By Samantha Dizon, MSc Student at McGill University

During the first week of my master’s program at McGill University, my supervisor, Dr. Jessica Gillung, gave me a worksheet to fill out called “A Mentoring Map.” It was a tool designed by The National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) to help develop, train, and mentor faculty members, postdocs, and graduate students. My supervisor emphasized the importance of diversifying my relationships and not relying too heavily on just one or two people for every aspect of my professional, emotional, and social well-being. This advice was especially important for me since I was moving to a new province and city, where my strong support system back home wouldn’t always be so easily accessible. Unfortunately, I initially didn’t take the map as seriously as I should have. 

During my first semester, I struggled to adjust to the new environment and lifestyle. It quickly became apparent how different graduate school was compared to my undergraduate experience. I had to learn to set my own deadlines, which required a lot of self-discipline to stay productive. On top of that, graduate school brought a whirlwind of emotions and self-doubt. I spent so much time and energy applying for scholarships or awards, only to be rejected by more than half of them. I often felt guilty about whether I was productive enough or if I was intelligent enough to be in graduate school compared to my peers. These emotions were only heightened by my limited network and the feeling that I had no one to turn to because making friends was also no longer as simple as sitting next to someone in a lecture hall.

However, after I joined a writing support group for graduate students, I realized I wasn’t the only one facing these hardships. Many others also struggled with imposter syndrome, frustrations with their institutions or supervisors, loneliness, and sometimes health issues all while juggling the demands of graduate school. It became evident that one crucial aspect of graduate school that people do not stress the importance of enough is the value of emotional intelligence and being surrounded by meaningful relationships.

From personal experience, having a supportive supervisor who encourages a healthy work-life balance, mentors who foster my professional development, lab members who celebrate my achievements and provide constructive feedback, and the wonderful friends I’ve made along the way have been the real keys to creating a fulfilling graduate school experience. Being burnt out and lonely is not only a detriment to your research and productivity but, more importantly, to your well-being. While I speak of these obstacles as if they were in the past and no longer prevalent in my life, that’s not the case. I still experience imposter syndrome, doubt, and homesickness, but it’s much easier to bounce back from hardships when you have a support system to help pick you back up. People often emphasize perseverance as a critical skill to have and that it will benefit you in every possible situation, but we are only human, and there’s a limit to how much we can endure alone.

So, if you’re an undergraduate student with aspirations to pursue graduate school – and I’m sure many of you want to achieve amazing accolades or produce ground-breaking research – please remember this: there will always be other interesting research opportunities out there. Before you accept a graduate position, take a step back and think about whether this new environment will not only offer academic opportunities but also foster personal growth and compassion.