The 2023 - 2024 academic year has been a momentous one for a number of reasons - including, but not limited to, my rising into the role of tenure-track Assistant Professor at the City College of New York (CCNY).

But I have also been (repeatedly) reminded that this year marks the 10 year anniversary of my having started graduate school, as a member of the inaugural class of the Branding & Integrated Communications program (BIC) at CCNY, which was founded in 2013.

In case you couldn’t tell, this anniversary snuck up on me. The years have flown by, considering how preoccupied I’ve been between living through a global pandemic, reexamining life as a result of said experience and everything surrounding it, while working through the growing pains of my evolving role at CCNY.

Every time this 10 year anniversary has been brought up to me in conversation, I’ve responded with what has - at least to me - felt like a “deer in headlights” reaction. I’ve made no attempts at hiding the fact that I have yet to sit and process the meaning and emotions behind this milestone.

Until now.

My gut has been telling me that the best way for me to reflect on this being 10 years of post-grad life — and 10 years of BIC — would be to put pen to paper, in the form of an actionable list, for those about to embark on their own graduate journeys.

I present to you: 10 things I Wish I Knew 10 Years Ago Before Starting Graduate School

(Click each title below to expand their content.)

• 1. Don’t overthink your graduate school application - just get it in. You’re (probably) more qualified than you think.
• 2. Graduate school is a professional journey mixed with personal.
• 3. Graduate school is a personal journey mixed with professional.
• 4. Graduate school is an investment in your future - but every investment requires putting in some of your valuables up front.
• 5. Decision-paralysis will be one of your worst speed bumps.
• 6. If you don't have time to sit and stare at your readings, listen to your readings.
• 7. Your current classmates could end up being future collaborators. Keep tabs on each other.
• 8. Your classwork contains only a fraction of the lessons you should learn.
• 9. Don’t skip the social events, mixers, and opportunities.
• 10. Document the moments - as mundane as they might seem.