Choosing to pursue a graduate degree is a life-changing endeavor鈥攑rofessionally and personally. In honor of Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week, we asked graduate and professional students to share what they鈥檝e learned about themselves and the person they鈥檝e become while at Vanderbilt.
Jon Bergamo, MBA candidate
Owen Graduate School of Management
鈥淚 think I could write a novel about this, but in short, I learned to own and embrace my authentic self. Before Owen, I still struggled with imposter syndrome, fully embracing being out in the workplace and communicating my value. I believe it鈥檚 not just what I learned about myself, but to think deeply and accept who I am鈥攗nderstanding that my uniqueness adds tremendous value, not only on campus, but also at work and in the world,鈥� Bergamo said.
鈥淚 also discovered how much I care about paying that forward and helping to mentor and coach others in their personal career journeys, whether as a friend, coworker or leader. Additionally, I rediscovered how much continuous learning and growth mean to me. It might sound cheesy, but going back to school reminded me how important it is to (reasonably) ensure I am always putting myself in situations where I will continue to learn and to foster that mindset where I can.鈥�
Noah Lian, doctor of sociology candidate
College of Arts and Science
鈥淎fter witnessing the traumatic dying experiences of several beloved family members, my appreciation for efforts aimed at improving end of life quality grew exponentially. I realized I want to take part in this meaningful endeavor鈥攐ffering my help to reduce suffering and contribute to more dignified and compassionate end-of-life experiences for all,鈥� said Lian, who is part of Assistant Professor Lucie Kalousova鈥檚 .
鈥淔or me, Vanderbilt has been the place where a personal calling became a scholarly pursuit鈥攁nd where I found the courage to believe that research can genuinely change how people experience their final days. This is a place full of bright and ambitious people. If you come with something that you deeply care about and are ready to put in the effort, the university鈥檚 globally renowned reputation, rich networks and abundant resources are going to help you succeed and embrace a self you once only dared to imagine,鈥� Lian said.
Jamie Vescio, doctoral candidate in learning, teaching and diversity
Department of Teaching and Learning
Peabody College of education and human development
鈥淚 have definitely learned to let go of control! Although I was a teacher before, doing research in schools has taught me this lesson through a different light. Some days, teachers are too overwhelmed for a planning session, a student whom I had planned to interview is absent, or children take our conversations in a completely different direction than I had anticipated. Being adaptive to the ebbs and flows of schooling has taught me how to be responsive to teachers鈥� and students鈥� needs above all else,鈥� Vescio said.
鈥淢y research is about designing learning environments for understanding and hopefully redefining what it means to be mathematical in schools. A cornerstone of this work is examining how our methodologies, as researchers and educators, can afford children the opportunity to be a part of that redefining process.鈥�
Olivia Riedling, doctoral candidate in biological sciences
College of Arts and Science
鈥淚鈥檝e learned that I鈥檓 capable of a lot more than I initially thought. I鈥檝e always been a bit shy, but being at Vanderbilt has pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me take on things I never thought I would. One of the biggest things has been mentoring; I鈥檝e taken on a lot of it and realized how much I love teaching and seeing students get excited about research and big questions,鈥� said Riedling, who works in the lab of , professor of biological sciences.
Niambi McLaurin, master of divinity candidate
Vanderbilt Divinity School
鈥淚 have taken my time at Vanderbilt seriously as a space for both professional and spiritual development, and through that, I鈥檝e learned to trust myself more fully,鈥� McLaurin said.
鈥淢y life experiences had a way of pushing me to question my path and my choices, but I鈥檝e come to believe that nothing in our journeys go to waste. I鈥檝e also learned that I am most grounded and effective when I allow myself to be both intellectual and imaginative. I take my research as seriously as my creativity and personal voice.鈥�
Amelia Cephas, doctoral candidate in cell and developmental biology
School of Medicine Basic Sciences
鈥淚鈥檝e learned that I really care about serving people and connecting them to the resources they need. I鈥檝e also realized that I really enjoy planning, organizing and science outreach. Over time, I鈥檝e learned more about the kind of person I want to be and the kind of work I want to do, and I could see myself in the future pursuing a research administrative role, either in government or at an R1 institution, with the hope of helping support and improve research in the GI field,鈥� said Cephas, who studies pancreatic cancer.
Jerod Johnson, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner candidate
School of Nursing
鈥淚 am inspired to study and become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and serve minority groups and underserved populations. I believe representation matters and impacts patient outcomes,鈥澛燡ohnson said.
鈥淒uring my experience at VUSN, I have learned what it means to believe in yourself. I learned what it means to truly give myself grace and be consistent with my studies. I learned how to balance many life challenges throughout this journey. I had to manage family, work, grief, losses and health challenges while enrolled at VUSN. Hard work pays off. You just have to continue to work hard to achieve your goals despite life challenges.鈥�
