"Have babies in graduate school," a female professor suggested to me at a department seminar reception during my time in graduate school. She advised that graduate school is the best time for students pursuing an academic career to have their babies. A survey conducted by Harvard University shows more than one-in-twenty graduate students are also...
Why are boundaries important for graduate students? How is boundary-making a form of self-care? And, along these lines, what does it mean to be strategic? Before diving into these questions, I offer an anecdote about how I came to value the importance of boundaries. First-Year Lessons Coming into the Critical Dance Studies Ph.D. program, fresh...
Trauma is any harmful life experience leaving long-lasting effects on our physical, emotional, and social needs. Research indicates an alarming number of college students have experienced trauma in their lives. The learning process in traumatized students is significantly impaired since they spend most of their time and energy processing their trauma. Therefore, they do not...
We have all had the experience of trying to finish one task while having so many more tasks that need to be completed. We are so distracted by everything around us that it causes us to feel overwhelmed and even more stressed. Recently I watched a Ted Talk by Andy Puddicombe on the idea of...
When I was younger my mum and I loved to watch old movies together. One of our favorites was The Sound of Music. If you’re not familiar, The Sound of Music is a Rodgers and Hammerstein movie musical in which a free-spirited novitiate named Maria is asked to serve as a governess for a wealthy...
Fall of 2020 proved to be a big challenge for the entire graduate student body. Hours upon hours of screen time through Zoom or other platforms gave rise to a feeling of exhaustion and isolation. But fear not, for the Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC) is continuing our regular wellness programming in an online world...
[Image Description: A woman sitting at her kitchen table looking stressed, surrounded by dirty dishes, boxes, and papers.] Pictured: Likely a familiar scene at this point COVID-19 has had many effects on our lives and work. To prevent the spread of the virus, we must wear masks, maintain social distancing, not dine in restaurants, and...
Are you a new graduate student at UCR who is trying to build a supportive community? Are you a current graduate student at UCR who needs a break from managing classes, teaching, and research? Are you struggling to stay connected to the graduate student community while teleworking? Good news: GradSuccess is here to help you...
As a third-year graduate student, TA, and writing center consultant, making the sudden adjustment from working on campus to working at home has been more challenging than I expected. I am typically very organized, focused, and motivated, but I've discovered that there are a lot of distractions in this new work environment that, at times...
There is no denying the fact that the last few weeks have been rough for a lot of us. Between all classes moving online, social distancing physically separating us from everyone but our housemates, and the frustration of trying to find one single roll of toilet paper, our day-to-day can feel a little overwhelming. People...
It’s the start of our collective quarter in quarantine, and none of us really knows what to expect. Some of us are trying to find a respectable corner at home from which to Zoom a discussion section; others are having to rethink research projects that require supplies or travel that the COVID-19 pandemic has now...
For graduate students, the end of the year can be particularly tight financially. Not only do we have to budget for the second round of student fees (didn’t we just pay those last month?), but with the winter holidays, many of us find ourselves trying to balance gift-giving to family, friends, and partners with our...
Have you ever had students that needed extra help? Perhaps they were struggling with personal or academic situations. Or, perhaps they were disruptive in class while you were TAing or serving as a mentor. As a teaching assistant and mentor, you are in a position to serve as a critical resource for saving a student’s...
One of the most challenging aspects of being a graduate student is balancing self-care along with numerous responsibilities, such as classes, research, and teaching. Without self-care, we put ourselves at risk for prolonged stress and burnout. While self-care can look different for everyone, at its essence self-care is about incorporating routines rooted in your interests...
As a second-year international student at UCR, I can still remember how I used to feel uncomfortable living in Riverside because of both the weather and the campus environment. However, after being here for one year, I became more and more grateful for choosing to come here to study. Let me share with you what...
Whether it’s your first year in graduate school or you’re a seasoned graduate-school veteran, fall quarter can be overwhelming! Below are five tips to help you get off to a positive start this academic year: [ Image Description: A white seal pup nestles itself into the snow, turns to the viewer, and waves its paw...
There are many programs on campus to help students reduce their stress and balance their personal and academic life. However, sometimes, all we need to do is to get away from school and let nature soothe and heal us. One of the advantages of living in California is its variety of activities we can take...
