As a freshman, I had no idea how to become a scientist. The process felt cloudy and overwhelming. But things began to change after my first meeting with the professor who became my lab supervisor. Throughout college, she provided support professionally and personally. I became empowered and my confidence grew.
Being an advisor at my Ph.D. university seemed a great opportunity to do the same for others. I enthusiastically applied and was excited to be matched with a student. But as our first meeting drew close, uncertainty set in. What if she asks a question that I have no idea about? How could I be ready for this leadership role when I still have so far to go myself?
The day of our first meeting, I was terrified. But once my student joined the call, seeming very enthusiastic about meeting me, and started to talk about herself, I had a flashback to my own college experience. I remembered struggling to handle getting into a research lab and applying to graduate school. This student was probably going through something similar— feeling both uncertainty and a fierce determination to achieve her professional goals. We ended the meeting setting some practical goals for the year, including writing her personal statement and practicing research presentations.
As our sessions continued, I still went into each one, worried that I would not be prepared to solve every problem my student encountered. What mattered most, I realized, was not to be some imaginary perfect teacher with all the answers, but to get to know my student including her hopes and ambitions, and offer whatever guidance and support I could, based on my own experiences. When I did not know the answer to an issue she raised, I was honest about it and did my best to listen, provide feedback, and allow her to determine her best course of action. Sometimes, I was there simply to provide a safe space to vent (发泄). I could help even when I did not have a solution.
A few months after submitting her graduate school applications, my student sent an email thanking me for my support and guidance, which she said helped increase her confidence. She probably doesn’t know that she helped increase my confidence, too. This was a journey of mutual empowerment, making both of us stronger along the way.