STUDENT’S VOICE Branching Out
Kristina Pourtabib, SA-3410
pour1824@vandals.uidaho.edu
Some may say that an individual is shaped by their experiences, and I would agree with this. Going through achieve- ments and setbacks in your life and understanding how you handle these diverse types of situations really helps to shape who you are as a person. By getting more familiar with your strengths and weaknesses, you will be better equipped at seeing where your unique skills may fit into a prospective new job. Geology, like many other fields, is competitive, and there can be tens if not hundreds of applicants vying for the same position as you with similar academic back- grounds and research interests. By set- ting yourself apart through different travel experiences, minor degrees, lan- guages learned, or other skill sets, you can become a stand out to a potential employer.
These days, it is not enough to just graduate at the top of your class; you have to also be a “well-rounded” indi- vidual. Although this may mean differ- ent things to different people, the way I interpret the word “well-rounded” is someone who has knowledge and practi- cal experience in a variety of subjects, not just solely in the discipline you study. By broadening your understanding of many different topics, you can not only find potential new and innovative discoveries in your major field, but you can find com- mon interests with your fellow peers and make future connections with ease. Plus, experiencing a discipline that is opposite from your primary field of interest can open up your creativity and allow you to visualize your work or research in a new light, and revive the passion you have for your work. In my experience as a gradu- ate student, last semester I decided to take a “fun” class outside of the typical science and math based coursework and I am so happy that I did. Trying to branch away from geology completely I decided to take a class in the Art department, in particular, I chose to take an intro-
duction to printmaking class. When the first day of class got underway, it took me some time to realize that I had to adjust to a new pace of working and a new approach to grading. At first it was a little daunting to walk into a new class with completely unfamiliar faces who all have had some sort of artistic back- ground and who knew the ins and outs of the art department, but eventually I settled in. Printmaking was a way for me to work with my hands and challenge myself in a new medium completely unrelated to the research I was doing. I found myself looking forward to the days when I had class just so that I could not think about research for a while. My finished works definitely improved towards the end of the semester, I real- ized that I am not great at free hand drawing, but when I incorporated some geometric elements into my work then I produced pretty neat final projects. Incorporating some concepts from my mineralogy background into my artwork made me feel a deeper connection to the works that I was creating, and a sense of pride when I was able to go into detail about the scientific meanings behind my work during our class critiques.
After my first semester in printmak- ing I decided to take the second semester of it, and I am still enjoying it as much as I did initially. My work is continually improving, and I am able to make min- eralogy and my research more and more the focal point of my pieces. Being in a printmaking class has renewed some of my favorite aspects of why I decided to pursue a higher degree. So for those of you who dare to take a short departure from your major field of study to learn a new skill or explore your artistic side, I would encourage it. Not only will you become a more “well-rounded” individ- ual, but also you will be able to look at your work with a fresh prospective, and the benefit of making your self stand out to future employers doesn’t hurt either.
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