One Year of Growth
Reflecting on My Journey in the TLA Foundations Certificate Program
On first Wednesdays we talk about TLA in practice. This week’s article is from Becoming a TLArtist. Our series of posts from the inspiring people in our Certificate in TLA Foundations program.
2025 has been a hard year and it is only mid-February. I woke up this morning thinking about TLAN. A year ago, today, I embarked on a journey that I had unknowingly been preparing for my entire life. Enrolling in the TLA Foundations Certificate program was a decision that, in hindsight, felt more like a homecoming than a new beginning. As I celebrate my one-year anniversary in the program, I find myself reflecting on how much I have grown, not just as a writer and educator, but as a person deeply engaged in the transformative power of language and storytelling.
In true non-linear fashion, I completed the courses in reverse order, starting with my capstone project before diving into the foundational courses. At first, this seemed unconventional, but as I progressed, I realized that this unfolding—this peeling back of layers—was exactly the right path for me. Instead of moving from the center outward, I swirled inward, embracing the fluidity of discovery, transformation, and reflection. One of my earliest realizations in the program was that the work I had been doing—teaching, facilitating discussions, shaping curriculum—had a place and a name within TLA. This validation was both grounding and liberating. It gave me the confidence to embrace my role as a TLArtist, a term I had never used for myself, but one that deeply resonates with my identity and work.
Through one of my final assignments in a course, I was asked to explore my deepest wishes. Rather than seeking something entirely new, I discovered that my greatest desire was to continue the work I am already passionate about—teaching, fostering discussions, and shaping spaces where words matter. As an English professor at Gallaudet, I have spent eighteen years witnessing the power of language, advocating for its importance, and working to create a curriculum that supports and attracts students. This program reaffirmed my purpose and gave me tools to expand my impact. Inspired by this reflection, I created a series of online monthly workshops, Discover What Matters More Than Happiness: Four Transformative Online Workshops, based on Emily Esfahani Smith’s The Power of Meaning. This series, open to students, faculty, and staff, aims to explore meaning, connection, and fulfillment—concepts that have become central to my journey in the TLA program.
My capstone project, Meandering Among the Markers, was a deeply personal and transformative endeavor. Designed as a guided exploration of historic cemeteries, the project invites participants to reflect on death through symbols, epitaphs, and shared stories. Unlike traditional cemetery tours focused on history, this experience fosters personal and community transformation, forming what Polish sociologist Zygmunt Bauman calls “peg communities”—temporary, meaningful gatherings that provide a sense of belonging in an often fragmented world. Death is a topic that many avoid discussing, yet there is a profound need for open and reflective conversations around it.
This project reaffirmed my belief that storytelling—whether through poetry, micro-memoirs, or facilitated discussions—has the power to bridge gaps, foster connections, and provide solace.
Each course I have taken in the TLA Foundations Certificate program has added a unique layer to my growth. Liminal Spaces: The Poetry of Transitions and Change rekindled my love for poetry and reminded me of the power of small moments. Kissing the Muse: A Messy, Magical, Creative Adventure encouraged playfulness and joy at a time when my life felt heavy. The (Extra)Ordinary Moment: The Art and Craft of Micro-Memoir helped me focus on the magic of tiny moments and their impact. Seeding Change: Creating When Life is Hard introduced me to the idea of using past journal entries as seeds for new poetry, allowing me to write through time and space. Through these courses, I have gained not just knowledge, but a renewed sense of self. Writing, reading, and facilitating discussions have become even more integral to my personal and professional life.
As I complete my final courses and continue writing blog posts and facilitating workshops, I feel myself evolving. My new role as Director of Distance Education at Gallaudet presents an opportunity to merge my passions with my professional responsibilities. One of the most rewarding experiences last year was hosting an online Ghost Story Gathering last fall. Gathering with students, faculty, staff, and alumni to share our love of storytelling was a deeply fulfilling experience, reinforcing the communal power of stories and their ability to connect us across time and space.
This past year has been a testament to the power of words—how they shape us, guide us, and connect us. I am deeply grateful for the TLA Foundations Certificate program, the instructors who nurtured my growth, and the community that embraced me. This is not the end of my journey, but rather a new chapter, one that I am eager to write.
Here’s to another year of transformation, storytelling, and meaningful connections. To my fellow TLArtists, facilitators, and seekers—may our words continue to change the world.
Sharon Pajka PhD, is a professor of English at Gallaudet University. She is the author of Women Writers Buried in Virginia (2021) and The Souls Close to Edgar Allan Poe: Graves of his family, friends, and foes (2023). On the weekends, find her in the cemetery giving history tours or volunteering, as well as running the Virginia Chapter of the Association for Gravestone Studies.
Growing Together, Apart: TLAN events & Classes
You can find all classes, free community events, and our annual conference here. Scholarships are available. Courses and events beginning in May:
Storytelling and the Body // with Danielle Bainbridge, Jane Hseu, & Kimberly Gomes
begins 06 May 2025 • 4 week online personal growth course
begins 07 May 2025 • 3 week online professional growth course
Revisioning Motherhood: Writing a new Story of (and for) Mothers// with Amanda Lacson
10 May 2025 2:00 PM • 3 hour online personal growth workshop
Transformative Language Arts Network Community Circles
18 May 2025 5:00 PM • 90 minute online free community gathering
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