Victors in Grad School

Dr. Christopher Lewis
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Victors in Grad School explores what you can do to find success in your own graduate school journey no matter what you plan to do. Through experts and individual interviews you will be introduced to what it means to find success and tips on achieving success in graduate school.

  1. 2d ago

    Burning Bright or Burning Out: Navigating Grad School Stress and Recovery

    Burnout—the secret companion of graduate students everywhere. It lurks beneath heavy workloads, late nights, and the constant push to excel. But what is burnout really, and why is it so common among those in graduate programs? The latest episode of the "Victors in Grad School" podcast takes a deep dive into this pressing topic, offering both clarity and comfort for students navigating the tough terrain of higher education. In this powerful discussion, Maryam Krob, outreach intern for CAPS and a current grad student herself, joins Dr. Christopher Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs at University of Michigan Flint, to explore what it means to burn out—and, more importantly, how to bounce back. One of the central messages is that burnout isn't a personal failure or weakness. As Maryam Krob emphasizes, it's a natural response to sustained, high-pressure environments where intense coursework, practicums, employment, and financial stress all converge. She points out that burnout is not a formal diagnosis, yet its effects are deeply real: emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that accumulates over time. It's possible to be performing well on paper while feeling completely depleted inside. The podcast digs into major research findings, shedding light on the multiple factors fueling burnout. Graduate students are often non-traditional, juggling roles as students, employees, caregivers, and more. High demands paired with limited resources increase the risk, especially when financial worries and competing commitments pile up. So, what helps? Maryam Krob highlights the importance of social support—peers, mentors, friends, and family are essential to reducing feelings of isolation. Setting boundaries between work and rest, prioritizing sleep, and embracing restorative activities (yes, even those "unproductive" hobbies!) are crucial. The episode also discusses the value of adaptive coping strategies like problem-solving and reframing negative thoughts. Dr. Christopher Lewis reinforces that burnout isn't exclusive to grad school; it's a challenge that can pop up throughout life. Recognizing its stages early allows for effective intervention and recovery, making it possible not just to survive, but to thrive. Whether you're a current student, considering graduate school, or simply burned out by life's demands, this episode offers empathy, knowledge, and practical strategies to help you "burn bright" without burning out. Listen now for insights that just might transform your journey. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:01]: Welcome to Victors in Grad School, where we have conversations with students, alumni, and experts about what it takes to find success in graduate school. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:11]: Hi everyone. I am Dr. Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs here at the University of Michigan Flint. Really excited that you're here tonight to learn a little bit more about a very important topic that a lot of graduate students deal with in their time in graduate school, and that comes down to burnout. And many of us have that happen to us, no matter if we're in grad school or in just in general in life. And we have to have coping mechanisms and ways in which we can deal with that. So I'm really excited to be able to have Maryam Krohbe with us today. And Maryam works in our CAPS office, in our counseling office on campus. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:49]: And I'll let her introduce herself more to you as well. But I'm really excited that she's here to talk about this important topic. And I'll turn it over to you, Maryam. Maryam Krob [00:00:57]: Thank you, Dr. Lewis. Hello everyone and welcome to this lecture on burnout, burning bright or burning out. My name is Maryam and I'm a current— the current outreach intern for CAPS. I'm also a student here on campus getting my master's in social work, and I'm really happy to be here talking with my fellow graduate students about something that many of us can relate to. So please feel comfortable during this session, no need to turn your cameras on or anything like that, whatever makes you relax and focus. I'll just be asking a few questions throughout the lecture too to get us thinking and reflecting because I think many of us share experience with this topic. The purpose of today's lecture is to better understand burnout and recognize the signs. Maryam Krob [00:01:37]: We'll also explore ways to prevent moving into the later stages of burnout and talk about how to recover if you're already experiencing it. And lastly, I'll share some campus resources that can help support graduate students, and we'll leave some time for discussion. But before we begin, I want to clarify something important. Burnout is not a formal diagnosis in the DSM, but it is a very real experience. Burnout often occurs after prolonged or severe stress and can leave people feeling emotionally, mentally, and physically drained. This is especially relevant for graduate students. Many of us are balancing practicum placements, intense coursework, jobs, financial stress, and other responsibilities. You can be doing well academically or professionally and still feel exhausted and overwhelmed. Maryam Krob [00:02:22]: Experiencing burnout is not a personal failure. It is often a response to sustained pressure and high demands. Today, I'll cover the topics I mentioned earlier, and I encourage you to talk— take what resonates with you and leave the rest. Burnout is often shaped by a culture that prioritizes productivity over rest and well-being. While we can't always control those larger systems, there are some individual strategies that can help us, as well as campus resources that are here to support you. So, you're gonna hear me say this a few times throughout the lecture, but I want to just make it clear that burnout is not a personal failure. Burnout refers to emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that develops after prolonged stress. It's not something that happens because you're weak or because you've done something wrong. Maryam Krob [00:03:09]: The term burnout was first introduced in the 1970s by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger, who originally used it to describe exhaustion among people working in helping professions. But today we know burnout affects many different groups, including graduate students. So graduate students often juggle a lot of responsibilities at the same time: coursework, practicum placement, jobs, financial stress, research, and personal obligations. Because of that, it's very possible to be doing well on the outside, meeting deadlines, performing well academically, keeping up with responsibilities, and still feeling completely drained internally. But you are not alone. Over 55% of university students have experienced academic burnout as well, according to the research paper I read. So burnout builds over time, and it's a result of long-term stress, not just one difficult week. And because it develops gradually, recovery also takes time. Maryam Krob [00:04:06]: So many graduate students look very different from what we often think of the traditional student. A traditional student might just be starting their academic and career journey. Graduate students, however, may already have reached several milestones professionally or academically, and many are also balancing family responsibilities or other complex life roles. Having these experiences can actually be a huge benefit. Many graduate students bring valuable life and work experience to their programs, which can be incredibly helpful in practicum settings. For example, I've talked to many of my peers who are working in practicum placements and already are excelling in areas like documentation, writing SOAP notes, or communicating with clients because they bring previous experiences into these roles. At the same time, graduate students are often balancing many roles at once. Someone might be a student, a caregiver, a facilitator in a practicum, an employee, or a partner or a parent. Maryam Krob [00:05:04]: Many people have others depending on them while they're still trying to meet the demands of their program. Another challenge is the combination of high expectations and limited resources. Being a student often means having less time and fewer financial resources while still needing to meet demanding academic and professional expectations. Work and school schedules can also make it difficult to stay connected with core social support systems. Most of us are here because we're passionate about what we are studying, but it's also okay to acknowledge that balancing all of these roles can sometimes make you feel overwhelmed or even a little burnt out. So, what does the research say about burnout? Research supports what many students experience. A recent systematic review examining students' burnout across multiple countries and student populations found that burnout is influenced by several interconnected factors, including academic environment, social support, and coping strategies. For example, the review found that a supportive educational environment plays an important role in mediating burnout because it helps meet students' psychological and emotional needs. Maryam Krob [00:06:15]: The research also highlights that family support and social engagement are protective factors. Strong support systems can help reduce feelings of isolation and cynicism, which are common components of burnout. Another important finding is that coping strategies matter. Students who use more adaptive coping approaches, such as problem-solving, emotional processing, or cognitive reframing tend to experience lower levels of burnout compared to those relying on more maladaptive coping strategies. Overall, the research suggests that burnout is not just an individual issue. It is often shaped by systems, environments, and the resources available to students. Research often conceptualizes burnout as having 3

