Meet Alex Reeves a Georgia State University graduate student in the school of Gerontology.
Why did you choose to pursue a graduate degree following undergrad?
I chose to pursue a master’s degree after receiving my Bachelor of Sociology
Sociology because my experience during undergrad was truly life changing, as it
opened my eyes to a world around me that I was previously blind to. I became
aware of inequalities and assigned privilege to certain groups over others. I was
inspired to continue educating myself and others on these existing problems,
specifically in regard to the LGBTQ+ community because, in a heteronormative
society, heterosexuality and the gender binary are valued more. This injustice is
rooted deep in Western history and results in innumerable health disparities, both
physical and mental, and socioeconomic disparities. As a bisexual, cisgender
woman, and an ally, I strive to protect and advocate for members of the LGBTQ+
community. All of that being said, I knew once I had my bachelor’s degree that I
wasn’t done. I couldn’t stop when I felt like I had only started. My
dream job is to be a professor of sociology, molded by the unforgettable
professors who I was lucky enough to learn from. My goal is to help young adults like
myself learn more about the world around them, with a focus on underserved
populations. After completing my master’s, I hope to complete a PhD in
Sociology, concentrating on gender and sexuality, in order to secure my dream of
teaching at a university.
How is your program? Are you glad you went directly into grad school as opposed to taking a break?
I am glad that I chose to continue on to graduate school straight out of undergrad
because I feel like, if I would’ve had any more time off, I would’ve never gone
back and just found a job with my bachelor’s degree, somewhere that I probably would not have stayed at long term. I graduated in December of 2019, and started my master’s degree in fall of 2020, so I did have several months in between where I was not a student, and that break was just enough for me to breathe and miss learning and challenging myself. One of the most rewarding experiences for me is when I get positive feedback on my work from a professor that I look up to and admire, which includes all of the professors that I’ve had. I love the feeling I get when I know I put good effort into
an assignment and that effort is seen and appreciated. That feeling was a feeling
I missed during my days of just working after I graduated with my bachelors. The
master’s program I’m in now has been wonderful, and they have restored that
feeling. I am lucky enough to learn from professors that are inexplicably smart
and who I hope to be half as good as. Not only have I had a good experience
with my professors, but students from my cohort are also extremely smart and I
feel honored to be learning with and from them.
Are there any special aspects or experiences of your program that made you choose it? (internships, partnerships, etc.)
So, I chose this program at GSU from recommendations of professors I had
during undergrad at the University of North Georgia. They knew my end goal and
my interests, and I didn’t want to jump into a PhD program right out of undergrad,
probably because I didn’t believe in myself enough. I knew I wanted to start with
a master’s degree and then proceed to a PhD. GSU was always my first option
because my boyfriend is in a cognitive psychology PhD program there, and I
knew they offered Masters of Sociology. I looked at other programs, not wanting to put all of my eggs in one basket, but it just so happened that GSU had great options for me. I had two professors recommend the gerontology master’s program at GSU, one of which was previously a student in the program, so I knew this recommendation was one I probably shouldn’t pass up. I had taken a class with this specific professor that focused on sexual and gender minorities (SGM) in the aging population around the same time that he and another professor made this recommendation. Luckily this class was one of
the most interesting ones of my undergrad career, and really sparked my interest
in advocating for older adults in the LGBTQ+ community because I realized that,
previously, I was only really advocating for younger LGBTQ+ community
members. I realized that gerontology was exactly what I needed to dive into next
because I was completely excluding older adults, which means that others are
probably doing the same. This was all the more reason to educate myself, which can also help educate others around me.
What's it like studying and going to class in the midst of the pandemic?
Graduate school during a pandemic is different to say the least. It’s made me
realize how much I miss going to class in person because you’re able to have
actual conversations that go in unpredictable directions, which are much harder
to facilitate online. I’m the type of person who gets the most work done when I’m physically at school. When I’m at home, I want to do things one does at home. I want to
relax and it’s just much harder to train my mind to complete schoolwork 100%
at home. That, for me, has probably been the biggest struggle. I miss seeing
people and learning from their experiences. Online classes require a lot of self-
discipline, which, with school, I have a good grip on, but it is a big adjustment
from the way school was for me in fall of 2019, my last semester of undergrad.
