Last Thoughts
The past few months have been a whirlwind of packing and writing- followed by lots and lots of editing, as I finished my dissertation and embarked on my next adventure as an OSU Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator in Williams County. In the midst of all these changes, I found myself reminiscing about my time in the Translational Plant Sciences program. It struck me how much I have grown in the past few years, but mostly how unprepared I was for the realities of graduate school. For this reason, I wanted to share some tips I wish I had known four years ago.
1. Back up your files: I luckily never dealt with a computer crash during my time in TPS, but the idea of one often kept me up at night. Do yourself a favor and back up all of your files in more than one location. While you are at it, develop a uniform system for naming and organizing your files.
2. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize: At any given time, a graduate student is likely juggling multiple projects. One of my greatest struggles when I first started was prioritizing projects. My solution was to determine what I wanted to accomplish in the next six months, and then work backwards until I had weekly benchmarks.
3. ...which leads to me to my next tip: Set attainable goals! The surest way to guarantee disappointment is to set a lofty goal like "write my dissertation." The amount of times I wrote this on a to-do list was comical.
4. Write garbage: I do not have the capability to simultaneously write and edit. My desire to write a "perfect" first draft, often left me staring at a blank computer screen. I did not make progress until I allowed myself a "garbage" first draft that was for my eyes only. Just putting down words helped me gain writing momentum and helped connect my ideas.
5. Get a life: Graduate school can put a toll on your mental health, especially if you lack a support system or healthy "escape." Take time for yourself and remember your self-worth is not tied to your research.
6. Say thank you: I would not have learned these lessons without the guidance of my peers, advisors, and the countless others that helped me throughout this process. Remember to pause and thank those that encouraged and supported you.
-Written by Stephanie Karhoff
