Choosing to pursue a graduate degree is a life-changing endeavor-professionally and personally. In honor of Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week, we asked graduate and professional students to share what they've learned about themselves and the person they've become while at Vanderbilt.
Jon Bergamo, MBA candidate
Owen Graduate School of Management
"I think I could write a novel about this, but in short, I learned to own and embrace my authentic self. Before Owen, I still struggled with imposter syndrome, fully embracing being out in the workplace and communicating my value. I believe it's not just what I learned about myself, but to think deeply and accept who I am-understanding that my uniqueness adds tremendous value, not only on campus, but also at work and in the world," Bergamo said.
"I also discovered how much I care about paying that forward and helping to mentor and coach others in their personal career journeys, whether as a friend, coworker or leader. Additionally, I rediscovered how much continuous learning and growth mean to me. It might sound cheesy, but going back to school reminded me how important it is to (reasonably) ensure I am always putting myself in situations where I will continue to learn and to foster that mindset where I can."
Noah Lian, doctor of sociology candidate
College of Arts and Science
"After witnessing the traumatic dying experiences of several beloved family members, my appreciation for efforts aimed at improving end of life quality grew exponentially. I realized I want to take part in this meaningful endeavor-offering my help to reduce suffering and contribute to more dignified and compassionate end-of-life experiences for all," said Lian, who is part of Assistant Professor Lucie Kalousova's Health Equity at the End of Life through Community and Action (the HEAL project) team.
"For me, Vanderbilt has been the place where a personal calling became a scholarly pursuit-and where I found the courage to believe that research can genuinely change how people experience their final days. This is a place full of bright and ambitious people. If you come with something that you deeply care about and are ready to put in the effort, the university's globally renowned reputation, rich networks and abundant resources are going to help you succeed and embrace a self you once only dared to imagine," Lian said.
Jamie Vescio, doctoral candidate in learning, teaching and diversity
Department of Teaching and Learning
Peabody College of education and human development
"I have definitely learned to let go of control! Although I was a teacher before, doing research in schools has taught me this lesson through a different light. Some days, teachers are too overwhelmed for a planning session, a student whom I had planned to interview is absent, or children take our conversations in a completely different direction than I had anticipated. Being adaptive to the ebbs and flows of schooling has taught me how to be responsive to teachers' and students' needs above all else," Vescio said.
"My research is about designing learning environments for understanding and hopefully redefining what it means to be mathematical in schools. A cornerstone of this work is examining how our methodologies, as researchers and educators, can afford children the opportunity to be a part of that redefining process."
Olivia Riedling, doctoral candidate in biological sciences
College of Arts and Science
"I've learned that I'm capable of a lot more than I initially thought. I've always been a bit shy, but being at Vanderbilt has pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me take on things I never thought I would. One of the biggest things has been mentoring; I've taken on a lot of it and realized how much I love teaching and seeing students get excited about research and big questions," said Riedling, who works in the lab of Antonis Rokas, professor of biological sciences.
Niambi McLaurin, master of divinity candidate
Vanderbilt Divinity School
"I have taken my time at Vanderbilt seriously as a space for both professional and spiritual development, and through that, I've learned to trust myself more fully," McLaurin said.
"My life experiences had a way of pushing me to question my path and my choices, but I've come to believe that nothing in our journeys go to waste. I've also learned that I am most grounded and effective when I allow myself to be both intellectual and imaginative. I take my research as seriously as my creativity and personal voice."
Amelia Cephas, doctoral candidate in cell and developmental biology
School of Medicine Basic Sciences
"I've learned that I really care about serving people and connecting them to the resources they need. I've also realized that I really enjoy planning, organizing and science outreach. Over time, I've learned more about the kind of person I want to be and the kind of work I want to do, and I could see myself in the future pursuing a research administrative role, either in government or at an R1 institution, with the hope of helping support and improve research in the GI field," said Cephas, who studies pancreatic cancer.
Jerod Johnson, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner candidate
School of Nursing
"I am inspired to study and become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and serve minority groups and underserved populations. I believe representation matters and impacts patient outcomes," Johnson said.
"During my experience at VUSN, I have learned what it means to believe in yourself. I learned what it means to truly give myself grace and be consistent with my studies. I learned how to balance many life challenges throughout this journey. I had to manage family, work, grief, losses and health challenges while enrolled at VUSN. Hard work pays off. You just have to continue to work hard to achieve your goals despite life challenges."
- Read how graduate and professional students in the Class of 2026 want to make the world better
- Learn more about Vanderbilt's graduate and professional programs
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- Read the stories behind the innovators and problem-solvers making waves across disciplines