    Burning Bright or Burning Out: Navigating Grad School Stress and Recovery

  2. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Next Five

    Introducing Driving Industrial Decarbonisation from The Next Five. Follow the show: The Next Five Hard to abate sectors; the heavy industries of steel, cement, chemicals plus transport, aviation and mining are responsible for nearly a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonising heavy industry at scale is no longer just an environmental imperative; it is a massive economic advantage if you get it right and even worse if you fail to do so. For decades, the narrative surrounding these ‘hard-to-abate' sectors has been trapped in a paralysing triad of assumptions: that transforming the backbone of world industry is simply too risky to execute, too complex to engineer, and far too expensive to justify. And on paper, that cost argument seems real. Clean production alternatives still carry a severe green premium. Near-zero steel costs anywhere from 10 to 75 percent more to produce. Green cement? You’re looking at a 30 to 125 percent price increase. Joining host Tom Parker is Dino Otranto, CEO of Fortescue Metals, Axel Eggert, Director General of EUROFER, The European Steel Association and Bertrand Badré, Managing Partner and Founder of Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital and former Managing Director and CFO at the World Bank. Sources: FT Resources, Carbon Tracker, IEA, McKinsey, EUROFER This content is paid for by Fortescue and is produced in partnership with the Financial Times' Commercial Department. The views and claims expressed are those of the guests alone and have not been independently verified by The Financial Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Also Like: The Next Five

  3. Nov 2

    From UM-Flint to Wesleyan: Eliza Hogan's Path to Success in Grad School

    If you're considering graduate school, or are currently navigating its unique challenges, you'll find inspiration and practical guidance in the latest episode of "Victors in Grad School." Host Dr. Christopher Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan-Flint, sits down with Eliza Hogan, a UM-Flint graduate now pursuing her PhD in mathematics at Wesleyan University. Their conversation unpacks not only how to choose the right program, but also how to thrive once you arrive. A key theme that emerges from Eliza Hogan's story is the importance of intentionality on your academic journey. From as early as high school, she set her sights on becoming a math professor, diving deep into career research and seeking out mentors. Her journey underscores the value of being proactive—interviewing those in your chosen field and participating in career-prep activities even before entering college. Choosing a graduate program is a process itself. Eliza Hogan highlights the need for thorough research, weighing program size, funding opportunities, and the community atmosphere. Her experience demonstrates the significance of mentorship and peer advice: consulting professors and older students helped her refine her list and ultimately led her to discover Wesleyan, a place that fit her academic needs and personal aspirations. Transitioning from undergraduate to graduate life can be daunting, and Eliza Hogan candidly discusses the increased demand for self-motivation and the need to build your own support systems. The episode touches on imposter syndrome, a common hurdle in academia, and how reaching out to mentors and supportive peers is critical for overcoming self-doubt. Balance is another central topic. For Eliza Hogan, establishing a sustainable routine—including fitness, social time, and healthy eating—was essential to her wellbeing and academic success. She also shares how being a teaching assistant not only supported her education financially, but also enriched her preparation for a career in academia. Whether you're in STEM or another field, the advice to maintain passions outside your studies and build resilience resonates. Real, honest stories like Eliza Hogan's make this episode a must-listen for anyone contemplating or living the graduate school experience. Tune in to this insightful episode to gather practical strategies, hear firsthand experiences, and feel empowered to carve your own path to success in grad school!   TRANSCRIPT Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:01]: Welcome to Victors in Grad School, where we have conversations with students, alumni, and experts about what it takes to find success in graduate school. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:11]: Welcome back to Victors in Grad School. I'm your host, Dr. Christopher Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan Flint. Really excited to have you back again this week. As always, every week, we have an opportunity to work together to work through this journey that you're on, because it is a journey. Every person that is thinking about graduate school is going through their own personal journey. And I call it a journey because from no matter where you are, there are things that you can do to be able to not only prepare yourself, but really prepare yourself for success sooner. And a lot of people don't think about that ahead of getting into a program. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:49]: And sometimes you wait until you get in the program, and then you're like, I wish I would have known. And that's why this podcast exists. It exists to help you to be able to start thinking about graduate school sooner, or if you're in graduate school, to jump right in and help you as you're working toward that, that light at the end of the tunnel that's going to help you to find that success that you want in that journey that you're on. And every week, I love being able to introduce you to different people with different experiences that can share their own experiences with you. Sometimes they're, they're in graduate school. Sometimes they've been out of graduate school for a bit of time. And no matter what their journey has been, they are sharing their own experiences with you to help you define that success. And today we've got another great guest. