Turning my Tassel: The Transition into Graduate School

Entering graduate school can be an uncertain transition for any student, and I am of no exception.  Being a student in the BS/MS program at Clemson, I technically started my graduate school career during my Senior year at Clemson.  However, throughout that year, I always considered myself to be an undergrad sitting in on graduate classes and assisting in the lab.  Because I regarded myself in this way, I believed my teachers and peers held this same perception.  I did not feel I had the qualifications that merited the title of graduate student.

Then, on Friday, May 8th I put on a black robe, placed an awkward covering on my head, and walked across the stage to receive a diploma declaring the completion of my Bachelor’s education in Environmental Engineering.  The following Monday I went into Dr. Ladner’s lab.  Even though I now entered as new graduate, nothing really changed.  This was the same lab I first entered my Junior year as an undergraduate to gain research experience.  The piece of paper that I received a few days earlier did not come with a name tag to distinguish me as graduate student, nor did it have powers to give me a magical graduate student aura.  I entered the lab and started to run experiments as I always had.

It was a routine I had grown accustomed to, a routine that had not deviated from my undergraduate experience; thus my perception of myself did not change.  At a recent individual meeting, Dr. Ladner was apologetic for previously referring to me as an undergraduate to a colleague.  I was in no way offended, for I had not noticed.  This was not from being unobservant, I did not notice because I did not consider it to be an oversight.  However, it is time for my mindset to change, it is time to realize that the reflection I see underneath the chemical hood is not that of an undergraduate; but is the reflection of a graduate student in charge of her own experiments.  A student that must not only complete established experiments, but originate her own.  A student that cannot settle for finding the answers to predisposed questions, but must come up with the questions herself, and then determine how to answer them.  I am officially a graduate student and I must start thinking of myself as such.  Only then will I build the confidence to take on all the uncertainties and challenges that come along with obtaining a masters degree.

So here is to mentally turning my graduation tassel and  transitioning into graduate school: I am Kristen Carpenter a part of Dr. Ladner’s research group, a graduate student ready to take on my graduate courses, determine the course of my research, and learn as much as possible in order to earn my masters degree.

2 comments

  1. Super wonderful statement Kristen. I don’t believe you could find a better man and advisor/mentor than David.
    And great writing!!!
    Mark Clark
    Northwestern University

  2. Thanks for this post, Kristen. I remember feeling very similar things when starting grad school. But you have a great head start!

    This will be useful for other students to read as they begin.

    Side note–it would be fun for you to meet your academic grandpa, Mark! If you’re ever in Evanston, IL, look him up! Or maybe we should have him come visit us one day. (Thanks for your comment, Mark.)

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