Written by Babak Saatchi
Coming to a new environment with cultural diversity, language barriers, differences in academic settings, and keeping up with a wide range of expectations can all act as stressors to an individual. As a result, it is central for new graduate students to have an individual development plan, to be more prepared for their upcoming adventure. These are just some of the things you may find useful in your graduate journey:
Determine your goals Every student may have different goals for their graduate studies. Therefore, you should never compare yourself to others. Your goals may range from joining academia as a research faculty and develop research experiences as a postdoctoral scholar to finding more practical positions like a job in the industry. Hence, select what you really desire. Once you determine your goals, you can create your individual development plan and develop the skills you need accordingly.
Ask for help It is crucial to seek help from the people around you. So, please do not be afraid to get help from them and ask about what you don’t know. From my experience, most of the people here would be happy to help you if they have the ability. For instance, peers from your home country, friends, classmates, academic advisors, student affairs officers, and campus-related resources (like librarians, writing counselors, international center, and counseling center). Meanwhile, you should be mindful of the fact that others will mostly give you a clue, and it will be you who is responsible for going ahead and getting things done. In other words, you will have the opportunity to be independent and expand your horizons.
Improve your language skills Some of you may find a new environment challenging due to language differences. However, you should know that it is completely normal, and it will probably take some time for you to adapt to these differences. There are various courses offered to enhance your English skills, which you can take after speaking with your advisor (https://www.humanities.uci.edu/ae/graduate/index.php). Moreover, being in the campus environment, spending time with your friends, watching movies, and listening to music on streaming services will all considerably promote your speaking and comprehension skills. In the meantime, making appointments with writing counselors we have at the writing center (http://www.writingcenter.uci.edu/) would be an asset in your academic journey.
Attend workshops and lectures One of the great ways to find friends and strengthen your communication skills is to participate in workshops and lectures. The Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholar Resource Center (https://grad.uci.edu/services/gpsrc/index.php) holds some certificate programs including Activate to Captivate, Mentoring Excellence Program, and Improv for Teaching, which can be of high value for new graduate students. In addition, there are several lecture series from UCI alumni (former students), which can help you gain more knowledge and learn from their experiences.
Enhance work/life balance Work/life balance happens when your personal life, professional life, and family life are all in equilibrium and not in contrast. As a graduate student, you may sometimes find yourself in a conflict between your different roles. The important thing is to be thoughtful about the fact that you need to have a balance between your work (i.e., your academic life) and your life (i.e., your personal life and recreational activities). It is an invaluable skill which you can master with practice. Thus, spend sufficient time on accomplishing your responsibilities as a graduate student while not neglecting your personal life. Contact academic counselors ( https://www.grad.uci.edu/spotlights/faculty/phong-luong.php), establish boundaries between work and life, and practice meditation and recreational activities (https://www.campusrec.uci.edu/yoga/yoga-day.asp).
Establish a good relationship with your advisor and your professors Having a good relationship with your advisor and professors plays a pivotal role in your future academic success. Here, graduate students can ask their questions, seek help, and participate in conversations in a direct, open, and convenient manner. So, there is no need to be shy because most professors would be happy to help you improve your skills, gain valuable experiences, and ultimately advance in your graduate adventure.
Babak Saatchi
BSN, Master of Science in Psychiatric Nursing, Doctoral Student of Nursing Science
Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine
References
Elland, A., Greenblatt, L. S., & Smithee, M. (2004). US culture series: US classroom culture, Association of International Educators. Retrieved February, 1, 2008.
Lee, D. J. (2014, October 27). 6 Tips For Better Work-Life Balance. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahlee/2014/10/20/6-tips-for-better-work-life-balance/#3ba50ca829ff.