A Research Mentor can be the Gate for Academic Success by rafeed

A Research Mentor can be the Gate for Academic Success by rafeed - October 2019 Scholarship Essay

Since I was a child, I knew that I would go to college as I believe that higher education is the best option to ensure opportunities for success. I grew up and based my life on this theory; however, the wind blew opposite to my sailing journey, so I had to make some adjustments to my map and plans. Although I ended up being convinced by an outsider to adjust and accommodate to a new life, I faced persistent, negative thoughts and feelings to quit academia.
So here is my story.
I developed a mental illness, schizophrenia, in my freshmen year of college, which brought and still brings disasters to my life. To be candid, this severe mental condition cost me days, nights, opportunities, and success. Without the sufficient support, it is hard to deal with this storm. Although my parents have given me much help and assistance to pursue success in the academic field, I still face struggles because they are not involved directly in my academic endeavors. Based on my experience, it is hard to receive help from people who are out of your field; understandably, their attention is drawn away from the main conflict that I myself am experiencing. Moreover, their help is driven by compassion and humanity, yet the main conflict of college life is stress, which for me triggers psychosis. Despite their efforts to empathize with me, my parents did not initially understand this disconnect. However, it was clear for my academic advisor, who saw the problem from a different angle.
It took all my courage and boldness to speak out about my health condition to my academic advisor, who later became my research mentor. When I explained my situation to him, he replied calmly and wisely: “You will be fine, it is just a life challenge.” Also, when I told him that I wanted to quit academia, he assured me, “Again, it is a life challenge, you will see it everywhere, not just in school.” Then, he explained to me that I can never hide from these challenges as they are associated with me, not with the field I have chosen. So, I knew that I had to train myself to adjust to this new challenge. Then he started to talk about stress management, and how it is significant in dealing with my mental condition. His aim was to keep me in school; eventually he would see me as a successful person based on my accomplishments before developing schizophrenia. His wisdom, prudence, calmness, and confidence helped convince me to stay in school; I recognized that a person, in my school actually understands me and can support me throughout this twisted and coiled academic journey. This is what I call inspiration.
I was completely inspired by this person. Despite the fact, that he knew the drawbacks and obstacles that I had faced in my life, I asked him to join his research lab. And he opened doors for me -literally and figuratively -by accepting me in his research team as he believes that everyone is capable if they have the will, desire, and resolution to accomplish. He is a very open-minded and rational person who thinks deeply before he decides. His lab helped me to determine what I want to be in the future; I decided to be a researcher, and this journey would start in his lab. There I began to learn about researching ideologies, critical thinking, ethics, principles, methods, and techniques. This mentor has not just been a simple academic advisor, he has been a life savior.
To conclude this story, when my life was collapsing and about to end, I found a mentor from heaven; my mentor assisted me as I kept up with my dreams and goals despite what I was going through. In his eyes, success rewards diligent work and resolution, and the limitations and apparent drawbacks of peoples’ abilities do not limit their potential to achieve.