An Advisor for my Well-Being by Marisha

An Advisor for my Well-Being by Marisha - October 2019 Scholarship Essay

My college advisor inspired me the most academically. I met her when I enrolled in a History of Mathematics course in college. Her energetic yet calming energy made the class interesting and challenging. She encouraged me to improve and challenge myself to be the best mathematician I could be.

I talked to her about future plans and she gave me honest advice about her experience. She also helped me reach out to other math faculty to talk about graduate school. I was able to see a lot of different perspectives and gain advice from more than one person – thanks to my advisor.

She knew my plans for graduate school and helped me plan my undergraduate courses to optimize the classes. She didn’t bat an eye when I told her that I wanted to graduate in three years instead of four. She gave me her time and attention to plan my future. The advice was wonderful, but knowing I had someone in my corner made more of a difference.

On top of academic help, she also encouraged me to take care of my mental, emotional, and physical well-being. She talked openly and honestly about therapy. That helped reduce the stigma immensely and made it easier for me to seek therapy. She also was avid in exercise. She taught Krav Maga on the side which taught discipline and strength. While Krav Maga is not really for me, it did give me someone to look up to and reminded me that I need to take care of my body – especially during stressful times.

While I’ve graduated and moved on, her presence in my life is still impacting me. The reminders for my overall well-being has made me better academically. My mind is sharper, I feel more confident, and I know how to take care of myself when things get tough. Her academic teachings are a foundation that I can build my masters on.

I’m very thankful to have had a role model in my life like her. It’s helped me be successful in school. Those lessons will also help me as I move on to my career.