GWC would like to welcome our new graduate students another fresh welcome! We are happy you have chosen our too-cool school in the lovely, I.E. (aka Inland Empire) to do your graduate work. As you continue your academic journey, it is important to realize the sort of life you are entering into. Some of you have already been in graduate school for some time now, and are just continuing your adventure here at UC Riverside. Nonetheless, most of us are pursuing this path because we are interested in a particular subject and topic and have decided to take a few years – and perhaps the rest of our lives – to learn about it. While some folks are hard-wired in a certain way and, even before graduate school, are constantly inquisitive and learning about different topics all their life (which may just mean graduate school is perfect for you), graduate school is a new playing field for some of us. We realize there is A LOT to learn still. At least, that's how I felt. 

When I got to UCR, I met up with a professor who is now my advisor and had a helpful conversation with him. He listened to me share some of the ideas I had about my studies and we bounced some ideas off of each other. Yet, while we discussed ideas, he also reoriented my focus. He knew that I had coursework for the next two years and suggested that I read and learn as much as I could. He said: “Welcome to the life of the mind.” Really, he was telling me: welcome to a life of learning. As I look back, during this learning process in grad school, there has been much exploring, training, quietness, and progress with the help and guidance of my academic advisors. As you begin your academic journey here, I would like to share with you, from my point of view, the sort of life you will be entering as you begin your studies. 

Exploring

On the one hand, there is some academic freedom depending on the field in which you are working. In graduate school, we are allowed to explore topics that interest us. Yet, at the same time, we have our advisors' practical and necessary guidance. In this balanced situation, we can explore topics to some degree. During my coursework period, I had to take mandatory and useful courses in my department, yet I was also able to explore topics of interest. In hindsight, this provided a healthy balance between fundamentals and exploration. Though every department is different, the two years of coursework in my program were created to allow students to explore topics that interest them. Hopefully, there is some degree of exploration in your department. Exploration requires curiosity and strong interest; thus, it remains essential to learning. In a sense, it's the thrust of much of our learning energy. Yet, we also need some boundaries so we do not venture too far off – like this guy and end up lost at sea! For this, our advisors' and professors’ guidance is equally crucial. 

​​

[Image Description: A man paddle boarding in the middle of the ocean]

Training

The attitude of a trainee can work wonders. Such an attitude is to realize that I do not know something as I should, and I need to learn and practice it to improve. The mindset to be trained and re-trained when necessary creates optimal learners. Even when other abilities may be lacking, the ability of discipline will remain. Graduate school will also be an academic training in itself. It will require us to read and write a great deal. These repeated practices will only train and expand our mental capacities. Some programs also carry other training, whether in group work, leadership, fieldwork, public engagement, etc. In hindsight, often we realize there are more effective ways to do things. However, sometimes, it takes us longer to implement them. In the long run, such academic training should help us regularly carry out more effective measures. 

Quietness

Quietness may sound like an interesting point. Some folks may relate to this, and others may not. Our work will often get done in the quietest hours when no one is looking, and the world is rushing on. Graduate school is a commitment to learning, which sometimes requires solitude and quietness. Practically, it is tough to concentrate, read, and write complex ideas while surrounded by other distracting things. (Some people can study with noise around them and need it!) In other words, we will need quiet time to progress on our reading lists and other assignments. My encouragement is to carve out set hours to study each day where you can concentrate with no distractions.

[Image Description: A checklist getting checked off one assignment at a time]

Progress  

While we work on our school assignments and projects – and, in the long run, our dissertations – we will not have a boss constantly checking on us daily. In short, we will need to be accountable for our progress. In the long run, we want each day and week to count during graduate school. To ensure we are making progress in the long run, I would encourage you to set and schedule constant and measurable goals in your weekly routine. For example, how many pages or articles will I read this week? How many pages will I write this week? How many books will I read this quarter? How many times will I visit my advisor this quarter? How many times will I see my field site this month? With these goals before us, as we work to accomplish them daily and weekly, we will definitely make more progress. Of course, we will need time for breaks and moments of relaxation, but when work time comes, we must ensure we progress toward our academic goals. We wish you the best with your new beginning here at UC Riverside! We believe you will all do great and advance in your academic journey!