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"The Importance of Personal Connections in Graduate School" by Lauren Vollinger

11/27/2018

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Over the past year, I’ve realized that personal connections are the most important thing to have in graduate school. No, I don’t mean professional networking connections. I mean the personal acquaintances, friendships, and familial ties that keep us going from day to day when all we want to do is take a nap or drop out to get a “big kid job.”

I’m not the first person to say this and I certainly won’t be the last… Social support is essential to being successful in graduate school. In true academic fashion, I decided to see if there was any research to back this up, and sure enough, there is!

Researchers from Penn State University found that social support from 1) academic friends, 2) family, and 3) advisors are all necessary for successful graduate degree completion. Having support from each of these groups is beneficial because they all contribute something different to your emotional well-being. For example, academic friends can be great at helping develop and encourage new ideas, whereas family can provide practical support such as helping with household chores, providing child care, and making sure their loved one remembers to eat!

I was fortunate enough to receive varying levels of support from people in all three groups over the past few months. Some people sent money and gift cards for me to get myself some coffee on long writing days while others sent impeccably well-timed words of encouragement via text or on social media. What surprised me was how impactful the smallest gesture could be, particularly from people or at times I least expected. The camaraderie among students in my graduate program is wonderfully unique, my family seems to always find ways to support me from afar, and my advisors do everything in their power to ensure I succeed. For that I feel incredibly lucky.

All this to say, any type of support you can offer a graduate student (or anyone) has the power to make a larger impact than you may realize. For those that have been there for me, thank you for being constant sources of support and happiness in my life. You all sure know how to make a salty, cranky, sleep-deprived, stressed-out girl feel like she can keep pressing on.

Jairam, D., & Kahl Jr, D. H. (2012). Navigating the doctoral experience: The role of social support in successful degree completion. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 7, 311-329.


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"A Young Academic’s Rules to Live By" By Taylor Layne Crisman

11/6/2018

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My introduction to undergraduate studies was a unique one. My first course was an honors course titled, “Our Search for Meaning.” Pretty heavy stuff. Many of the experiences from that course will stay with me for the rest of my life, but one of the most impactful moments was when my professor, Dr. Planer, shared a list he had compiled titled, “Dr. Planer’s Rules to Live By.” Throughout his life, he has pondered lessons learned and continually updates the list of rules he wants to live by. After sharing his list, he gave us an assignment to create our own.

​I had just turned 19 and had never thought of myself as wise. As other students shared the same concern, I realized I was not alone. Dr. Planer assured us that we all had wisdom and knowledge to share. To this day, I look back on this lesson and remind myself that my experiences are valuable. To celebrate 4 years since the original draft of my own lessons to live by, I decided to create a list of lessons specifically for academics.


A Young Academic’s Top 5 Rules to Live By:
  1. Embrace failure. This has, oddly enough, become pretty common advice. When I was a kid, I was never really told that failure was okay. Now, I have reframed failure as a window of opportunity that opens when a door is slammed in your face. From my experience, this rule of embracing failure is incredibly important. My plans have fallen apart so many times throughout my studies. However, as I worked to piece them back together, I’ve learned important things about myself and discovered new research interests and career opportunities.
  2. Establish work-life balance. During my first two years of undergrad, I worked and studied nearly all hours of the day and night, rarely making time for my family and friends. I fell into the trap of “romanticizing the exhausted college student.” After those first two years, I realized how important it is to establish a balance between the work I care so much about and my personal life. We are people first, academics second. Make time for the people and activities that matter to you outside of your academic life.
  3. Appreciate your peers and mentors. Nobody enters academia as a superstar. We are all a result of the hard work, dedication, and mentorship of those we encounter during our academic journey. This is not to say that we are not capable, intelligent individuals. I simply mean that we should appreciate our peers and mentors, because they help make our ventures and successes possible. This should not be taken lightly.
  4. Be trustworthy. A common theme I have encountered in all of the academic settings I have been in is the importance of trust. We rely a great deal on being able to trust those we work with. In fact, most labs operate as teams, where trust is a crucial component. Be a trustworthy teammate!
  5. Be unrealistic. This is my favorite lesson of all. My undergraduate advisor, Dr. David Johnson, taught me this. Throughout my entire undergraduate experience, he never encouraged me to set realistic expectations. Rather, he encouraged me to apply for long-shot grants, conferences, lab gigs, etc. He helped me realize that I don’t have to choose educational or career paths that are safe or expected. This rule continues to bring amazing experiences into my life and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.

I plan on adding to this list throughout my lifetime as an academic, and I highly encourage others to create their own lists. Looking back on the original list I made four years ago was a great way to reflect on my experiences and note areas of personal growth. As a burgeoning academic, I think this is a particularly great exercise. It’s a great way to remember why you chose the path you did and what you’ve learned along the way. Thanks, Dr. Planer, for introducing me to this great practice!



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