By Shelina Adatia
‘Twas the night before grad school and as I lay in bed, imposter syndrome reared its ugly head. Was I smart enough? Did I belong? Surely, I’d be kicked out before long.
If you’re about to start grad school, some of these thoughts have likely crossed your mind. Rest assured – you’re not alone. We all have these thoughts from time to time – some of us just mask our insecurity better than others.
As a PhD candidate, I’m here to tell you that you absolutely do belong. Grad school is hard but as the expression goes, anything worth doing is worth working for. . So, how can you thrive in grad school? Below are a few tips I’d like to share:
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Surround yourself with friends and peers who lift you up – individuals who inspire you to do your best and who support you throughout the good, the bad, and the ugly with kindness and compassion.
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Establish ‘ME’ time early on. Working on evenings and weekends can easily become a habit unless you establish boundaries from the get-go. Your brain and body deserve a break so they can come back even stronger the next morning or next week.
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Create a Twitter account. #AcademicTwitter is one of the most supportive online communities out there – a must for anyone in grad school. You’ll also want to follow @thoughtsofaphd, @legogradstudent, @EducLang (of course), @uOttawaEdu and the ever-charming @shelina_adatia and @apbattistuzzi.
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Get involved. Whether it be a club, a student association, or a conference – it’s one of the best ways to make friends and/or further your knowledge of advancements in your field.
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Don’t lose sight of your end goal. Grad school is filled with ups and downs but if you keep your end goal in mind, you’ll find your way there.
So, on the eve of grad school, as you lay awake at night, know that everything will be alright.