and I were so grateful to sit together. I was nervous about flying, but these girls put me at ease!

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Traveling to Ireland was a dream come true. My ancestors are from Tipperary and Donegal.

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Tired eyes, but enjoying the view at King John's Castle.

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It was interesting to learn about the history of the castle. If I wasn't so tired, I would have read more. I am glad we were able to walk around and view the outside. It was beautiful.

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Dr. Bloom's presentation was excellent! I am working on my Chapter 3. Before we left, I was stuck because my advisor and I are stuck on how I should present my methodology. Dr. Bloom validated how I was feeling.

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Bill took a lot of great photos. We are going to frame many of his images and decorate one of the walls in our new home.

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First drink in Ireland. Tracey's "Irish Coffee" looked delicious and probably would have been best for my exhaustion. This was a great moment to converse with Tracey and many of my peers. Even though we were jet lagged, we had a great time.

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I love charts and this will be my guide as I work on Chapter 3 this week!

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When it comes to my studies, I am superstitious. My students are the same. I plan on sharing this photo with my students. It must be an awesome feeling for the students to take a photo with this statue at graduation.

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This semester my students struggled. A lot of pressure has been placed on them. I watched several students experience panic attacks. I learned more about my students outside of the classroom. You never know what is going on unless you connect.
I said this in our last class with you, but I will say it again. Our system is flawed. How can we expect the students who received support in high school to now be on their own? It is not fair. Dr. Teresa Shiels stated: “one size does not fit all”. We need to deconstruct this mindset and work with all students to optimize their success. This is when the tears started for me. I was deeply impacted by this presentation.

I cannot express how much Dr. Shiels impacted me. She is a hero. When the days are tough, I will remember all that she overcame. She is a role model. This framework is powerful. I will use this as a guide in my practice.

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Dr. Ger Downes’ lecture on Imposter Syndrome was excellent. As you know, I relate to this concept more than I care to admit. His approach was kind and empathetic. The resources were invaluable, and I will take them with me. I agree that I experience Imposter Syndrome in different facets of my life. Being aware is great, but I must continue to overcome the barriers I set up so I can be more confident in my potential. Although, I am getting better in this area.

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Another photo for our wall.
The Cliffs of Moher was an excellent experience. When we approached the Cliffs, I was speechless. I do not think I ever saw anything so beautiful up close. I wish we had more time to explore, because I do not think I had enough time to see everything. What I saw was magnificent. It was special to see how popular the Cliffs of Moher were. It is obvious that the Irish people are proud of this landmark and will ensure it is regarded as a stunning legacy. To me it symbolizes the beauty that remained after a period of tragedy.

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Bunratty's Castle. We explored this castle during our free day. I LOVED this experience. We wanted to explore another castle since we were so tired when we viewed King John's Castle.

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We came across animals at Bunratty's Castle. My son, Billy and I share a love for farm animals. The minature horse reminded Bill and me of a horse on our favorite show, Parks and Recreation. I could not contain my excitement. I also became more homesick during this moment.

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Cody and Maddie are amazing. They are constant reminders to live life to the fullest.

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This was a classroom at Bunratty's Castle. It was interesting to see the classroom setup. We recommend Bunratty's Castle as an experience for future groups.

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Post-Karaoke
Iara's is the best singer. I am amazed by all of the "hats" she wears. She is a true inspiration. Iara mentioned that she wanted to sing. We asked Kyle and Tara to make this happen for Iara.

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I also couldn't do this without Bill. He is patient, kind, and incredibly supportive. I am glad him and I had this time together. He is my best friend and encourages me to reach my potential.

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I am still in awe that I was able to experience so much beauty at my fingertips.

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My maiden name is "Gleeson". I can't believe we found this. I wish it were open, but it was still cool to see. I sent the photo to my MomMom and she said it made her day.

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The cruise on the Shannon River was perfect. It gave us the opportunity to view the town and spend time together. It was breathtaking. Everything is so well-kept, clean and beautiful. As you know, I am remarkably close with my cohort. During this time, we took in Ireland and formed even deeper connections. It was a powerful experience.

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I LOVE this group. They are incredible people. We relate and differ on so many levels. We encourage one another, we listen, and we make each other laugh during the tougher weeks. I could not do this without them. It was nice to spend a week with people who understand what I am going through. My friends from home are amazing, and they try to understand. However, I cringe every time they ask: "How is your paper going?" A dissertation is more than a paper! :)

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Taking in the cruise!

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Grateful the partners bonded with one another! They explored Ireland together while we were at the conference. They even planned trip to Puerto Rico next summer!

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We appreciate you Dr. Rosario. We all believe you are the best Professor. You advocate for us. Thank you for everything you do! We said we needed a team name for our cohort. We are "Team Rosario!"

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I know I mentioned this before, but I spent twelve years in the Catholic school system. Therefore, I was very eager to visit St. Flannan’s Cathedral. Lately, I have not felt too connected to the church because of the world we live in. However, I still appreciate the beauty of the church. Once I walked into the cathedral, I was consumed by my previous positive feelings of the church. It was beautiful. Again, it was difficult to hear the tour guide, but I was able to gain a few insights. The cathedral marks the transition between the Romanesque and Gothic periods. The roof was raised so the priest could view the church from his home. I also took pictures of the remembrance frames on the wall. The frames highlighted the successes and losses of the individuals highlighted. I remember thinking it was so nice that the individuals were acknowledged, and their hard work would not be forgotten.

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Amazing

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I appreciate that the hard work is acknowledged and ancestors are not forgotten.

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Bill is very quiet, but not around me. He opened up to everyone and had a blast.

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So much fun getting to know one another even more!

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Taking in our last sit down meal with everyone!

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We were all tired at this point, but really enjoyed Bunratty's Castle.

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A fun dinner and getting ready for our three-minute competition! We offered one another support and validation in our topics.

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Connecting with one another. These ladies are so relatable. We are forever friends.

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We stumbled across a fairy garden trail at Bunratty's Castle. This reminded me of my daughter, Lucy. We have a fairy garden at home. This quote resonated with me. I never thought I would finish a doctoral program. The support I have been given in this program is remarkable. Therefore, "Everything is possible. Even the Impossible"