Admitted Students’ Day was a success! I had the opportunity to speak with lots of new students and discuss the graduate school experience. It has forced me to recognize how much I have truly  accomplished and worked on. I have met amazing people, learned and relearned so much about the theories and practices of archives, and had some basic growing up lessons.

However, the two points that I wanted to make clear during Admitted Students’ Day were to take every opportunity you can and to take care of your self. Being at the iSchool, you will have plenty of opportunities to learn more about your field, and professors, but you should also take advantage of the professional improvement seminars and presentations, scholarship awards to attend conferences, and meeting people from other programs. These opportunities will make you a more well-rounded individual, broaden your understanding of the role of information in our society, and build your social and professional network.

The second point, taking care of your self, is just as important if not more important. Graduate school is intense. It is a time in which you are constantly bombarded with numerous requests and pressures, and will feel like you do not have a chance to breath, but you do! You have to organize your schedule in a way that allows you to go outside for fresh air, go for a run, or spend an evening chatting with friends. The time is there, I promise. This balance is necessary in order to handle your classwork at your best.