Today marks a major milestone in my doctoral journey. After starting my Doctor of Education program on November 1, 2025, I have officially completed my fifth class and finished the core course requirements for my Ed.D. In just 240 days, this journey has included approximately 810 hours of work and 65 completed assignments.
Before beginning this doctoral journey, I completed my Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University in August of 2025, after starting the program in June of 2025. Completing my MBA in three months taught me the value of discipline, structure, sacrifice, and perseverance. Now, as I continue my Ed.D. journey, I am applying those same principles to a much longer and more demanding academic goal.
Reaching this point means more than simply finishing another class. It represents consistency, sacrifice, discipline, and a continued commitment to becoming Dr. Arnold Brown, Jr. Now that my core classes are complete, I am ready to begin the next major phase of my program: my specialization in Instructional Design and Technology.
Entering the Specialization Phase
The specialization phase is especially meaningful because it allows me to focus more deeply on the field that connects education, technology, curriculum design, and instructional improvement. Through this phase, I will continue building the knowledge and skills needed to design stronger learning experiences and improve student outcomes through effective instructional practices.
This phase is also significant because it moves me closer to earning an Education Specialist degree in Instructional Design and Technology while continuing my progress toward the research phase of the doctoral program. Each step brings me closer to the larger goal of completing my Ed.D. and using this journey to create a lasting impact in education.
Moving Forward
As I move forward, my main thoughts are centered on three areas: maintaining my health, staying focused, and taking time to celebrate the progress I have already made. Doctoral work requires discipline, but it also requires balance. In this next phase, I want to remain committed to the work while also remembering that the person completing the work matters too.
Maintaining My Health
Maintaining my health is one of my top priorities as I continue this journey. Completing 65 assignments in 240 days has required long hours, mental focus, and personal sacrifice. While I am grateful for the progress, I also understand that I cannot successfully complete this doctoral program without protecting my physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
For me, this means being intentional about rest, nutrition, movement, and balance. It means recognizing when I need to pause, recharge, and return to the work with a clearer mind. The goal is not only to finish the degree, but to finish it in a way that allows me to remain healthy, present, and prepared for the work ahead.
Staying Focused
Staying focused will also be essential as I enter the specialization phase. While completing the core classes is a major achievement, the journey is not finished. I have to keep the mindset that the work is not over until it is truly complete. This means continuing to show up with discipline, even after reaching an important milestone.
In many ways, I think about this next phase with a Michael Jordan–type mentality. If the core classes were like the regular season, then the specialization phase represents the playoffs. This is where the work becomes more focused, the expectations become more specific, and every step matters even more. Eventually, the research and capstone courses will represent the NBA Finals, where everything I have learned, practiced, and developed will come together in the most important stage of the program.
With that mindset, challenges are not reasons to stop; they are opportunities to improve. Setbacks are not final defeats; they can become fuel for growth. Even negative moments can be turned into positive momentum when they are used to sharpen focus, build resilience, and improve the craft.
As I move forward, I want to keep creating challenges for myself that push me to become better. Every class, assignment, research task, and academic demand is another opportunity to strengthen my skills as an educator, leader, and instructional designer. My goal is not simply to earn a degree, but to become better through the process.
Celebrating the Milestone
Finally, I believe it is important to celebrate. Sometimes, when pursuing a major goal, it becomes easy to move from one task to the next without acknowledging the progress already made. Today, I am choosing to pause and recognize this achievement.
This celebration does not have to be complicated. For me, today’s celebration includes pizza and a slice of cookie cake. More than the food itself, this moment represents gratitude. It is a reminder that every assignment, every late night, every sacrifice, and every hour of effort has brought me one step closer to the finish line.
Support My Ed.D. Journey
Graduate education is a meaningful but significant financial investment, and I am currently covering the cost of my doctoral program independently. The total cost to complete the program is $21,500. If you would like to support my Ed.D. journey, I invite you to consider donating to my GoFundMe account.
Your support helps me continue moving forward as I work toward becoming Dr. Arnold Brown, Jr. and leaving a legacy through education.
My GoFundMe is: www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-leave-a-legacy-through-education
Thank you again for your continual support and prayers. And as always, let’s change the world. Together!
Who is Arnold Brown?
Raised in Louisiana, Arnold Brown graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a minor in Mandarin Chinese. Upon graduation, Arnold accepted the opportunity to live in China for two years, where he taught English as a Second Language at Ningxia Normal University. As the only African American male in the city where he lived, Arnold describes the experience as absolutely life-changing.
Arnold speaks four languages fluently: English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Mandarin Chinese. He also earned a Master of Business Administration and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Instructional Design and Technology. Arnold currently teaches Spanish classes online, tutors, and operates his own self-paced Spanish learning program. If you would like to learn more about Arnold’s background, click here.
Helping Youth Thrive
As a certified Spanish teacher, fluent speaker of four languages, and life coach, Arnold is committed to helping young people thrive, not just survive.
To learn more about the books Arnold writes to empower youth, visit his bookstore here.