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I write regularly on my Substack newsletter, Wanderlust Narratives, which became my primary writing space in December 2025. Some pieces also live here on my website.
Subscribe however works best for you:
- Substack gets you weekly essays delivered to your inbox (subscribe above)
- Website subscription sends occasional updates when new work appears here (subscribe at the end of the page)
Either way, I'm glad you're here.
You can browse recent and featured writing below.
A Letter to the Woman I Was Last Year
Reflections on returning after living abroad
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Dec 5, 202511 min read
The Spaces Between Belonging
Why the Fulbright program matters and the spaces between feelings of belonging.
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Jun 22, 202511 min read
Our Stories
Reflections on the stories we're told and leaning into a culture of connection and rest over hustle and grind.
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Apr 14, 20257 min read
What We Should Do
A Doctor Who quote, some graffiti, and a flat in Spain; sometimes the universe whispers, “You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Mar 23, 20259 min read
On Grief and Humanization Amid Neoliberalism
It’s been no secret that I juggle a lot. I always have. In high school, I worked 32 hours weekly at a grocery store while balancing...
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Oct 14, 20248 min read
10 Tips for the Grad School Journey
These 10 tips are designed for graduate students, and potential graduate students, during their grad school journeys.
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
May 26, 202414 min read
The Educator I Want to Be
The following entry includes two excerpts from a section of my memoir focused on my diagnosis of a pseudoaneurysm and how it influenced...
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Feb 23, 202414 min read
Project Update: 11.6.23
Several weeks ago I put together a small research lab through the nonprofit, The Dignified Learning Project (DLP). This research lab is...
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Nov 6, 20231 min read
On Teaching Stats
“I feel so smart!” one student exclaimed. I looked over as she had her phone out, using the Desmos app as her calculator. Calculating her...
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Oct 30, 20237 min read
What We Know and What We Ask
I’ve found there are two major schools of thought when it comes to research - you’re a [qualitative, quantitative, etc.] researcher, or...
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Sep 18, 20237 min read
Why I Write
I stood trembling in a library. I gripped the small, blue book tightly. Surveying the entire library, family members were present,...
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Aug 26, 20237 min read
Barbie, bell hooks, Plato, & the Patriarchy
** If you haven’t seen the Barbie movie yet, please note that there will be spoilers in this piece.** I played with Barbie dolls, but...
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Aug 17, 20237 min read
Using han, Finding jeong
This is the final reflection I shared in my dissertation. I reflect on my Korean culture and heritage, and the process of using the...
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Jul 31, 20234 min read
Life After the PhD
I initially started this website a year ago when I felt as if I was drowning, struggling to find out what my next steps would be and...
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Jun 20, 20234 min read
You Are Not Alone: Reflections and Encouragement on Graduate School and Being Whole
This piece is on my journey as a PhD student and encouragement for others to remember to remain whole.
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Jun 5, 20238 min read
Housing Justice in San Diego
I've lived in San Diego for most of my life. I was born here, grew up here, left at 18, September 2006, and returned September 2011, 5...
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
May 19, 20237 min read
Doctor
I'm a big Doctor Who fan. I'm aware of a lot of its problems, like imperialism and such, but it has managed to maintain my attention for...
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Apr 30, 20233 min read
Masking Tools of Oppression as Equity
I wrote this piece in the summer of 2021, but I've updated it and added some additional thoughts as things have shifted, but really not...
Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk
Jan 6, 20233 min read
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