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:37]: Eliza Hogan is with us, and Eliza is a past University of Michigan Flint graduate, but she is currently working on her PhD in mathematics at at Wesleyan University. I'm really excited to be able to have her here and for her to share some of her own experiences with you. Eliza, thanks so much for being here. Eliza Hogan [00:01:55]: Of course. Thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited to talk today with you. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:02:00]: Well, I'm really excited to have you here as well. And I said that you are in a PhD program at Wesleyan University. And I know that you finished off your bachelor's degree in mathematics From the University of Michigan Flint back in 2024. And then you went on and you decided at some point in that journey while you were going through undergrad that you weren't done. You wanted to continue on and work on the next step and moving to the next part of your journey. Bring me back to that moment where you said to yourself, I'm not done and I wanna move on. What was it that made you decide that graduate school was that next step for you? Eliza Hogan [00:02:39]: So honestly, we have to rewind a little bit more because all the way back when I was a freshman in high school, I went to the Genesee Early College High School. I don't know if you've ever heard of that, but it's actually a high school that's based on the U of M Flint campus, an early college program. And back all the way in 9th grade in 2018, I think, I was doing a career readiness thing. You know how you do in high school, they tell you, okay, let's figure out what type of career you might want, and you have to kind of do assignments. I think I had to write a paper about what career I wanted and all the steps you have to take for it. And at the time, I knew that I liked teaching math, and I knew I really liked math in general, but I kind of knew I maybe didn't really want to teach like young kids, and even high school didn't sound too appealing to me. So I just thought, okay, I'll just become a math professor, you know, 14-year-old Eliza, how hard can it be to become a math professor? So in my research, I figured out, okay, I need a math PhD in order to become a professor of math. So, okay, that's what I'm going to do. Eliza Hogan [00:03:42]: And actually, For part of that assignment, I was required to interview someone that was in the career field, and I actually was able to interview— my brother was a student at U of M Flint taking math classes, and he had Dr. Caulfield. He's one of the math professors at U of M Flint. He's amazing. And so I actually did an interview with him way, way back and got some answers about what it's like to be a math professor. So all the way back in high school is when I decided I wanted to So you Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:04:11]: started way back then, and you're going through your undergraduate work. You continue moving toward that goal. You're getting toward the end of your degree, and you still are moving toward that goal. And just like when you're trying to decide where you're going to go for your undergraduate degree, you have to do your research. You have to look around and identify what program seems like the best fit for you. And there are PhDs in mathematics programs across the nation, and you probably could have chosen to go in many different directions. different directions. You chose to go to Wesleyan University. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:04:44]: Talk to me about that search process for yourself and what you were looking for, but also what ultimately made you decide that Wesleyan was the right place for you. Eliza Hogan [00:04:54]: Yeah, so I started seriously doing research on which PhD programs I would apply to in my last year of undergrad, and I actually kind of just started— so there's something called the AMS Groupings for Mathematics, and it's basically a list of every single PhD/master's programs offered in the United States, and they give a ranking. I mean, it's— who knows how accurate that ranking is, but so they have like the top-ranked schools, maybe some middle-ranked schools, and I honestly just started there knowing that I didn't want to go anywhere too far from home. I didn't really want to go to the West Coast. That was a bit too far for me. So I'm kind of looking at Midwest, East Coast schools, and I think I had a list of, I don't know, 15 or 20 schools, and I made a Google spreadsheet listing all the things, did research on what kind of professors are at certain schools, whether or not the programs are fully funded, all these things. Because I knew I needed to go to a program that guarantees funding for anyone that they accept because it wasn't an option for me to not be funded financially. And so actually, I think the first pass I had of schools, Wesleyan was not on there because I had really never heard of it. And so what I did was I was working very closely with Dr. Eliza Hogan [00:06:09]: Cameron McLeeman, the head of the, you know, Natural Sciences Division. At the time, I think he was just like the head of the math department. He's great. I worked with him a lot, and I showed him my list, and he was like, okay. He kind of helped me refine it— which ones of these are maybe too high of a reach, you know, maybe I won't be getting into MIT, those sorts of things. And he kind of just off the hand was like, oh, you should add Wesleyan to your list, because he works really closely and does research with one of the professors here at Wesleyan. And he was like, oh, they have a really good program and I know one of the people there, you should add that to your list. And