I’m a graduate research assistant (GRA) and, unfortunately, all of our work has been online, which is probably the most disappointing because my team members are such a delight and I would love to work more closely in person, but hopefully before our time in the program is over, we are able to.
What will you do after your program? Do you have to get any certifications? How long is your program?
I plan to graduate from this program in spring or summer of 2022. After, as I
previously mentioned, I plan to move on to a PhD program in sociology, ideally at
GSU because there are faculty members that I’d love to have the chance of
working with, and because my life is here. However, if that is not feasible, I will
follow the funding and seek a similar program at another school. I hope to be a
graduate assistant again in the PhD program that I get accepted into because,
financially, this is best for me and my family, and it is best for my career because
my work as a graduate assistant can hopefully help me be more competitive as a
potential employee.
How is grad school different from undergrad?
Grad school is different from undergrad because there aren’t as many tests and
quizzes, it is no longer about memorization for a test and then never thinking
about that info again. Of course, in undergrad it wasn’t really like that in my
upper-level classes, but the first half of undergrad was. In grad school you write
and read a lot, but you are retaining way more information because it is more
specialized and focused. You’re diving deeper into one subject to become as well
rounded as possible in order to move onto a higher degree or a job that requires
more qualifications from you. Graduate school definitely requires more of me, but
I don’t mind. I love what I’m doing. I’m learning about things that I genuinely care so much about, and I’m excited for my future. I never want to stop learning.
What's one piece of advice you'd give to an undergrad student looking to go to grad school?
One piece of advice I would give to someone looking to go to grad school after
undergrad is to consider all your options, and really choose a field of study that
you are passionate about. Don’t go to grad school just because you don’t know
what else to do. I actually can’t take credit for that, a professor I had in undergrad
told me that, and he was right. I knew I wanted to do this, which is why it isn’t
such a bother, whereas, to some of my friends who work full-time, and either are
done with school or never went to undergrad, they’d rather do anything but take
online classes and complete everything that is required of full-time students. I’m happy because I’m doing what I love and, if you’re like me, you shouldn’t let grad school intimidate you because if you want something enough, you will find a way to get it.
What's your favorite course so far and why?
So far, I’ve only taken two courses, (along with work I’ve done as a GRA), Seminar in Gerontology and Research Methods. My favorite would have to be Seminar in Gerontology because we covered a lot of topics within Gerontology. We talked about longevity, health, racial inequalities, ethics, among other interesting subjects. It helped me to be excited for more to come and I became more knowledgeable in those areas. The professor who taught the course is a very nice person. I learned a lot from her. She helped me identify my strong suits and areas needing improvement, which is appreciated.
What have you learned from being in grad school? What helps you get through?
Being in grad school has helped me realize that I can accomplish anything that I want to. I shouldn’t let anything detour me because I am smart enough and I am good enough to achieve my goals. I am not perfect, and I have room to grow, always, but I love to learn and push myself. I love being able to learn from people whose words are so valuable to me because their knowledge is what I aspire to have. At times it feels like I may never get there, but I have to stop myself from thinking that way because I have to be my biggest advocate. At the end of the day, you have to have your own back because it’s possible that no one else will. Thankfully, I have a support system that always has my back. My circle keeps me going by reminding me that I can do this. We take it day by day knowing that the limit to our potential is nonexistent if we practice self-discipline and
determination.
What's one of your greatest accomplishments to date?
My greatest accomplishment to date is graduating from college Magna Cum Laude and attending grad school. As someone who battles with their mental health, at times, it is an accomplishment to wake up and get through the day. High school me would’ve never guessed that I’d be here typing this, saying that I am a GRA at GSU in a master’s program, studying something I love and care for. I have much to be thankful for.
Thanks so much, Alex, for sharing your story! Interested in being a spotlight? Email us: thejoinerfoundation@gmail.com.
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