Category Archives: Advice

February 13, 2013
11:48 pm
by: watsonaj

Mentoring

This semester is, for me, a semester of mentoring.  I have mentored, and have been mentored, informally for a very long time now, but this semester I took on a number of more formal mentoring roles. The most drastic example … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Grad School, mentoring, Students

June 29, 2012
3:21 pm
by: watsonaj

A mid-summer update

My apologies for the lack of updates.  Life has been a bit of a (good) whirlwind lately. I’m excited to report that I have an idea for a dissertation.  It will take me a while to decide upon the specifics … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, data collection, dissertation, mentors, preschoolers, Productivity

March 14, 2012
4:44 pm
by: watsonaj

Productive Stupidity

Shortly before I proposed my preliminary examination, I had a heart-to-heart with my advisor.  I was overcome with self-doubt, with a good side-helping of imposter syndrome.  Because my advisor is incredible, she gave me an empathetic piece of advice about the source of our successes.  A successful academic, she said, is not necessarily someone with […] Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Grad School, Prelims