Taking Charge and Finding Support: The Power of Self, Mentors and Peers in Graduate School Success

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Taking Charge and Finding Support The Power of
Self, Mentors and Peers in Graduate School
Success

• Helenrose Fives
• AERA 2003, Chicago

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It all begins with YOU!
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It All Begins with YOU!

• What do you want and what do you have to offer?
• What can you do to help yourself?

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What do you want and what do you have to offer?

• Goals
• Career Goals
• Training Desired
• Independence - Collaboration
• Research Interests
• Other Goals?

• Self Appraisal
• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Time
• Interests
• Current Skills Strategies

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What can you do to help yourself?

• Be visible
• Develop your own research interests
• Demonstrate a willingness to work hard
• Get and stay organized
• Ask questions
• Seek out opportunities
• Plan time for fun - it makes work easier

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A Mentor Makes the Difference

• Whats a good mentor for you?
• What are the expectations?
• How do you establish independence?
• What do you do when the relationship doesnt work?

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Whats a good mentor for you?

• Shared Interests
• Role Model
• Work Style
• Collaboration Opportunities
• Interpersonal Dynamics

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What are the expectations?

• Mentors should
• Be Available
• Introduce you to the community of practice
• Support your developing scholarship
• Offer opportunities for collaboration
• Model professionalism and integrity
• Be supportive

• Students should
• Respect the mentors time
• Join and become active in the community
• Keep mentor apprised of progress
• Send post meeting summaries to mentor
• Ask questions
• Be proactive

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How do you establish independence?

• Be selective in continuing collaborations
• Seek other opportunities
• Develop relationships with other faculty members
• Invite peers and new colleagues to work with you

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What do you do when the relationship doesnt work?

• Why
• Poor research fit
• Different expectations, interpersonal discord
• When
• The sooner the better
• Best within the first year
• How
• Try to work out problems first
• Seek advice - is changing the best plan?
• Remain professional at all times
• Before leaving, find another mentor

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The Purpose of Peers

• What roles can peers play?
• What do you need from peer colleagues or
  collaborators?
• How can you establish a peer network?

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What roles can peers play?

• Social support
• Socialization
• Collaborators
• Colleagues

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What do you need from peer colleagues and
collaborators?

• Colleagues
• General interests in common
• Mutual respect
• Freedom of expression
• Challenging discourse
• Opportunities for learning and growth

• Collaborators
• Common research interests
• Similar working styles
• Similar work ethic
• Open communication
• Freedom to disagree
• Commitment to get the job done

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Where can you find them?

• Locally
• Department
• College
• University
• Mentor network
• Previous students of your mentor
• The students of your mentors students
• Nationally
• Conferences
• Web sites and Email

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Final thoughts...

• You are your best resource
• A good mentor-student relationship is critical
  for professional success
• A shared graduate student experience makes a
  difference
• When you enter into a graduate program you become
  part of a community of practice

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FYI...