McNair Conference at the University of Maryland
- mirandaricci58
- Apr 1, 2022
- 3 min read
04.01.2022
What an adventure that was. I grew as a professional, bonded with my cohort, and expanded my knowledge about graduate school.
I love to travel but I'm not a fan of airplanes.
The trip started off a tad awkward, given we knew one another, but only in a classroom setting. However, I was so thrilled to leave snowy Wisconsin behind and enjoy the sunshine. After a full day of travel, we finally got to the hotel, unpacked, and started to get to know the cohort. We grabbed food together at the student union and walked around campus a bit. Once it got dark we decided we'd better get back to our room where we watched the Bee Movie and caught up on some homework.
I think we were all jetlagged.
We slept in a little after our day of travel and slowly got ready for the conference. The first day, we learned the McNair Scholars Pledge, heard from the Director of the Maryland McNair Program, and had a social with the Diversity and Inclusion Vice President and the Graduate School Director of the University of Maryland. I met a couple of individuals from other cohorts and enjoyed a dinner with the group. The food throughout the conference was stellar.
Finally, we were in full conference mode.
The next day we had to be up early and we wanted time to grab coffee before it started. We managed to do so with plenty of time to spare, grabbed a table for breakfast, and had our first keynote speaker, Dr. Marissa Franco. She was a phenomenal speaker and encouraged us to prioritize our mental health while on our path to graduate school. She provided opportunities throughout her speech to be vulnerable with our table mates, where most of us shared our fears and things we may be struggling with. It was a humbling experience and was the first time we were able to get to know one another on a deeper level. It was not the last time this was expanded upon throughout the conference and our activities outside of the conference.
I think that was the most valuable part of the experience.
Having the opportunity to be vulnerable with my peers and knowing I was not alone in my feelings was incredibly validating. It was one of the first times that every single person had a similarity to myself, we could all relate in some way. We were able to bond over our shared passion for educational growth and contribution to general knowledge. Dr. Franco asked the all of us to raise our hands if we feel insecure, unsure, or like an imposter. Nearly everyone, if not everyone, raised their hand.
This experience was also incredibly helpful in context to developing my understanding of my research.
I want to understand the experiences, feelings and perceptions held by McNair Scholars in their pursuit of graduate school. During poster presentations I was validated when expressing my research and seeing others with similar themes in their research. I was able to get contact information and I intend on contacting them throughout the conduct of my research. All in all, this was a humbling, validating and fun experience.
If you have an opportunity like this, I have a couple of tips from my experience.
I would advise others to participate as much as possible, put yourself out there in terms of networking, share your passions, and make it your own. Go to the workshops that are going to further your understanding of what interests you, go to the presentations and posters that may relate to your research. While doing these things, ask questions, introduce yourself, and enjoy it. This was a rewarding experience and I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to attend something like this, make the most of it.
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