    From UM-Flint to Wesleyan: Eliza Hogan's Path to Success in Grad School

  4. Oct 26

    Maintaining Healthy Relationships During Graduate School

    Pursuing a graduate degree is an exciting step for personal and professional growth—but it also comes with its own unique set of challenges. One of the most significant involves balancing the relationships in your life while meeting the intense demands of academia. The latest episode of the Victors in Grad School podcast, hosted by Dr. Christopher Lewis and guest Darien Wilkerson, dives deep into this crucial yet often overlooked topic. The Graduate School Juggling Act Darien Wilkerson, a CAPS counselor, introduces the concept that as graduate students, we're individuals first and students second. Graduate school doesn't happen in a vacuum—there are romantic relationships, family, friendships, personal time, and of course, academic responsibilities to juggle. Recognizing which areas of your life are receiving less attention is the first step toward positive change. Why Relationships Struggle During Graduate Studies The episode highlights a variety of stressors that graduate students face: assistantships, research deadlines, financial pressure, new social environments, and a lack of free time. These factors can take an emotional toll and make it harder to maintain meaningful connections. Darien Wilkerson points out that understanding why relationships become strained during this chapter is essential to managing the challenge. Tools for Healthy Communication Successful relationships rely on effective communication. Darien Wilkerson emphasizes the "Four C's": Clarity: Speak directly about your needs; avoid leaving room for assumptions. Consistency: Follow through with commitments. Compassion: Offer understanding when misunderstandings arise. Communicate with 'I feel' statements: This approach prevents conversations from becoming accusatory and promotes healthier resolutions. The episode also draws from the work of relationship experts John and Julie Gottman, describing unhealthy conflict patterns—criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling—and exploring much healthier antidotes. The Power of Boundaries Setting boundaries is not about rejecting those you care about—it's about creating a roadmap for how your relationships can thrive during busy times. The discussion encourages listeners to set boundaries around time, energy, and communication, while also offering alternatives to stay connected. Managing Expectations and Creating an Action Plan Open conversations are encouraged to renegotiate expectations with loved ones, shifting away from assumptions that create resentment. The key takeaway? Consistency is more important than frequency—regular, quality check-ins matter. The podcast closes with a reflective action plan, prompting you to identify one relationship to strengthen and consider which boundaries or expectations will help both you and your loved ones thrive. If you're a graduate student—or know someone who is—tune in to this insightful episode to discover practical strategies to nurture your most important connections, even during the busiest seasons of your academic journey. TRANSCRIPT Darien Wilkerson [00:00:01]: Welcome to Victors in Grad School, where we have conversations with students, alumni, and experts about what it takes to find success in graduate school. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:12]: Hello, good afternoon, and welcome. Thanks so much for being here today. I'm Dr. Christopher Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs here at the University of Michigan Flint, and really excited that you're here today to be able to delve a little bit deeper into things that you can do to be able to find success in this journey that you're on in graduate school. And today, I'm really excited to be able to have a friend from our CAPS office with us. Darien Wilkerson is with us. And we're going to be talking about a really important topic, a topic that I think a lot of graduate students do deal with throughout their time in graduate school. And especially for— it could be at the beginning, but it could happen any time during graduate school. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:55]: And that's really talking about the relationships that that you have. It could be relationships at school, but it could also be relationships at home. It could be a mixture of all of these. And it's important to be able to have coping mechanisms in place, things that you can do to be able to maintain those throughout so that you can stay healthy throughout your own experience as well. So I'm really excited that Darien is able to be here today. Feel free to use the chat today if you have any questions, throw them in there. We'll be monitoring that, but I will turn it over to Darien. Darien, thanks so much for being here. Darien Wilkerson [00:01:33]: Yeah, Dr. Lewis, thank you so much for allowing me to be here. So hello everyone who's able to be in attendance or will be watching. So like Dr. Lewis said, my name is Darien. I am a CAPS counselor here at University of Michigan Flint. Today we are gonna be talking about maintaining healthy relationships during graduate school. That's gonna be one of those hot topics. Darien Wilkerson [00:01:53]: We are individuals first, students second. So we are trying to figure out how do we hold balance in everything. So hopefully we'll be able to learn some things, you'll be able to take away some things today. So we're going to get into some quick objectives. So again, the goal is to help identify common interpersonal challenges that graduate students may experience while you're balancing everything, the academic life, the personal life, then the relationship demands. We're going to learn practical communication strategies, boundaries, boundary-setting practices, and ways to manage expectations in those relationships. Because Those are some of the hallmarks that we are going to be engaging in to try to make sure we're finding that balance. And then lastly, hopefully be able to reflect a little bit about your own personal relationships and start to develop a plan of action to try to promote or sustain some of those healthy habits. Darien Wilkerson [00:02:43]: So those are some of those learning objectives for today. So again, like I introduced, the idea of graduate school is not just school. You're not just going to the school and this is all you're doing. Once you leave the school, you are an individual first, meaning you have other responsibilities, and relationships in your life. And graduate school can impact all those friendships, family relationships, romantic partnerships, a lot of different working relationships, and also personal time and energy, all those kind of things. So choosing to go to graduate school is a beneficial thing for your professional lives, but can also be impacted on your— on a personal level. So the goal is to try to find some management there. So I hold this here kind of as the graduate school juggling act. Darien Wilkerson [00:03:29]: You are in the center. And then you have these different spheres, the academic world, romantic relationships, yourselves, which is your mental health, right? Your self-care. And then you have your family relationships and your friendships. So this is the time I just like us to kind of take maybe 10, 15 seconds to kind of reflect when you're at the height of your semester or even thinking about getting into the graduate program. What's one of these quadrants? Which one of these do you feel like gets The, I guess the leftovers you feel like is really getting impacted because you need to know where that is first in order for that area to grow. So again, take that 10 to 15 seconds, which one of these kind of make the most sense for you? And again, each one's going to have a different answer, but hopefully you can reflect and kind of take that with you as we're moving forward. So again, why do these relationships become difficult? You know, as you're thinking about your quadrant, you're thinking about, yeah, maybe my family life or romantic life, it gets a little bit chaotic. And like, why is that? So again, being immersed in graduate school, there's different responsibilities and demand. Darien Wilkerson [00:04:32]: So it's going to introduce assistantships, comprehensive exams, research deadlines, academic pressure, less free time, financial stress. You might have to relocate at some point in the program, even getting into the program. You might have had to have chosen to remove yourself from your social supports and go somewhere else. And that introduces new social environments. And again, unpredictability, uncertainty. when it comes to your schedule and your career, that everything is new, you're juggling a lot, and that can really cause some complications with how we are emotionally regulating with stress and how we are interacting with our people in our lives. So again, that's why relationships become difficult because school kind of becomes this main focus and then relationships are still your priority, but you may not have the same bandwidth as you typically do when it comes to managing those stressors. So it's kind of good to know why it does become difficult. Darien Wilkerson [00:05:24]: So again, as we're talking about ways to manage, and maintain healthy relationships. We're going to break it up into a couple of different categories. So the first one is communication. And yes, we all communicate, but are we really communicating at the same time? When we are in high distress with our demands of our graduate studies, we are going to come across a certain way that we probably don't even expect. So it's good to try to have healthy communication when we are navigating our graduate studies so our partners and our loved ones and our friendships can all understand that we are still trying to be our best selves with them. So The 4 C's, it's like I like to call it, it's important to keep in mind when we're communicating. Clarity, for one, you want to speak direct

    Maintaining Healthy Relationships During Graduate School

  5. Oct 19

    From Military Service to Pharmacy Leader: Tim Ekola's Path to Graduate Success

    On the latest episode of "Victors in Grad School," Dr. Christopher Lewis welcomes Tim Ekola, a pharmacist and accomplished leader, to share his inspiring journey through military service, pharmacy, and graduate education. Their conversation unpacks the evolving path of a lifelong learner, the power of relationships, and actionable advice for anyone considering the next step in their academic or professional journey. Embracing the Educational Journey Dr. Christopher Lewis opens the episode by acknowledging that everyone's educational journey is unique, filled with transitions and decisions that shape future success. Tim Ekola exemplifies this, having moved from military service to undergraduate studies, and eventually earning both a PharmD and an MBA. This nonlinear path serves as a powerful reminder that learning never really ends and it's never too late to pursue further education. Recognizing the Need for Growth Throughout his career, Tim Ekola noticed that progressing into leadership demanded more than clinical pharmacy skills—it required a broader understanding of management, finance, and organizational development. This realization prompted him to seek graduate programs that would equip him with the necessary tools to lead effectively. By emphasizing the importance of self-assessment and readiness to grow, the conversation encourages listeners to reflect on their own career needs and aspirations. Finding the Right Fit Selecting the right graduate program is crucial, and Tim Ekela shares his approach of evaluating options that align with a busy professional life. He highlights the importance of flexibility, supportive faculty, and a diverse peer group, praising the University of Michigan-Flint's MBA program for its blend of in-person and online opportunities and the varied professional backgrounds of his classmates. These factors contributed not only to his academic success but also enriched his experience, underscoring the value of environment and community. The Power of Relationships A significant theme is the importance of building relationships with peers, faculty, and mentors. Tim Ekola emphasizes that relationships are often more valuable than credentials alone when it comes to career advancement and personal fulfillment. The bonds he formed during graduate school continue to support him professionally and personally, offering opportunities and friendships that extend well beyond graduation. Advice for Aspiring Graduate Students The episode closes with practical advice for anyone considering graduate school: have honest conversations with family and employers, prepare financially, develop strong time-management skills, and persevere even when the workload feels overwhelming. Above all, building a supportive network is key. Ready for More? If you're contemplating graduate school or searching for inspiration to take the next step, this episode delivers honest insights and encouragement. Hear more about Tim Ekola's journey and get actionable tips by tuning in to this episode of "Victors in Grad School." Don't miss out on the wisdom that could shape your future! TRANSCRIPT Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:01]: Welcome to Victors in Grad School, where we have conversations with students, alumni, and experts about what it takes to find success in graduate school. Welcome back to Victors in Grad School. I'm your host, Dr. Christopher Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan Flint. Really excited to have you back again this week. And as always, every week, you and I are on a journey together. I call it a journey because it truly is a journey, because every person goes on a different path. To their education, to their future education. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:32]: And no matter where you are right now, you are on a journey to your future. And that's why you're here, because for you, you have decided that at some point in the future that you have an interest in continuing your education. This show is here to be able to help you, to be able to give you some hints, some tips, some tricks, some things that can help you in that journey to help you find success in graduate school. So whether you are at the very beginning and just starting to think about this, whether you've already applied, maybe you've already heard and gotten that admission decision, maybe you're in graduate school, doesn't matter. There are things that you can do right now as you are preparing, as you are getting ready, as you're going through graduate school to continue and have success in this journey that you're on. Every week, I love being able to bring you different guests, different people with different experiences that can help you to be able to see what they had to do in that journey to be able to find success for themselves. Today, I'm really excited to be able to have Tim Ekola with us today. And Tim is a pharmacist, but he also has had many different things that he has done over his life. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:37]: And I am really excited to be able to have him here to talk about his own journey in getting his education to share that with you. Tim, thanks so much for being here today. Tim Ekola [00:01:47]: Absolutely. My pleasure. Thanks, Chris. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:48]: Well, I'm really excited to be able to talk to you today. And I know that for you, you went to high school, but then after high school, you went into the military and you you served in the military for many years, and then decided that you were going to go and get that bachelor's degree. And you ended up getting a bachelor's and a doctorate degree at the same time, going and getting the pharmacy degree, and going to 2 different schools to ultimately get that. And then you went off and worked. And like many people, over the years, you used that pharmacy degree, you worked at many places, you also continued to serve in the military and worked in pharmacy there as well. And At some point in this professional journey that you went on, you found that you weren't done and that you wanted to continue your education. Bring me back to that point in your professional life. What was going through your head and what made you decide that you weren't done and that you wanted to continue your education? Tim Ekola [00:02:48]: That's a wonderful question. So as my career progressed, both in my profession as a pharmacist, as a clinical pharmacist, and working in hospitals for the most of my career, it mirrored actually my Navy Reserve career as I was progressing in leadership positions. And there are certainly many opportunities within the military and other, other volunteer organizations to gain leadership skills and put them into action. And so as I was gaining leadership responsibilities in the military, I found myself with the similar opportunities within my profession where I became a director of pharmacy at a small critical access hospital in Dowagiac, Michigan. Small hospital, 20-bed hospital. Didn't have my doctor of pharmacy at that point in time, but that was And so, as I moved on, I quickly understood that moving from a clinical role, understanding medications, evidence-based medicine, working with patients, was not the same as leading a department, as interacting with other healthcare professionals to run that department. And so, at that point, I did decide I was going to get a Master's of Public Health. As what happened, I actually, at Western Michigan, accepted that, and I then got notification that our unit was being deployed. Tim Ekola [00:04:06]: deployed to Germany. So for a year, we went over and supported the mission at Landstuhl Army Hospital as a Navy group. And but I never lost that understanding that I needed something else. And so after that mission was done, during that time, I actually stayed another 5 years as a civilian pharmacist doing medication safety for the Army. And I got my Doctor of Pharmacy degree during that time. Then we came back to Michigan in 2013, where I landed a position as Director of Pharmacy at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. Again, not having a graduate degree in business, but certainly understanding that it was a larger complex, obviously, than a small critical access hospital. And it was during that time that I knew that I needed to not just understand how the pharmacy runs, but I need to understand the big picture, the strategy. Tim Ekola [00:04:55]: I had to understand organizational development, to culture, to relationships with people, the HR side, the finance and budget, where my boss— I reported to the VP of admin. And, you know, There were some tough questions and I had help along the way, but I just, at that point, I knew I needed an opportunity to excel and sharpen the tools in my— and add some tools to my toolbox that I'd not had before. And that was kind of a turning point. And so I looked around and found that University of Michigan Flint certainly offered a working professional those opportunities. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:05:35]: Now you have 2 graduate degrees. So you went, you got a bachelor's in pharmacy, and then as you said, you went, you served, ended up continuing and getting the PharmD and then going and getting the MBA. And when you made the choice to go and get the PharmD, as well as getting the choice— making the choice to go and get an MBA, you had to do your research. You had to look and figure out, you know, what is the right program? What were you looking for? You know, what did you want out of these programs? I guess as you think back and you think back to that, search and that exploration that you went through yourself. Talk to me about what you were looking for, what ultimately made you choose first Shenandoah University for your PharmD degree, but then, as you mentioned, then the University of Michigan Flint for your MBA. Tim Ekola [00:06:26]: Yeah, many similarities between both decisions, and you're absolu

