What challenges have you faced in grad school, and how have they prepared you for your career?
Grad school has definitely taught me the value of persistence and effort. One lesson I've learned is that in academia, unlike in the corporate world, the effort you put into something tends to lead to visible results, whether it's publishing papers or presenting at conferences. It’s not always immediate, but if you stay focused and put in the work, you'll see progress. That mindset has helped me overcome challenges, and it’s something I’ll carry into my career as I help others solve their research problems.
What was your experience like attending academic conferences?
I attended a computational social science conference this year, which was a very technical event with many scientists and data scientists. I was surprised my poster was accepted because I didn’t feel my work was as strong compared to others. I wasn’t standing next to my poster much, instead walking around and learning from the experience. It was a good opportunity to see impressive interdisciplinary work and meet people from various fields. Although it was intimidating, I learned a lot, especially since it was different from domain-specific conferences like journalism or mass communication events.
What do you think are the key benefits of attending conferences?
Conferences provide a chance to present your work and meet co-authors or collaborators, which is especially important for professors who only meet once a year at these events. In addition to the presentations, there are receptions and even parties hosted by different divisions within the conference. You get to see the presence of various schools and their resources by attending these events, which can give you insights into potential job opportunities. You also get inspired for new research ideas or curriculum development, which is a valuable takeaway.
How have you built a community during your time at Temple University?
My community at Temple has evolved through different groups, especially when I took classes outside my main department. During the job application process, I leaned on professors for recommendation letters, and now that I’ve secured a job, I feel like I can work with them on new projects as peers. I also have a close relationship with another international student in my cohort, and we’ve co-authored papers and spent time together outside of school.
What are you most excited about with your new job, and how is the move going?
I’m really excited about my new job at UC Riverside, where I’ll be helping people and collaborating across disciplines. One of my bosses used to be a professional fighter, which is super inspiring, and I’ve started taking martial arts classes so I can keep up if she ever invites me to train with her! I’ll also be moving to California soon, though the timing depends on the visa process. I’ve heard the campus is beautiful, and I’m looking forward to the new environment.
What advice would you give to someone considering graduate school?
My advice is simple: if you really want to pursue graduate school, work hard and you’ll see results. It’s important to stay determined and keep going, even if things don’t seem ideal— hard work and consistency will pay off. Like in the anime Black Clover, the character who has no magic power says, "My magic is never giving up.”
