Dr. Remilyn Mueller scaled the challenges of self-isolation, thick layers of responsibilities and burnout while preparing her dissertation and teaching online students as a professor in the College of Doctoral Studies at Grand Canyon University.
“I couldn't imagine how others do it when they have kids and all of that other stuff going on,” Mueller said. “… I would often hear how they take care of their families. That's the No. 1 concern of, especially single parents, how they have to balance time with their kids and the work, and then now they're studying at the same time."
This prompted Mueller, who earned her doctorate in psychology at GCU, to write "You're Not Alone: How You Can Flourish as an Online Learner With Faith and Success Strategies."
The book finished second in the Education Impact category of the Kingdom Book Awards, announced recently. The awards recognize and elevate faith-based authors.
“Dr. Mueller and her book are a testament to GCU’s mission to serve and give back to those who need help. She is a great teacher, and her gift for writing is an inspiration to my entire team,” the doctoral college's dissertation chair, Dr. Chuck Banaszewski, said.
Mueller’s 264-page book addresses hurdles that millions of adult online learners overcome while juggling life, and she highlights some success strategies she draws from her experiences as an educator and lifelong learner.
She divided her book into four parts, with Bible verses interspersed among the pages. That includes a verse from Timothy to “study to show yourself approved unto God,” Mueller said.
“And if we want to be, if we want God to use us, I'm sure He wants us to study for His greater purposes. So your degree is not just for yourself, it is for how God can use you in His purposes for His kingdom.”
The four parts of Mueller's book include:
Visualize
“You should have a big picture of what you want to do after (earning your degree),” said Mueller, who likened the doctoral journey to a vehicle having enough gas in the tank.
“If you don't have enough fuel, then you won't make it to your destination.”
Choose
“It's not just about studies,” Mueller said. “Your studies is just one component of flourishing, but you also have to take care of your health. You also have to take care of your finances. You have to know what your values are. If your values are aligned with what you're pursuing, then you'll find greater meaning and purpose in what you're doing.”
Overcome
Mueller delves into time management, financial literacy, one’s mindset and looking for a connection because, as she shares, “Online studies can be very isolating if you don’t reach out to others, like your classmates or professors." She added that exchanging telephone numbers and email addresses led to lifelong friendships while she was studying for her master’s degree.
“You don’t have to be isolated, even though you’re studying online.”
Thrive
Knowing the marketplace, how to build your resumé and what you want to do after graduation is essential.
“There are thousands of graduates with the same degree, and if you don't have the edge, your resumé will just disappear in the system,” Mueller said. “So you should have an edge, and what are the edges? What can you do? What else can you do outside your degree?"
Transferable skills, such as using AI, technology and communication cannot hurt, she said.
As the oldest of five children growing up in the Philippines, Mueller possessed a big “why.”
“In the Philippines, we don't have student loans, and we have to pay in cash, and my parents said this is the only thing we can afford,” Mueller said. With a younger brother only three years younger, Mueller was encouraged to graduate as soon as possible to alleviate a greater financial burden on her parents.
Her motivation to earn her master’s degree was that she wanted to earn tenure for a teaching job in college. And as for pursuing a doctorate, “My big why was being more credible in my teaching in my profession.”
Mueller also emphasized grit (being focused and disciplined to reach the next chapter) and finding pockets of time.
“We always find time to eat, we always find time to brush our teeth, because those things are important to us,” Mueller said. “And it's the same thing with writing a book. You don't need a full day to write a book. You need pockets of time, and you need to use those pockets of time to work on it little by little.”
Mueller applied the same method in her studies.
“One DQ (discussion question) can take 15 or 30 minutes. If you’re in line for a school pickup, you can read one article there. So those are the strategies I taught them, and that’s what I do with my little projects here and there. I find pockets of time and work on those projects little by little.”
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
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Related content from College of Doctoral Studies:
GCU News: GCU doctoral student harvests produce – and hope – for less fortunate
GCU News: Couple doubles up on doctoral degrees
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You can find Dr. Remilyn Mueller's book here.
