Collegiate Times

What exactly do graduate students do with all our time? Some of my friends outside of academia think I just couldn’t get enough of undergrad and kept going. After all, I work at coffee shops and do my laundry mid-afternoon. Of course, what they don’t see is that I also, conversely, work on a Sunday and have many early mornings. Point being, graduate school, for all its affronts, really is a unique experience. 

But you know what else graduate school is? Opportunity. Not only to receive specialized training in a discipline, but to use that training for the betterment of society. Not later, but now. Graduate students, I understand. You are busy. And unfortunately, with American society’s work-as-life mentality, this probably won’t ease up anytime soon. So, I challenge you to get involved. Today.

Last year, Virginia Tech was fortunate enough to hear from Paul Farmer and Greg Mortenson. Farmer, the subject of last years’ common book, Mountains Beyond Mountains, is a physician who partners with poor communities to combat poverty and disease. Mortenson, best known for his story in “Three Cups of Tea,” promotes peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan by building schools (particularly for girls). Farmer and Mortenson separately encouraged audiences to partner in local and global initiatives. There is a lot of need and, conversely, a lot of opportunity.

As graduate students, one of the ways we can help is through our scholarship. Become a citizen-scholar (also the name of a program offered through the graduate school). Ask yourself how you can apply your scholarship beyond the classroom and academic journals. Reach a broader audience. Volunteer at a local school. Teach children and adults alike how to best care for the environment. Teach people computer skills. Offer nutrition counseling. The possibilities really are infinite.

Others of you may think that none of the above applies to you (or your scholarship). Well, what is it that you enjoy? Are there other people around the New River Valley who may enjoy company doing the same thing? Have a soft spot for mentoring? Become a Big Sister or a Big Brother. Want to make sure people have food? Volunteer at the Interfaith food pantry or work on food security issues. Want to help women who are survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence? Volunteer with RAFT (rape crisis hotline) or the Women’s Resource Center. As small as Blacksburg may seem, there are still many needs. We can, and should, help meet them.

One final caveat. It is important to reach out. It is important to apply our scholarship to society. But, it is equally as important to do so on equal grounding. It is often all too easy to think, or be perceived, as the ones with all the knowledge. Although in certain situations, we may be the ones with the “formal education,” others are equally as educated. We must not forget that.

In the end, it is less about what you do, and more that you do something. It’s difficult, I know. There are a thousand different things pulling us in opposite directions. But, I encourage you to just try. For one month, or one week. See how much that time well spent really is returned to you. I am sure you won’t be disappointed.