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Show lessons, Fail 2006 page 5 mentors. But some don't help, and the students need to seek the help on their own," Froehlieh said. In the professors' defense, Avery said that, "the faculty is a mentor, a support, and critic." Yet, in order for the relationship to be effective, the student must make a commitment to speak and ask questions. Professors are not going to hunt down students. "If they choose to hide, they can hide," Avery said. Additionally, a mere willingness to help is not enough. "It's important to have an advisor who recognizes your strengths and weakness and who knows what works best for you," Froehlieh said. Similarly, a good advisor should not only know the student personally but also know what challenges the students academically. "My advisor has high expectations, but he is willing to help me meet those expectations," Baker said. Professors meet many students throughout their careers and may enjoy working with certain types of students. "I like to work with gifted minorities and show them there are available opportunities. Some of these minorities are very intelligent and deserving students, but their parents don't know about the opportunities and of the system and cannot be supportive," Dulfano said. To compensate, Dulfano said that she tries to provide as much information as she can. Similarly, Simons said that in the recent years he has worked with more females and enjoys helping these women be respected in science. Simons is so willing to help his students succeed that he used part of his Rosenblatt Prize award of $40,000 to create a research fund for his doctoral students. The student-advisor relationship requires effort that builds gradually, but once established, it is constantly growing. It is through the growth of a professional, and yet personal, relationship with advisors and professors, that the student can find words of wisdom that make daily life as a graduate student a little more manageable and help graduate students be continually motivated. Surviving Day by Day Students have intensely busy schedules: courses, teaching, research projects, studying, and some have families. After weeks, months, and years, it can be physically exhausting. This is a typical day for Wieser: "I get up at 6 a.m. Then, I study for a couple of hours, go to my classes, teach classes, and finally go home for the day." Keeping a balance becomes hard. The cliche "work hard, play hard" becomes important in maintaining motivation and reducing burnout. "I think I went to a movie and concerts once or twice a month," White said. "It is important to take a day off and do something unrelated to school," Wieser said. When students take that time for themselves they can refocus on their studies, and it relieves some of the stress. Living healthily also helps. Sleeping and eating well are important, Wieser said. For Baker, it is about what he will achieve after making such sacrifices. He said that not being able to see an end can cause him to lose some motivation. But then, he reminds himself, "one day it will be over. I've been in school a long time ... I look forward to it, and if I can't see that, it gets frustrating." A Tedious Process It is difficult enough to keep a certain standard of motivation once in a graduate program but the lack of motivation can start with the application process. Justin Myers, a graduating senior, is currently applying to architecture school and is excited about all aspects of making the transition into graduate level studies, all but the application process itself. "The process, even to apply, becomes so difficult, and you become less excited," he said. "It does not have to be difficult," said Courtney Reeser, Graduate Executive Secretary for the Department of Languages and Literature. The process can be simplified if applicants contact the right people. "The graduate secretary should be the first contact when putting an application," Reeser said. When specific questions arise, the graduate secretary can refer students to the graduate adviser. "Students make it more involved than it has to be and ignore the staff interaction," she added. Myers is an example of that. Once students are admitted, the graduate secretary continues to provide information. "I make sure they are [placed] with the appropriate faculty to assist them ... act as intermediates between the students and faculty regarding concerns and complications," Reeser said. Dulfano thinks that is just as it is important to contact the graduate secretary, it also is important to look at the program's environment. "You want an environment that is conducive to you feeling comfortable," she said. Myers already knows what environment he wants. He wants an environment that will teach him a profession. "[In architecture programs], the focus is on preparation for the profession and marketable skills, instead of ideas," he said. "I would like it [graduate work] to be less different than undergraduate work with less emphasis on grades and more on improving your skills and preparation for the real world." All Worth It? Graduate school is mentally and physically challenging, and there are going to be good and bad days. The few bad days will go away, but hopefully, it is the many good days that will be kept in the students' memories. As Baker said, "The things you work hard for are always more rewarding." Maintaining motivation through interaction with faculty and other students along with a strong sense of personal identity and purpose may define success or failure in an academic career. |