Dear Fellow Grad Student,
Wherever you are in this world, whether it is day or night, I hope you’re fighting the good fight. I know grad school might’ve thrown multiple challenges your way, all at once and I know it isn’t easy to survive. But the good news is that you did! You survived!! All you have to do is hang in there. Just a little longer.
While you’re busy trying to survive and to THRIVE, allow me to let you in on a few secrets. A little over a year ago, I started grad school as pretty much a nobody. The beginning is the most difficult part. The first year is the most turbulent one. I’m not trying to imply that in later years the challenges become less significant. Maybe you will have to face the biggest challenges later. However, by that time, you will be better prepared. In your first year, you are trying to adjust to a new academic culture, while trying to get through coursework, and to find your footing in your RESEARCH (yeah, the most important part). It asks for a lot from you. You just finished college! But the good news is, it gets better. Trust me.
As much as it feels like you are doing the same thing every day, tomorrow is always a new day. This journey is filled with momentum, only if you allow yourself to see that. Maybe today was not the best day. Maybe, you didn’t find the correct reagent. Maybe your experiment went all wrong. Maybe, just maybe, your characterization failed, or the instrument was having a touchy day. All of this could happen. It makes you feel frustrated. You start questioning your existence. But hey, it’s not you. Some things are out of our control. Do you know what is though? Our perspective. What went wrong today? What things I can change to make it work better tomorrow? What difference would it make? It’s a new day, every day. When you approach your day with that mindset, you will always learn something. Every day is different. Your productivity won’t stay the same. It doesn’t have to be. What matters is that you get something done, every single day! You are one step closer. You are making progress. All that matters is that you see it for yourself too. So, be consistent with your efforts. Even if you have to do the same thing over and over and over again.
You’re in grad school to learn. As one of the best teachers I met in grad school would tell me, “Unlike a postdoc, a grad student is not only doing research. You’re also learning how to do research. It’s a strenuous effort to balance these both ends.” So yes, I am reminding you one more time. You are here to learn. You are not asked to know everything when you begin. Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them. That being said, “learning,” is everywhere. Just because you are an expert in your research, doesn’t mean you know everything. Be humble, and open to learning. EVERY POSSIBLE WAY. On this journey, you will meet many people. All of them are experts in their respective jobs. There’s so much we don’t know.
Sometimes there’s an easy way. But there’s always a right way. Sometimes, easy is right. But right isn’t always easy. If the opportunity presents itself, learn a new skill. Be an expert on that. Throughout the last year, I gathered unparalleled hands-on expertise in so many different instruments because I was simply excited about how to get to the bottom of things. There were times I could easily send my samples and let someone run them for me but, it always felt more fulfilling when I did it myself while making a lot of mistakes along the way. The end result only matters when you appreciate the path you took to get there. This is why I would ask you to be learning-driven, not goal-driven. It relieves a lot of weight off of your shoulders. When you’re excited about quality over quantity everything falls in place exactly as it should.
Read, read, and read more!! You are standing on the shoulders of the giants of your field. If it weren’t for their work, you would not be doing what you are doing. Get to know them. I know it’s difficult but, write. It gets slightly better when you think of yourself as a storyteller. Your story is being written. Piece it together. Science itself is a high-fantasy novel. Be the narrator. When in doubt, ask questions.
Your journey is different from mine. Your timeline is unique and is incomparable to mine. Everyone’s journey is unique. Have faith in yourself and all that good work you do, every single day. But, most importantly, you’re more than your research. Let it be a part of you. Don’t let it consume you.
In case you feel alone, just remember that there are a lot of people rooting for you. Even strangers. That one person you met at a conference is still following your Google Scholar updates! You made an impression. You made connections. Keep on doing that. Your network matters.
Eat well. Get some sleep. Go outside, move your body. Surround yourself with people who love you, listen to you, and accept you. Get a dog! Run with them. Life can still be beautiful, even in grad school. You’re meant for great things!
And finally, as my favorite person would tell me,
“Go, continue to be awesome!”
With love,
One of you.
