How I Survive as an International Graduate Students
I want to share my views after reading two articles. They are written by Filonova and Barriga (2020) and the article by Hipp (2018). The articles are very insightful, and I learned a lot from reading them. The writers share some points and tips we need to consider to succeed as graduate students, with the points of view of international students (particularly the first article). As an international student, I understand what Filonova and Barriga have in the article and agree with them. Some of them ring a bell. It also applies to the 10 Hipp's tips as well. All the points made by the writers are valuable inputs that we need to consider to succeed as graduate students pursuing studies in the US. Here, I will share my perspective on what the writers say and add some points to what the writers say from my perspective as an international student.
The journeys the writers have for their PhD are challenging, and it was not easy. I believe so since I have been in their shoes. With all the preparation and paperwork, the journey was tough and tiring. However, it is gratifying as not many people are motivated and have a big gut to travel a long distance and be part of their loved ones to pursue an academic career in education. We have to be proud of ourselves. That's what I tell myself, and it ignites my spirit to keep on the right track. Then, when Filonova and Barriga (2020) argue that fellowships cannot cover all personal expenses, they are true. My strategy was to save up some money before coming to the States. You must also be careful when selecting scholarships or fellowships, as they might only sometimes cover everything. You might have to pay a certain amount where your savings can be valuable. However, if your scholarship covers everything, you can use your money for other needs or travel to different states for fun (we really need the fun stuff). Filonova and Barriga (2020) further suggest that we need to discuss funding with potential advisors, which I agree. That's what I did the first time when I met my advisor. My advisor and I had a conversation about grants or funding at the very beginning of our first face-to-face meeting with my advisor. It was about seeing if I could get them when my scholarship was over. I am grateful that my advisor is open and welcome to discuss such a topic. We even agreed to meet regularly for discussions of any topic, which is in line with what Jeff (2022) says that we should set up regular meetings with our advisor.
I totally agree with the statement from Filonova and Barriga (2020) that seeking help from mental health providers provided by campus is a good option. In addition to that, I build or join some communities. I came to the US under a scholarship scheme. I feel fortunate that I have a friend on the same scholarship. We often do 'peer sharing' where we exchange information and or share anything related to academic and non-academic matters. Later, we discovered that Purdue has a group of awardees of the same scholarship, and we joined the group. I attended their gathering, and they were very friendly and helpful. For instance, I got information about housing from the group. In addition, I join the Indonesian community in West Lafayette. The community has become a place where I can meet fellow Indonesians. Meeting people from the same country overseas is like meeting your loved ones. The feelings are different as you meet them. Sometimes, you miss your home, and the community can at least cure your missing home for a little while. You will also have a chance to eat food they cook, as they often have it during any gathering. Therefore, I totally agree with the statement about having a 'tribe' while staying overseas.
The second article I read from Hipp (2019) is about how to thrive in a Ph.D. life. It adds to the points made by Filonova and Barriga (2020). Hipp's tips strengthened my understanding and shed light on a doctoral degree. In addition, I was also in an 'aha' moment when reading some points from Hipp. For instance, the writer points out that higher education institutions often need to recruit their graduates for tenure positions. That's something new. However, I make sense of this opinion instead of disagreeing with it. This decision comes to exist due to upholding the diversity of the faculties. The diversity brings benefits to higher education institutions. For example, students will learn from faculty members with different expertise and experience in the class, adding more input to the students as they graduate. That shouldn't happen if the students are taught by faculties who graduated from the same institutions. They might not encounter something new since all the faculty will sing the same song. The diverse faculties bring new experiences, fill in something the institutions miss, and bring new or fresh ideas to help higher institutions move forward. In addition to that, it will minimize any misconduct, such as nepotism and bias in decision-making.
In addition to the above, you must have good habits and/or keep them. This is in line with what Jeff (2022) said in his article, where he believes that some good habits, such as eating well, managing your time, getting enough sleep, and doing some exercises, help you as a graduate student. The word 'help' here is directed to your well-being. When you are physically and mentally healthy, I am optimistic you can manage your PhD business. For example, I try my best to go jogging and have good meals for my physical health. Meanwhile, I also watch some series or YouTube videos to entertain myself. I do those activities regularly to ensure that I am healthy inside and out.
After all, we can do it, and we are all going to survive.
References
Filonova, I., & Barriga, P. (2020, October 12). Coming to America. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2020/10/12/advice-international-graduate-students-who-come-study-us-opinion
Hipp, J. (2019, March 19). 10 Tips for new doctoral students. Insider Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2019/03/19/advice-students-just-beginning-their-phds-opinion
Jeff. (2022, October 6). My advice and tips for new PhD students. The Savvy Scientist: Life as A London PhD Student and Beyond. https://www.thesavvyscientist.com/tips-for-new-phd-students/
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