Final project due dates are around the corner, classes are wrapping up, and I’ve (almost) completed my first semester of graduate school. In hindsight, the semester flew by; it seems just yesterday that I first stepped into the Heller-Schneider building, ready to attend my first day of orientation and nervous for what the semester would bring. I was worried that my previous academic and work experience would not be enough to prepare me for the rigorous coursework, and that my classmates would be miles ahead of me. Now it’s December, the weather is turning cold, the days are shorter, and winter break is just around the corner. Looking back on the past few months, I’m proud of what I have accomplished in such a short amount of time, and surprised that the semester is nearly over. But you know what they say, time flies when you’re having fun!Since beginning the Master of Public Policy program, I have grown both personally and academically. I have connected meaningfully with my classmates, gained so much insight from my professors, and pushed myself to dig deeper, think critically, and explore new topics. Grad school is challenging, not only in terms of workload, but also the new content, concepts, and deeper understanding of issues. In these challenging times, I found it immensely helpful to talk to my classmates about these new concepts and frameworks we explored in the classroom. Brainstorming and hearing others interpretations of some difficult, nuanced topics is paramount to success. The world does not exist in a vacuum, and the knowledge and insight of my classmates has been invaluable this semester.
Despite taking a year off from school, I was able to jump right back into the swing of things this fall. This is not to say the semester was easy; finding my rhythm and figuring out my busy schedule took time. Learning to balance my work load, jobs, commute time, and other obligations was almost as hard as my assignments! However, a busy schedule seemed to help me stay organized rather than be a hindrance. Once I found a routine, it was easy to set aside time to do my work rather than having an immense amount of free time. I found that a tighter schedule held me accountable to my work. It forced me not to procrastinate, stay on top of my readings, and be proactive, finding pockets of time to complete little chunks of my larger assignments.
I’m going to say it again: grad school is challenging. But it’s important that you don’t suffer in silence. Your classmates, TAs, and professors are there to help you, plus any other support system in your life. Ask them for advice, meet your professors at office hours, ask your TAs those silly-seeming questions during their office hours. That time is for you to learn and enrich your experience! Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, or even just pop in to chat with a professor about your interests or the class material. They want to hear from you!
A huge realization during this semester was not to tie my self-worth to my grades. All throughout undergrad, I was constantly stressed, hunting down that A+ and kicking myself if I scored anything below a 90 on an assignment or exam. During grad school, I have focused more on learning the material than chasing those A+s. Learning is easier if you focus on mastering the material rather than stressing yourself out, and I finally realized this after many, many years of my perfectionism getting the better of me. And guess what? I still have good grades!
Finally, grad school is very different from undergrad. The classes are more specialized, your peers (and you!) are more knowledgeable, and there is more time for discussion and less time for lecture. The assignments are fewer, with more emphasis placed on reading and understanding the material than clicking a “submit” button on the course webpage. At times, professors are more eager to hear from their students than present their class slides. In many classes, there is not a hierarchy of professor and students; the power dynamic is more egalitarian, and we all learn from each other.
After this first semester, I am even more confident in my choice to pursue an MPP at Heller. I am excited for what next semester will bring, and cannot wait to grow and learn with a supportive group of fellow MPP students and professors.