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#NACMAYP: Graduate Assistantships - So Much To Do, So Little Time

By Alexa Mealy posted 03-03-2017 10:57

  

For many of us, graduate assistantships are the foundations of our careers. You sign up for two years of a lot of "firsts," questions, confusion, and HARD WORK. How can you get as much experience possible in such a short amount of time?

You've probably heard this said a million times already…pay attention and ask questions! But don’t just ask for clarification on an assignment from your boss or how things had been done in previous years. Learn to ask questions such as “why is this done this way,” or “is there something that could make this better?” Don’t focus on just your own task, observe what other departments and organizations are doing and learn from that. 

It’s crucial that you spend your years as a graduate assistant building relationships with those around you. Find mentors who can give you honest advice and help keep you on track. These can be your peers, supervisors, counterparts at other schools, etc. Focus on building and maintaining these relationships during your years as a GA and you’ll be thankful you have a support system moving forward.

Lastly, if you have an idea, share it. If you have an opinion, speak up. If you’re passionate, go for it. My biggest piece of advice for new GA’s is that if there is an area where you want to gain more experience or something you haven’t done before, volunteer to help. Having honest conversations about areas where you can improve or gain more experience is something your boss will appreciate and admire.

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