    From Military Service to Pharmacy Leader: Tim Ekola's Path to Graduate Success

  6. Oct 12

    Balance and Boundaries: Thriving in Graduate School

    Navigating graduate school is a rewarding but often challenging journey, filled with competing demands on your time, energy, and emotional wellness. In the episode "Finding Support and Setting Boundaries" from the Victors in Grad School podcast, Dr. Christopher Lewis is joined by Reilly Chabie, a counselor and outreach coordinator with Counseling and Psychological Services at the University of Michigan Flint, to break down what it truly means to find balance and set effective boundaries as a grad student. Reilly Chabie brings her expertise and a compassionate approach to guide listeners through understanding the unique pressures faced during graduate studies. She introduces the concept of the 8 dimensions of wellness – a holistic framework that includes emotional, physical, financial, environmental, spiritual, and other domains – and emphasizes how each area shifts in importance depending on one's priorities. When one area falters, others can quickly follow, making self-awareness and attentiveness to balance absolutely vital. A central theme in this episode is the reality of imbalance and burnout. Reilly Chabie normalizes these experiences, discussing how burnout can affect not only our physical health but also our mental clarity, motivation, and relationships. She reminds us that recognizing the signs of burnout early is crucial to resetting and rediscovering a sustainable equilibrium. The heart of Reilly Chabie's message is actionable: cultivate self-compassion and understand that balance is not a one-size-fits-all process. She encourages listeners to use self-checks to measure where their balance lies and adapt accordingly. Through tools like the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method and the practice of radical acceptance, students can regain presence and reduce overwhelm. Setting boundaries, a pivotal skill discussed in detail, is positioned as an act of kindness both to oneself and to those around us. Reilly Chabie walks through practical steps: define your personal limits, communicate them clearly, and reinforce them consistently—whether with friends, professors, or even yourself. The message is empowering: it's OK to say no, and even more, it's necessary for long-term success and well-being. If you're embarking on or searching for ways to thrive in graduate school, this episode is packed with expert advice, relatable stories, and practical tools. Tune in to hear how Dr. Christopher Lewis and Reilly Chabie tackle common struggles and provide resources and reassurance to help you maintain your balance (and sanity!) throughout your academic journey. Ready to reclaim your grad school experience? Listen now to "Finding Support and Setting Boundaries" on Victors in Grad School.   TRANSCRIPT Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:01]: Welcome to Victors in Grad School, where we have conversations with students, alumni, and experts about what it takes to find success in graduate school. Welcome everyone. I'm Dr. Christopher Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs here at the University of Michigan Flint. I am so excited to welcome you and to— I'm so excited for you to start your graduate school journey. Today we've got a really important topic, and I know I say that every time, but it is true. This is another really important topic. Today we have a new friend with us that is going to be talking about another important topic. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:37]: Reilly Chaby is with us, and Reilly is talking about the importance of finding support and setting boundaries. Where is that limit for yourself and being able to set those limits for you and for other people that know you? Because it's not just you. You have to be able to set the limits to be able to set those parameters for yourself to be able to be successful in graduate school. And Reilly's going to be talking to you about that. So I'm really excited to have her here. I'm gonna turn it over to her. Reilly, thanks so much for being here. Reilly Chabie [00:01:05]: Welcome in. I am grateful to be here. Thank you for the introduction, Dr. Lewis. As he mentioned, my name is Reilly Chaby. I am one of the CAPS counselors and the outreach coordinator for Counseling and Psychological Services. And as mentioned, I'm here to talk to you today about really finding that balance as you are a grad student here at U of M Flint, because we have a lot going on in our personal lives, in our work lives, in our school lives. So we're gonna talk a little bit about what to consider, how to notice when you feel out of balance in certain aspects, although I'm sure we already do to some respect. Reilly Chabie [00:01:39]: And I'm going to give you some tips and ideas on how you can kind of maintain that balance while you're here pursuing your degree. What I'm going to be talking to you about applies to all of our experiences. And the unique part about this is that we're going to talk about that individual experience, right? So I appreciate you interacting and kind of telling me a little bit about where you're at. And I'm hoping that Any part of this conversation today will be applicable to your experience. So quickly, I'm just going to kind of go over some of the things that we're going to talk about. So first and foremost, I'm going to do a little bit of an introduction on the 8 dimensions of wellness. This is a huge factor in U of M Flint's focus on health and utilize the 8 dimensions of wellness to really create and supplement the outreach events that we have and the things that are there for your use as you are part of this process. So I'm going to talk a little bit about that and how that applies to balance. Reilly Chabie [00:02:34]: We're going to talk about balance itself. What does that mean? What does it feel like to be unbalanced? Those types of things. And then we're going to talk a little bit about those tips and tricks as well. We're also going to shift into a particular type of approach that can really help in maintaining balance, and that's going to focus on boundaries. So what are boundaries, examples of boundaries, and tips on how we want to engage with those. And then in summary, we'll talk about just some general last thoughts, some resources on campus, and a couple of things that CAPS has going on that you might want to partake in as you start your journey here at U of M Flint. So getting started on the 8 dimensions of wellness, as you can see here, this is a very excellent depiction of the different areas that we can kind of break our wellness down into, right? So we have our emotional wellness, physical wellness, financial wellness. We're even considering environmental wellness, right? Spiritual wellness. Reilly Chabie [00:03:33]: And all of these different parts of the puzzle or slices of the pie, if you will, impact us differently depending on what area we feel like we want to move toward, or I guess better be better acquainted with, right? So for example, I might focus heavily on my emotional wellness, right? And that kind of makes sense as a clinician, I might be focused pretty heavily on that. But for some of you folks that are focused on starting your program you might focus on maybe your intellectual wellness, right? Maybe it's your financial wellness. We all kind of prioritize these different pieces in different ways. But what's really core to the 8 dimensions of wellness is that all of these parts serve the whole person. And what we tend to notice is that when one area of the dimensions of wellness is faltering or we're struggling to kind of maintain some consistency with it, we notice that other areas start to kind of stress and ultimately suffer as we try to navigate some of the other areas. Now, it's gonna be normal for our approach to focus in one area over the other, prioritize one area over the other, just depending on the situations that we have in life. But what's really kind of critical is we wanna be mindful of when we're giving too much attention in one place and how that ultimately is affecting the other areas of our wellness. Ultimately, as we kind of look through the rest of our conversation, you might, in the back of your head, start to think about, oh, as I'm, let's say, in October of my program, I'm realizing that my physical health and my wellness there is not doing it. Reilly Chabie [00:05:23]: I'm really struggling with this and I have had a hard time taking care of that, which ultimately might lead to challenges in, let's say, your intellectual or environmental health, depending on what we prioritize and what we need to focus on. So keep that in mind and kind of think about this wheel a little bit as we go through the rest of our, our conversation, simply because we want to make sure that you know what areas you want to focus on, and that will likely help you consider what resources on campus you'll likely want access to, or at least keep in mind as you keep moving forward. So Let's consider balance. As I mentioned, we talked a little bit about how those 8 dimensions of wellness, if we're paying attention to them and kind of engaging in them and moving toward them in some way, we're typically creating some sort of balance in the process. However, balance shifts. It can kind of go up and down. It just depends on what the situation is. But I want to take a second and I want you to think about The types of responsibilities and roles that you have in your life. Reilly Chabie [00:06:33]: Now, I'll point out a couple of basic ones. You're going to be a student. You're likely a friend. Maybe you're a significant other. Maybe you're an employee. There's lots of different roles that we take on. I don't know if other people have thoughts on their roles. I always like to mention that I'm a dog parent or I'm a cat parent. Reilly Chabie [00:06:52]: I can insert other various roles that are unique to my experience that I am regularly engaging in. That I regularly pay attention to and I try to prioritize. But if we take that into

