1. What impact has GradStar had on your life in 2019?

GradStar has taught me to think more holistically about what I want to give to the world as a researcher and scientist. It has opened my eyes to think more about the skills that I have acquired throughout the years, instead of merely thinking of the qualifications I have. Moreover, it helped me to understand the dynamics of what people need and what I can offer them. Lastly, it has helped me to connect with like-minded people, and networking is very important.

2. How do you stay motivated and on track with your studies?

What makes me motivated and stay on track with my studies, is knowing the reason why I have chosen this journey. I am a person who always starts something with an end goal in mind. Moreover, on the practical side, I set early deadlines for myself and create daily to-do lists to try and accomplish something every day. I try to make my list flexible, because sometimes life happens. Regarding school tasks, I try to dissect my work in smaller chunks to be easier to manage. Lastly, my spirituality also helps me to stay motivated.3.

3. What drives you to excel in your studies?

I am a person who is always eager to know more about the world than I had known yesterday. This relates to my studies as well, as I always want to know more than I did. I am also passionate about helping as many people as I can in doing research, and that drives me to want to acquire more knowledge about what I do. Lastly, because doing this PhD was a personal choice, it pushes me to want to thrive because I made this decision understanding what I want from it.

4. Will you recommend GradStar to other students? Why/Why not?

I would recommend it to undergraduate students who are maybe in their third year, as well as honours and master’s students who wish to venture into the workspace. GradStar programmes teach you important skills to market yourself to future employers through the elevator pitch analogy. This means learning how to quickly catch the attention of someone and being able to explain yourself in a short space of time.

5. What are your plans for 2020?

I would like to make progress with my PhD and write up two papers. Moreover, I would love to have my work published in an international journal.