[nabs-l] funding graduate school, was: young professionals division?

Greg Aikens gpaikens at gmail.com
Fri Jun 14 11:30:56 UTC 2013 

Hi Ashley,
Not to go too far afield from the main topic, but I paid for my degrees mostly with scholarships, grants, assistance ships, and some student loans.  The thing about graduate school is that in most fields, you should be able to find a program that will pay for your degree.  I have heard some people say that if you are paying to go to grad school, you aren't doing it right.  This is mostly true on the masters level and even more so if you are pursuing a Ph.D.  This is because on the graduate level, you are engaging in research/sharing some of the teaching load for professors.  It is a mutually beneficial arrangement for both parties.  This is also the dynamic that makes graduate school more like a career than other levels of education.

Also, I graduated last August with a degree in teaching blind students and was extremely fortunate to find a job as a TVI in the Atlanta area within 2 weeks of completing my degree.  I just finished my first year as a teacher and it feels wonderful.  Woohoo!  There is hope after school. :)

-Greg

On Jun 14, 2013, at 12:46 AM, "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Greg,
> wow, two degrees. I wonder how you can afford that. VR may pay for one degree, but not two.
> What did you study in grad and undergrad?
> I assume you're looking for work.
> 
> Justin, Greg is right. If you identify as a young professional, then go to that group.
> Grad students are usually mature and studying something specific to their careers or have a full or part time job while in school.
> So, they are more like professionals given the seriousness and intensiveness of their school studies.
> Graduate school prepares you for a profession as well so this IMO fits into a young professionals group; after all, you cannot get to be that professional without good grades, a masters degree, and often times passing other licensing exams.
> 
> Ashley
> -----Original Message----- From: Greg Aikens
> Sent: Friday, June 14, 2013 12:22 AM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] young professionals division?
> 
> I would definitely think that graduate students fit under the "young professionals" umbrella.  Having completed two graduate degrees, it was my experience that the further you go in higher ed, the more like a career and the less like traditional school it is.
> 
> I don't see any reason for real clear cut lines as to who fits into what group.  If you consider yourself a young professional, then participate in the young professional stuff.  If you aren't sure, connect with others who do identify themselves that way and see if you fit.
> 
> -Greg
> 
> 
> On Jun 13, 2013, at 11:05 PM, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi ,
>> 
>> It sounds like there is lots of interest in organizing something for
>> young professionals, and several ways to go about it. I think a formal
>> division may not be necessary or appropriate, but a group may be. One
>> option is for young professionals to get together, form a group and
>> plan programming for national convention. Another option is for NABS
>> to appoint a committee for graduate students, young professionals and
>> non-traditional students, and have it chaired by a grad student/young
>> professional/nontrad (perhaps someone on the board, but wouldn't have
>> to be). This committee could then plan programming such as conference
>> calls, happy hours or other get-togethers just for "mature" students
>> and those who have recently graduated to network and discuss common
>> issues. I think NABS still has a high school committee and this would
>> be like the other side of that coin. It wouldn't detract from regular
>> NABS programming, but just develop some supplementary programming for
>> mature students. When I was NABS president I was open to the formation
>> of almost any committee as long as there was at least one individual
>> willing to head it up. I was approached by a few folks about starting
>> a nontrad committee, but it hasn't happened yet. If one or two
>> individuals are willing to take the lead on this, and the NABS board
>> would be comfortable with the idea of adding a NABS committee to focus
>> on the young professional/grad student/nontrad population, it could be
>> a great thing.
>> 
>> Arielle
>> 
>> On 6/13/13, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>> greg,
>>> I agree. Young professionals have different challenges and interests than
>>> students.
>>> Inclusion in the workplace, access to technology and securing accomodations
>>> 
>>> are just some issues that come to mind.
>>> So I think a separate division would be better for this purpose than
>>> expanding nabs.
>>> Mentoring is a great idea  and the groups can work together on some stuff,
>>> but yet I believe you need a separate division to meet and attract young
>>> professionals.
>>> 
>>> I won't be at convention, but those of you expressing interest, I hope you
>>> gather and further discuss it.
>>> 
>>> Ashley
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Greg Aikens
>>> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 10:29 PM
>>> To: jsoro620 at gmail.com ; National Association of Blind Students mailing
>>> list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] young professionals division?
>>> 