  7. Oct 5

    Understanding and Conquering Imposter Syndrome in Graduate School

    In the latest episode of Victors in Grad School, Dr. Christopher Lewis and Darien Wilkerson tackle a challenge nearly every graduate student faces: imposter syndrome. Through a thoughtful conversation, the episode explores what imposter syndrome looks like, why it happens, and—most importantly—how you can manage it to foster success throughout your graduate experience. Defining Imposter Syndrome Right from the start, Darien Wilkerson clarifies that imposter syndrome isn't a mental health disorder, but rather a common "thinking error"—a cognitive distortion that leads capable, accomplished people to doubt their worth or believe their success is due to luck. If you've ever questioned whether you truly deserved an achievement, wondered when others would "find out" you're not as competent as they think, or attributed accomplishments to external factors, you're not alone. Many students, regardless of their background or experience, feel this way at some point. Recognizing the Signs and the Cycle The conversation delves into the broader impacts of imposter syndrome: chronic anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, and the need for external validation. Darien Wilkerson draws attention to how these feelings can create a repeating cycle—doubt leads to over-preparation, achievement brings only brief relief, and then the process repeats itself. Crucially, the episode discusses different "types" of imposter syndrome, based on research by Dr. Valerie Young: the perfectionist, the expert, the soloist, the natural genius, and the superhuman. Recognizing your own tendencies in these categories can be the first step to addressing them. Why Does It Happen? Many factors contribute: family and cultural expectations, pre-existing mental health challenges, negative comparisons to others, new or unfamiliar environments, and even being part of a minority group in an academic setting. Understanding the root causes can help frame your feelings and set the stage for effective strategies to manage them. Practical Strategies for Management Most empowering, the episode offers actionable steps for listeners. Darien Wilkerson encourages acknowledging feelings without judgment, challenging negative self-talk, celebrating accomplishments (even small ones), and embracing a growth mindset. Simple exercises—like naming your achievements or reframing negative thoughts—can shift your perspective and boost confidence. Listen and Grow This episode isn't just an exploration—it's a toolkit for students, offering both understanding and real-world steps to thrive, not just survive, in grad school. If you've ever struggled with doubt or the pressure to be perfect, tune into this episode of Victors in Grad School for practical guidance and a reminder: you absolutely belong. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:01]: Welcome to Victors in Grad School, where we have conversations with students, alumni, and experts about what it takes to find success in graduate school. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:11]: Tonight we're going to be talking about the imposter syndrome and understanding imposter syndrome. It's definitely something that most graduate students are going to have happen to them at some point, and it's important to have some some hints, some tricks, some things that you can do to be able to prepare yourself, but also to know what to do when it happens. And I'm excited to be able to have another colleague friend from our university here. Darien Wilkerson is with us. Darien is with our Counseling and Psychological Services Office. You're also gonna hear it called CAPS, and that is our Counseling and Psychological Services Office on campus. And they're here to support you. And I know that Darien will talk about that as well. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:54]: So I'm gonna turn it over to Darien. Darien, thanks so much for being here tonight. Darien Wilkerson [00:00:57]: Yeah, likewise. Thank you, Dr. Lewis. And again, welcome everyone who's about to be joining U of M Flint in your graduate studies here. So my role this evening is just going to be walking you guys through understanding imposter syndrome just a little bit. So having a little bit more context, ideas, and some strategies, because like Dr. Lewis said, at some point, whether that's in the program or beyond, we're going to potentially navigate Or go through our own process of this phenomenon, right? And just trying to figure out how do we work through it? What do we do? So we will jump into that. So some quick learning objectives. Darien Wilkerson [00:01:35]: Again, we're gonna understand that defining that definition of imposter syndrome, identify those self-patterns associated with imposter syndrome. So as we're going through this PowerPoint, start to really reflect on yourself currently. What could be possible? What's currently happening right now? Getting into graduate program in itself can feel like that too, right? So just really start to reflect currently where you're at and just kind of examine those factors that contribute to self-doubt and perceived inadequacy. Going to learn a little bit about applying those strategies to challenge imposter thoughts and reframing those negative self-talk, and then ultimately learn to develop those healthier approaches to success. And hopefully trying to get more self-compassion, growth, and recognition of your current accomplishments and future accomplishments. So I will try to stay mindful of the chat in case there's questions that kind of come through. Hopefully with time we'll be able to get to some questions, but just let everyone know I am trying to stay mindful of that. So feel free to kind of put those in the chat when it comes to mind. Darien Wilkerson [00:02:40]: But I just want to set the stage for us. As we're kind of talking about imposter syndrome, I think it's fair for us to get into a headspace, right? So I start with this slide. Have you ever— these are some of the go-to questions, right? Felt like you didn't deserve an accomplishment? Wondered when someone would realize you weren't capable of something? Attributed your success to luck or good timing? Or you felt like everyone else knew what they were doing except you? These are really the starting blocks of questioning that we put on ourselves that makes imposter syndrome start to become active. So it's good to recognize, man, do I really say this to myself? Are these common themes of questioning that I do? And if so, how do we start to start— how do we start to address those things now so they don't move into an introduction of imposter syndrome? So let's get into a little bit of the definition. So imposter syndrome is a psychological cognitive distortion. That's a fancy word, but it's basically just saying a thinking error. We all have thinking errors. They come up from time to time. Darien Wilkerson [00:03:50]: But really, imposter syndrome is not a mental health disorder or a challenge. It's just a thinking— how we're thinking, how we're processing something, right? And that involves feelings of self-doubt. Inadequacy, personal incompetence, and that persists despite the education, experience, or accomplishments that you already have. So it's really this thing that says you're not capable when there's so much evidence that says the opposite, right? It's like I said, a large amount of people will probably experience that within their life, and it's not a diagnosable mental health challenge. This is something that we could go through depending on various different factors. So how does it present? That questioning on the last slide is typically how it starts. So it starts to— it starts with questioning ourselves. We have negative self-talk, which is more so just like really saying negative things about ourselves on a regular basis. Darien Wilkerson [00:04:46]: Inability to internalize accomplishments. So maybe if you're hearing an accomplishment, you might start to question or doubt it. And that continues that feeling of inadequacy, right? Because we don't leave room for Positives. So those are quick definitions, quick, you know, symptoms, if you will, when it comes to what imposter syndrome can look like. So future concerns. So this is happening on a regular basis. What are some of these concerns long term if we don't find management? So that imposter syndrome can lead to anxiety, you know, where we have high levels of chronic anxiety. Because we're questioning everything, right, and our capabilities. Darien Wilkerson [00:05:28]: Depression, low mood can come up. Burnout, overworking, meaning you might have to feel like you have to prove yourself. So in proving yourself, you're working more and more and more just to try to, you know, show people I am worthy, I am capable. And that could potentially lead to burnout, overworking. That also leads to perfectionism. You don't really have a lot of room or space to want to make mistakes because if you don't feel like you belong, You feel like you constantly have to be perfect. So perfectionism can be a challenge or a concern. And then external validation, you might be craving that external validation all the time. Darien Wilkerson [00:06:07]: And that could be good or bad, right? And how that shapes us. Self-sabotage, right? So we might quit a job. We may not want to pursue the degree that we want to pursue because we feel like we just aren't able to do it. That can lead to procrastination because procrastination typically is trying to protect us from failure, right? So we delay starting something in fear of us potentially failing that thing. And then self-criticism and low self-esteem, they kind of unfortunately go hand in hand together. But this is talking about our image. How do we view ourselves? And how are we talking to ourselves on a regular basis? So those are some of those feature concerns when we talk about imposter syndrome, which is really important that we're We're trying to

