So it's official: I just finished my first year of grad school. Granted, it ended three days earlier than anticipated in the form of hectic and horrifying wildfires, but what's done is done. And what more? I survived. Here are a few lessons I learned along the way:
Lesson 1: Collaborate. The thing about grad school that is so fundamentally different from any other educational experience is the level of support from professors and peer colleagues. In undergrad, I felt lost in a crowd of overachievers and top performers in a research-based institution. In post-bacc, there was an "every man for himself" mentality because of the intense competition for graduate admissions. Perhaps my experience is specific to speech pathology, and if it is I am even more certain that this is the field for me. I do believe that collaboration is not only important but also resourceful as a speech pathologist, and I am eternally grateful for peers who blast email oral mech evals specific to dysphagia assessments or share study guides for final exams. Furthermore, I think it is so important to remember that peers will be future colleagues, so work on building and maintaining strong working relationships!
Lesson 2: Commit to memory. Remember in undergrad when course content could be purposefully (and easily) forgotten after each quarter? Well, this concept simply does not apply to grad school. In fact, it is the polar opposite because all course content should be committed to memory. Every course, regardless of how unrelated you think it is, relates to each other and builds upon each other. Neuro is the basis for aphasia, dysphagia, motor speech, and so much more, and this means that something as fundamentally painful as the cranial nerves simply cannot be deleted from memory. My first year of grad school demonstrated to me that mastery of course material in a holistic context is of paramount importance, as course content ties together in unexpected ways. This is a lesson I am still learning and applying.
Lesson 3: Clinical application. The clinical application piece, to me, is the most intriguing, enjoyable, and rewarding part of grad school. I am so thankful that I feel this way because it means that I have found my purpose, which is my passion, my mission, my vocation, and my profession combined. Oh, that elusive purpose! Admittedly, it is also undeniably difficult, because in practice, diagnoses and assessment results are not as clear-cut as is oft presented in textbooks. Patients may quickly become lethargic or move to another room during mealtime, and it is important for clinicians to obtain the most accurate assessment results while considering patient wants and needs. The most important takeaway is learning to use my best clinical judgment while remaining flexible.
Ironically, the three most pivotal lessons I learned this year all start with C. One more year until I receive my actual CCC's! Five more days until summer sessions commence again, so wish me luck because much is needed. What are some lessons you learned along the way in grad school?
