Dear fellow floaters:
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You may be a floater if you find yourself in the transitional phase between undergraduate and graduate education. You may be a floater if you feel you are swimming through space with your new shiny BA or BS constantly wondering, “What next?”.  For my floaters looking for guidance in entering graduate school, I speak to you now; what are your passions? What are your career and life goals? What are the virtues you will hold steadfast to when exploring your career, life, and self?

I have been asked these questions overtly and covertly by our Lab Lead, Dr. Acevedo, on multiple occasions since joining the Community-AID Lab. Quality mentorship and lab participation are the ingredients that generated the forward-thinking I needed to pursue a PhD program right for me.  At age twenty-three, deciphering the research interests that you wish to build your career around is as daunting as it is exhilarating.  The more I actively participated in personal development and exploring my interests, the less daunting this task became.

I spent my last semester at MSU studying abroad in Granada, Spain, and it was when I returned to the States that I discovered my newfound floater identity. Fortunately, I found work in Community Psychology research (a field I had never once heard of as an undergraduate student, go figure). The visions I now have of myself as a researcher were actualized through my lab mates whose goals, passions, and work ethic matched mine. When seeking self-discovery, never underestimate the power of putting your best foot forward toward new opportunity that aligns you with likeminded people. If you feel out of your comfort zone, you are probably in the right place.
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From one floater to the next hoping to enter graduate school, I implore you: align your passions with your goals and always participate in work that is as rewarding as it is challenging. Best of luck!

Photo credit: http://secret-hipster.blogspot.com/2011/12/space-head.html

             ​During the application and interview process for the Community-AID lab many assertions about the level of concern for social justice and community partners are made very clear to applicants. In the initial training phase that includes understanding Internal Review Board procedure and the lab’s own organizational holacracy system, which are both a set of rigid parameters under which the lab operates. The actual practice of tactical meetings, data entry and mentored research – which honestly is the meat and potatoes – can be the most stressful, confusing and dull practices you endure in undergraduate work. One activity, however, makes all of your unforeseen experiences an understood investment in your future, the field trips.
            There probably are not many students alive who would opt to sit in on an interdepartmental tactical meeting about improving community assets for Lansing area residents. But for members of the lab this experience is a very real opportunity to (1) see your data entry and research put to use, and (2) watch the values of the lab exercised in a real and impactful way.
            As an attendee of Lansing Areas’ Power of We Consortium held at the Ingham County Health Department, few moments were as humbling as being surrounded by tens of working professionals all possessing or obtaining several advanced degrees. Every meeting is an opportunity to learn what the current issues afflicting the community are, and what multiple governing bodies can do simultaneously to address them. There are presentations by epidemiologists, social workers, representatives from the Department of Labor, and even community representatives to inform each other. Most pleasing is the amount of absolute respect each participant has for the other. Everyone can ask clarifying questions. Everyone is held accountable to fact checking. Everyone respects the domain of which another is an expert and a resource.
            As an undergraduate scholar every minute spent investing your best effort in the lab is well worth it to peer into your future and see that if you can uphold basic ethical principals, respect your workplace culture, and are earnestly interested in bettering your community, you are on the right path.
 
We are always looking for new team members with a passion for social innovation and youth empowerment. If you are interested in training at the Community-AID Lab, please e-mail our Lab Lead, Ignacio.