  8. Sep 28

    Jumpstart Your Graduate Journey: Faculty Tips for Success and Connection

    Are you setting out on the next step of your academic career? Whether you're a prospective student or already admitted, the journey into graduate school can feel both thrilling and daunting. In the recent episode of "Victors in Grad School," host Dr. Christopher Lewis gathers a powerhouse panel of UM-Flint faculty—Dr. Amy Yorke, Shelby Newport, and Dr. Mohamed Mkaouer—to share insight, encouragement, and practical advice for students about to embark on this transformative chapter. Curiosity, Openness, and Risk-Taking: Keys to Thriving One of the major themes in this candid conversation is the power of curiosity. Shelby Newport highlights how students who approach their studies with an open mind and a "thirst for knowledge" get the most from both their coursework and their relationships with faculty. Every panelist underscores the value of taking risks—introducing yourself to professors, trying new things academically, and stepping outside your comfort zone. Dr. Amy Yorke expands on the idea of risk-taking, urging students to be proactive in making connections and embracing discomfort as part of growth. Rather than seeing new challenges as obstacles, the panel encourages reframing them as opportunities to become stronger, more resilient scholars. Building Meaningful Faculty Relationships A standout point from the episode is the importance of genuine interaction between students and faculty. Whether you're studying in-person or online, building connections early makes it easier to ask for help, gain mentorship, and tap into career opportunities down the line. The panel advises introducing yourself, participating actively, and reaching out even when things are going well—not just when you're struggling. Embracing Support and University Resources Graduate school is demanding, but you're never alone. The faculty share practical recommendations for time management, advocating for starting strong, using campus resources (like counseling and library services), and communicating openly when life hits a rough patch. The Bigger Picture: Growth, Balance, and Belonging Perhaps most powerfully, the episode reminds listeners that while grad school brings new pressures, it's also about self-discovery, finding balance, and developing a community of learning. Both vulnerability and persistence are celebrated as essential ingredients for success. Ready for more inspiration and concrete advice as you begin your graduate school adventure? Tune in to "Victors in Grad School" and let these expert voices guide you toward a fulfilling and successful graduate experience. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:01]: Welcome to Victors in Grad School, where we have conversations with students, alumni, and experts about what it takes to find success in graduate school. Hello, welcome. Thank you so much for being here today. I'm Dr. Christopher Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan Flint. Really excited that you're here today for the first of a number of sessions that we lovingly call our Jumpstart Orientation. It is a way for us to be able to help you to make that jump start into graduate school. And I am so excited to be able to kick off with a few of our faculty members that are joining us today to be able to talk to you about jumping into graduate school, what it's like, what to expect when you get to here for your classes, and to be able to help you in this journey that you're on. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:54]: I've got 3 of my friends with me tonight, Dr. Amy Yorke from our physical therapy program, Shelby Newport from our Arts Administration program, and Dr. Mohamed Mekawer from our Artificial Intelligence— no, yes, Artificial Intelligence program. I'm like, wait a minute, I just lost it for a second. I am so excited to have all 3 of them here today and be able to moderate a conversation with them. But what we want to do is engage with you too. So this opportunity is going to be, I'm gonna ask them some questions that I've prepared, but then really, if you've got questions, throw 'em in the chat. And we're, you know, no questions off bounds. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:41]: We want to answer your questions tonight to be able to help to demystify what it's gonna be like and to help you to better get yourself prepared. So, so my friends, thank you for being here. Really appreciate it. Shelby Newport [00:01:55]: Thank you. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:55]: And I'm going to kick this off by asking a question to all 3 of you. From your perspective, what separates graduate students who really thrive from those who struggle in graduate school? Shelby Newport [00:02:09]: Who wants to kick it off? Should I jump in? Dr. Amy Yorke [00:02:12]: Go ahead, Shelby, and then I'll follow up after you. Shelby Newport [00:02:14]: Great. Um, hi all, welcome. Um, like Dr. Lewis said, I'm Shelby Newport. I'm a costume designer and in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts in the area of theater, which is where arts administration sits. And what separates our graduate students, I think, might be the same as all graduate students, which is this curiosity and a willingness. And so you come in the classroom and you know you're not the smartest person in the room. You act like you're not the smartest person in the room, and you're there with this curiosity for Like, bring it. Shelby Newport [00:02:51]: What is it gonna be? And I'm ready for it because I just have this like thirst for knowledge. And those are the students that get the opportunities to work alongside faculty more often, who get the opportunities for the faculty member to say, that paper was so great and had so much in it. I want you to submit it to this conference and come alongside and present with me. Like, those extra opportunities come to those with that. Dr. Amy Yorke [00:03:19]: Gonna add to that with that curiosity is the risk-taking. So being willing to introduce yourself to the faculty member face-to-face is really powerful, but even an email has meaning as well. Being willing to kind of take that risk of stepping out of your comfort zone. So even if you have never like engaged in research, but you're curious about it, of saying, you know, are there any projects that you're working on? projects that you need help or assistance with. Any of those things of taking risk. Because if you're not feeling uncomfortable, you're not growing, and graduate school is going to push you to grow. And you'd rather have it— you'd rather have you kind of leading that a little bit with some pushing versus being pulled all the time, because that becomes really, really hard. So just adding on to Shelby's curiosity, I would add taking risk. Dr. Mohamed Mkaouer [00:04:20]: All right, so I guess it's my turn. So hello everyone, good afternoon, and it's my pleasure to talk about to you about my experience. So my name is again Mohamed Makour. I'm actually from the computer science background, so I direct software engineering and AI. And I will probably, to add to what Shelby and Amy were saying, I'll talk about my experience, right? So when I did my bachelor degree, I was looking for a degree to get a job. When I went out for my master's, I was looking for opportunity. I wasn't looking for a degree. I already have one. Dr. Mohamed Mkaouer [00:04:51]: I already have a job. And I've already seen a lot of problems in industry where I was working. And I realized that I need to develop some skills that are needed for me to go to the next level, to upscale my career, right? So the master's program was not a degree that I was seeking. It was an opportunity for me to develop better skills that can help me be better in what I do as a software engineer back then. And then I realized I enjoyed that kind of problem solving so much that I have to also continue with the PhD level, right? So, so to me, grad school is where you realize, okay, this is where I am right now in my career. Can I do a shift? Can I improve it? Can I go deeper into some topic that I think I enjoy the most, but I don't have the appropriate skills for? And that's how you kick off your master's degree. To me, this is how you succeed on it because You are actually now driving your own decision on where you want to specialize versus you are, as in the bachelor's, taking a bunch of courses just because you want to have a degree and you have no background, right? This is how— this is my perception of a successful, you know, graduate school. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:05:55]: How should students approach their first few weeks of graduate school to get off to a strong start? Dr. Mohamed Mkaouer [00:06:03]: What advice would you give to students who are struggling with time management? Dr. Amy Yorke [00:06:08]: I would encourage students to review the course syllabus and start to put down dates in your calendar of when things are due, and knowing that you have a life outside of school. So depending on if you're a full-time student or part-time student, right, we're all very, very busy. And so establishing like, this is when things are due, so you can start to plan your other activities or make adjustments adjustments or changes, I think it's really important. And I always encourage students to start strong, like study more at the beginning than perhaps what you think you need, because you don't want to find yourself like in a hole. So in the physical therapy program, our majority of our students are full-time, and the hard thing is, is when they have study habits that they used in undergrad and they believe that those study habits will continue to serve them, such as waiting to study for an exam until the night before. And then And then they realize that does not serve them well, and they find themselves in a hole. You don't want to find yourself in a hole. So knowing what your schedule is and perhaps studying and being engaged in the content more upfront builds success

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Victors in Grad School explores what you can do to find success in your own graduate school journey no matter what you plan to do. Through experts and individual interviews you will be introduced to what it means to find success and tips on achieving success in graduate school.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Christopher Lewis
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    223
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Victors in Grad School

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