Navigating the World of Academia

Reflections from a doctoral student's first experience at AERA

Lindsey Walker, a doctoral student in reading education, shares her experience attending an academic conference for the first time. Despite feeling overwhelmed, Walker navigated the conference and connected with researchers who shared her passions.

Learn more about Walker's experience and the power of connecting with like-minded individuals in academia in her own words.

Attending a large academic conference for the first time was initially an overwhelming experience for me but also an incredibly enlightening one. There were so many options for sessions to attend and researchers to interact with, but I had to be intentional about finding the ones that aligned with my interests and studies. This process alone was a learning experience in navigating the world of academia.

Attending the conference allowed me to connect with other researchers who shared similar passions, including someone who had a shared interest in preserving linguistic practices in the Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Georgia, where I'm originally from. It was unexpected yet exciting to connect with someone on such a specific topic, and it reminded me of the power of connecting with like-minded individuals.

The conference also gave me a glimpse into the world of academia and what it could look like as a potential career path for myself. It was refreshing to hear about equity and justice-focused work being done by researchers and how it could positively impact students and learners.

Additionally, attending a session on a theoretical framework that wasn't directly tied to my research but provided a lens through which to view it was invaluable. I connected with the presenter and received reading recommendations that will greatly benefit my future work. Presenting at the conference, thanks to working with JaNiece Elzy, EdD, on research last summer, was also an awe-inspiring experience.

The entire process, from researching in real-time to presenting alongside other researchers, disrupted any imposter syndrome I might have felt and reinforced the idea that being a researcher and having a career in academia in the future is a tangible reality.

Overall, attending the conference opened my eyes to the multitude of possibilities within the world of research and academia, even those not directly related to my field of study. It also highlighted the importance of connecting with like-minded individuals and the power of theoretical frameworks in shaping one's research.

Page last updated 4:08 PM, July 14, 2023