The views and opinions expressed in the Graduate and International Ambassador Blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Arkansas.
By Christina Barnes
When I accepted my offer to start a graduate degree program in Psychology at the University of Arkansas, I knew I was in for a big change. I left a small liberal arts institution in Virginia where I knew everyone and everyone knew me and moved 1,000 miles away to a place where I knew absolutely nobody. At first it was really scary, and I was worried I’d be overwhelmed with school and responsibilities while missing home, but after living here for a year, I can look back and say I’m so glad I made this decision!
“…I wasn’t just a student—I was a Razorback too!”
Not only do I feel like I’m getting a great education, but the friendships I’ve made in my cohort, my department, in the Graduate School, and in my Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA) family are irreplaceable. It’s made all the difference in feeling like Arkansas is my home too. I’ve also had the chance to really enjoy everything a big school like this has to offer like sports! I finally know the rules to football and basketball, and I’m very proud of myself. The first Saturday football game I ever attended blew my mind. The crowd, the food, the energy, and let’s not forget the hog call! Days like that help unify and connect people so it was awesome to be a part of that! It’s the first time I felt like I wasn’t just a student—I was a Razorback too!
The biggest lesson I’ve learned since coming to the U of A is confidence! Fighting imposter syndrome is a daily battle but a huge part of winning each day is thinking and acting like you’re confident, even when you’re not. Luckily, my friends, professors, and my advisor have helped me realize that confidence isn’t something you have to be born with—it can be practiced! By pushing myself out of my comfort zone and coming to Grad School at the U of A, I’ve been able to really practice feeling like I can take on those hard things. My motto lately is practice creates competence and competence makes confidence. If there’s one thing I know for sure, I’m confident that choosing to come to the University of Arkansas was a great decision for me!
