Graduate education is challenging. At this stage of the journey, there is always a whole lot of life going on and it can be hard to find the time for scholarly reading and thinking. Within this context, when you are asked to “dive deeper,” integrate more of the readings into your work, and stretch yourself, it can be challenging.<\/p>\n
In graduate work, most of us, at some point think things like: This is too hard. How do they expect me to think\/read\/write like this? Lots of people are just fine without their grad degrees; this is optional; why am I doing this?<\/p>\n
Graduate education is challenging. Learning generally is. You are being challenged to think and grow and read and write in new ways. You are becoming scholar practitioners — the very best kind. The kind who can think in new ways, adapt research you read to your own context, and lead your disciplines and organizations and communities and nations to solve problems that continue to challenge our world.<\/p>\n
At the very foundation, I believe in learning and I believe in students — in your ability to learn and grow and think in new and different ways. It will take some determination. It may be harder than you expected. But in the end, the ability to think like a scholar in your professional context will be invaluable.<\/p>\n
In the words of one of this decade’s most inspiring authors and thought leaders, if you persist, you’ll be able to say this:<\/p>\n
\u00a0“I won\u2019t just have a job; I\u2019ll have a calling. I\u2019ll challenge myself every day. When I get knocked down, I\u2019ll get back up. I may not be the smartest person in the room, but I\u2019ll strive to be the grittiest\u201d (Duckworth, 2016, p. xv ).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Here’s to you — with all your brains and imagination and challenges and overwhelm and talent and life and opportunity and grit. Here’s to your grit.<\/p>\n
Leadership Prof<\/p>\n
Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Simon & Schuster: New York.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Graduate education is challenging. At this stage of the journey, there is always a whole lot of life going on and it can be hard to find the time for scholarly reading and thinking. Within this context, when you are asked to “dive deeper,” integrate more of the readings into your work, and stretch yourself, … <\/p>\n