>>> I agree that young professionals have different challenges and interests
>>> than most of your student population.  That doesn't mean we can't still act
>>> 
>>> as mentors and have a good relationship with NABS, I just think there is
>>> enough of a difference in need and purpose to make a separate group better
>>> for all involved.
>>> 
>>> I'm also not sure that a full blown division would really be necessary, but
>>> 
>>> maybe so.  I like the idea of opportunities to network and mentor one
>>> another.  I really like the sense of camaraderie I see in older generations
>>> 
>>> of NFBers who have worked together for decades.
>>> 
>>> Anybody interested in doing a brown bag lunch at convention this year to
>>> brainstorm and talk about what this might look like?  I know convention time
>>> 
>>> is busy, so if lunch doesn't work, maybe another format would be better.
>>> 
>>> I really like this idea and if others do too, I would love to keep the
>>> conversation going.  Those of you who are interested and will be at
>>> convention, let's get together.
>>> 
>>> -Greg
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Jun 13, 2013, at 8:36 PM, "Joe" <jsoro620 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I see the rationale for expanding NABS, but one, it would make the scope
>>>> of
>>>> the organization that much broader than it already is, and two, NABS
>>>> still
>>>> has to get in the weeds of the philosophy fundamentals: training centers,
>>>> disability offices, the importance of self-advocacy, etc. When I think of
>>>> 
>>>> a
>>>> professional organization, I'm thinking concrete items like accessibility
>>>> 
>>>> in
>>>> the workplace, a measure of mentorship for people working in similar
>>>> fields
>>>> such as federal employees, and yes, a means of enabling otherwise busy
>>>> professionals to lend a hand with advocacy. I'm a busy guy but still like
>>>> signing petitions and calling up congress people in favor of or in
>>>> protest
>>>> to some measure or another. Having opened this can of worms, I want to be
>>>> clear that I'm not saying the NFB should dramatically change itself to
>>>> meet
>>>> every unique need of a young professional, but to an extend there needs
>>>> to
>>>> be a cool factor that overrides a person's sense of apathy. I get up at
>>>> 4:00
>>>> in the morning to be at my office by 6:00. I get home more or less around
>>>> 5:00, and I need something to make me want to go to a chapter meeting.
>>>> Yes,
>>>> it's only once a month, but you active chapter members know there is a
>>>> lot
>>>> more activity than just the one gathering. Yes, there are dozens of
>>>> divisions that cater to specific interests, hence my opposition to most
>>>> divisions in general, but having too many choices makes people like me
>>>> not
>>>> want to participate in any of it. If I don't make it to the national
>>>> convention and can't make Washington Seminar, where does that leave
>>>> people
>>>> like me? Perhaps an alternative organization, but being burned out on the
>>>> Federation does not mean I think the organization is a bad one. Anyway,
>>>> enough babble from me. If I express these sentiments at all, it is because
>>>> 
>>>> I
>>>> think NABS could be in the position to generate some possibilities. Maybe
>>>> 
>>>> a
>>>> happy hour for professionals next year in Washington? It'd be a start.
>>>> 
>>>> Joe
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Wasif,
>>>> Zunaira
>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 2:37 PM
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] young professionals division?
>>>> 
>>>> Maybe NABS should simply be extended to  include young professionals as
>>>> well
>>>> as students.  We can all be in the same division.  That way mentoring can
>>>> take place with ease.
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Greg Aikens
>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 1:08 PM
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] young professionals division?
>>>> 
>>>> I would also be interested in having a place to network with other young
>>>> professionals.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Jun 13, 2013, at 10:13 AM, "Stephanie H. DeLuca" <sjhhirst at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Hi, I was reading through the NABS digest, and someone had mentioned
>>>>> an NFB young professionals division ..... that it doesn't exist lol Is
>>>>> this something people would be interested in?  Perhaps we can put it
>>>>> on the agenda for the NABS meeting at National Convention. ~ Stephanie
>>>>> 
>>>>> In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind.
>>>>> ~Louis Pasteur, lecture 1854
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/gpaikens%40gm
>>>>> ail.com
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/zunaira.wasif%4
>>>> 0dbs.fldoe.org
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jsoro620%40gmail.co
>>>> m
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/gpaikens%40gmail.com
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/arielle71%40gmail.com
>>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nabs-l:
>> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/gpaikens%40gmail.com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nabs-l:
> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nabs-l:
> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/gpaikens%40gmail.com

More information about the NABS-L mailing list