Decoding Your Network

You don't have to do this alone 🤝

A graduate degree is a marathon, not a solo sprint. No single person (advisor, mentor, or supporter) can meet all your professional, intellectual, and personal needs. To thrive, you need a full team in your corner.

This session will show you how to strategically build a well-rounded support system that keeps you sustained, connected, and grounded throughout your degree.

What We’ll Cover

• Your Personal Board of Directors: Learn how to recruit Allies (peers in the trenches), Advisors (subject-matter experts), and Advocates (champions who open doors).

• The Four Pillars of Support: Map out your connections across your academic circle, the broader UMBC campus, professional organizations, and your life outside academia.

• Defeating Imposter Syndrome: Realize you belong here! Discover how peer solidarity and building "win files" help neutralize academic self-doubt.

• Protecting Your Non-Academic Identity: Grad school is what you do, not who you are. Learn practical ways to maintain hobbies, personal ties, and rest to prevent burnout.

The Bottom Line: Walk away with a personalized map of your support system, practical strategies to combat burnout, and new connections across campus.

Return to the Decoding Series