4/21/2022 BY Breisha George
The Mountain that is Academic Success
You have probably in some point in your life heard the phrase “ it takes a village to raise a child”. When I hear this expression, I think of all the support it takes to do so from family , friends, teachers, and other people. Support is vital in all forms of life though not just with raising children. I recently learned that a ‘village’ of support was needed for me to climb the mountain of applying to and deciding to attend graduate school Recently applying to graduate programs had made me consider what it looks like to be ‘academically successful’ not just in my eyes but to others as well. For some people academic success is attributed to simply entering through the doors of a college, or maybe having the highest-grade point average, or obtaining a bachelor’s degree and moving on with life.
The start of the climb to Academic Success
My academic journey as a whole is far from ‘traditional’ – I choose to finish high school online and finished two years early. I completed a 60-credit program and become a certified pharmacy technician. I tried my hand at a baking and pastry degree – it wasn’t for me either and I remember at the time seeing a counseling program at the university I was attending however no one in advising seemed to be supportive with me switching programs or staying enrolled. Thinking back if I had my “village” then it might have been easier to stay enrolled and engaged with the process. If I would have also had a academic advisor who cared about my long term success and who been a part of my “village” I might have also found long term success academically at that point in time.
The long winding way up
Fast forward to my late twenties, I had still been trying to figure it out what being academically successful meant to me. My life got turned upside down when I got into a car accident and slowed down my long term plan. I had gotten my associates from a local community college and then moved on . I knew I was at the point of getting my bachelor’s degree in psychology. One day though I responded to an informational session about a program called McNair. I had no idea what it was about really or how it would impact me. The McNair scholars program really helps those who want to become successful and obtain a doctoral degree. I decided to apply into the program and go all in on continuing on in psychology . On my climb to the top of the mountain of academic success I would find the “village” that would cheer me on and encourage me to get there .
Family
Family is a constant source of support not only in terms of monetary support which is nice but doesn’t compare to the emotional support received. The emotional everyday support they provide that allows for me to feel loved and accepted no matter the choices I make. Family has long been shown to be a motivator for pursuing academic goals just like how my “village” has been. It is not only motivation though that my family helps with in terms of support but rather they help me to have the belief to achieve not only the important goals like getting into graduate school but also meeting deadlines and passing classes in my undergraduate program are all possible. Their support helps to keep my anxiety in check that support alone is probably the biggest way that I have been able to achieve success.
Mentorship
The support garnered from my faculty mentor has helped me in so many ways beyond your doing a great job ( although positive reinforcement helps and my family “village” does as well ). My mentor helped me not only in a professional manner but in a personal one as well which is the cornerstone of what the relationship is all about. My mentor made me feel confident and empowered to take on a research study and I the whole entire time doing so I felt successful and trust me there is a recipe for success when it comes to research ok it’s more like a rubric! Research really does help a student to develop a voice and speaking of that voice my mentors support when it comes to writing personal essays and other parts of research really helped to set up future expectations when it comes to graduate school and just getting in.
I Made It! With the Help of My Village, of Course
Honestly without these two different forms of support I am not sure I would have made it through the graduate school application season. It really does take a village of support and acceptance from everyone in your village as you begin your quest for graduate school. I am confident that once my first semester starts in the Fall I will be leaning on my “village” still as I make the next climb up a different mountain of academic success. No matter the type of support “village ” you might have have and how the mountain of academic success looks like to you it is achievable with proper support and guidance. I am hoping in the future to be able to give back and be a even if a one person “village” a form of support on the mountain climb that is academic success.