I cannot believe I am a first year graduate student at my university. Time sure does fly, but I am so excited for this new time in my life. I wanted to write a quick little blog post of ten things I think are important to keep in mind in order to succeed in school, specifically graduate school.
- Create a routine. In undergrad, routines were never something I had to worry about. I could stay out with friends until 2 a.m. on a Wednesday night and be able to completely function the next day during class. I took naps in between classes and was only concerned with class assignments and studying for tests. Graduate school is completely different. I have class two days a week, all day. Before my classes, I work as a graduate assistant. The other three days of the week, I am at the clinic. Having a daily routine has helped me not only stay on schedule, but it allows me to get enough sleep, eat proper meals, and have time to study and work on homework, lesson plans, and therapy notes. I would not be able to survive graduate school without my daily routine.
- Purchase a lunchbox. I am so busy throughout the day that I have to pack my lunch in the mornings and bring it with me to campus and the clinic. When I was in undergrad, I could go to the cafeteria to grab a quick lunch or go out to eat with friends. As a graduate student, I do not have time to do this. Most of the time, I eat lunch quickly while working on something else. Lunch is not a free period anymore, so I would HIGHLY recommend purchasing a lunchbox.
- Be Organized. In order for me to stay organized, I write down everything I have to do in my agenda. Having deadlines and writing down everything has helped me stay organized. If you get behind in graduate school, you will be behind all year long. It is very difficult to "catch up" because graduate programs move at such a quick rate.
- Check Your Email Frequently. This year, my email has been blowing up almost every hour. Important emails are always being sent my way and it is so important that I check my email frequently so that I do not miss something important. I have my email connected to my phone so that I can access it easier. I would recommend connecting your school email to your phone!
- Ask Questions. It is so important to ask questions. I am finally at the point in my life where I am learning the skills to become a successful Speech-Language Pathologist. It is critical that I understand everything that I am being taught. Questions are so important and should be asked, no matter what they are.
- Study Every Day. The information taught in my graduate classes piles up quickly and it is important that I study every day so that I am well prepared for exams. I try and study at least thirty minutes every day and look over the material covered in each class. So far, I feel confident about my first exam. :)
- Exercising is Important. Even though I am SO busy throughout the week, I always find time to go for a walk outside. It is so important to get exercise and be outdoors in the fresh air. This is also the time where I can de-stress and enjoy the beautiful weather with some friends.
- Get Involved On Campus Outside of The Graduate Program. Some people would disagree with me on this point, but I think it is so important. I know I personally need a break during the week from everything graduate school. I am a part of an All-Female A cappella group at my university and I love being able to be a part of something on campus that is not related to what I am studying. It is important to be involved in the program, but it is also important to have a fun outlet. Not only does this provide me with an outlet from school but also an outlet to be creative and sing. I would highly recommend becoming involved in at least one thing on campus that does not have to do with your program of study.
- Socialize. Although studying, homework, and writing lesson plans are important, so is socializing with friends. Do not let yourself lose friendships in graduate school. I will admit that it is sometimes hard to balance both, but I always try to do as much as I can during the week days so that I can spend the weekends with family and friends. I promise you will not flunk out of graduate school just because you went to dinner with some friends one night. Just put the books down, take a break, and have some fun.
- Stay Positive. I cannot stress this point enough. There are times when I feel like I am so overwhelmed with school that I cannot go on. But, I remember why I am doing this and remind myself that I want to be the best Speech-Language Pathologist, and I pick myself up and keep going. Positivity goes a long way in graduate school. Be positive!
I hope you all enjoyed this post and I hope you can use some of these suggestions as the school year continues. Let me know in the comments below some of your school survival suggestions! Also, make sure to follow my blog by hitting the bloglovin' button on the side bar so that you stay updated on my blogposts.
xo,
Hannah
