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Victors in Grad School

Victors in Grad School

Di: Dr. Christopher Lewis
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A proposito di questo titolo

 Victors in Grad School explores what you can do to find success in your own graduate school journey no matter what you plan to do. Through experts and individual interviews you will be introduced to what it means to find success and tips on achieving success in graduate school.2024
Episodi
  • Balancing Life, Work, and Grad School: Success Tips from Bernard Drew

    Balancing Life, Work, and Grad School: Success Tips from Bernard Drew
    May 4 2026
    Are you considering graduate school, juggling work, family, and community commitments, or wondering how to make it all fit together? This week on the Victors in Grad School podcast, Dr. Christopher Lewis welcomes special guest Bernard Drew, business growth consultant at the Michigan Small Business Development Center, for an inspiring conversation about perseverance, prioritization, and the power of lifelong learning. Dr. Christopher Lewis sets the stage by reminding listeners that everyone's grad school journey looks different. Whether you're freshly accepted, deep in the trenches, or still deciding if it's the right move, each week's guest brings a unique perspective. This episode, however, is especially resonant for those returning to school after a significant break. 00:02:24 Bernard Drew shares his circuitous journey, going from a mechanical engineering undergrad, to working in business and ministry, to finally pursuing his MBA at Grand Valley State University nineteen years after his first degree. His turning point? A desire to serve more people, steward greater resources, and ensure he was as prepared as possible to give back to his community. A central theme discussed is the reality of balancing responsibilities. Bernard Drew is candid about the challenge: "If I'm going to add something else to my slate of priorities and responsibilities, it may imply I have to take something off the slate for a season." 00:07:46 From time-blocking Sundays for study sessions at Red Robin, to stepping back from some community commitments, he emphasizes the importance of clearly defining your "glass balls" – those priorities you cannot drop – and making peace with temporary sacrifices. The episode delivers actionable advice: Make the decision and the adjustments will follow; communicate boundaries and expectations with work and family; and don't underestimate the power of a strong support team. Even if you're returning to school after a long hiatus, leverage your lived experience and collaborate openly—you'll bring more value to the academic setting than you realize. Ready to be inspired? Hear Bernard Drew's full story and practical advice for succeeding in graduate school by listening to this episode of "Victors in Grad School." It's a must-hear for anyone who dreams of more, but wonders how to make it happen. Listen now and start writing your own victory story! TRANSCRIPT Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:01]: Welcome to Victors in Grad School, where we have conversations with students, alumni, and experts about what it takes to find success in graduate school. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:11]: Welcome back to Victors in Grad School. I'm your host, Dr. Christopher Lewis, Director of Graduate programs at the University of Michigan, Flint. Really excited to have you back again this week. And as always, every week we are on a journey together as you are thinking about graduate school and you're trying to figure out what is next for you. And every week I love being able to talk to you because it is a journey. And no matter if you are just starting, maybe you've applied, maybe you've gotten accepted, maybe you're in graduate school. Doesn't matter where you are in this journey. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:43]: But there are things that you can do right now to be able to prepare yourself, to be able to get yourself ready for success now. And that's why every week I bring you different people, different people with different experiences that can help you to be able to see graduate school from a little bit different perspective. And you can see graduate school through the experience that they had. This week. We've got another great guest. Bernard Drew is with us today. And Bernard is a business growth consultant at the Michigan Small Business Development Center. And Bernard has his own journey. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:20]: He started his undergraduate work at the University of Michigan and then went on and got an mba. And we'll be talking about that journey that he went on for himself. So I'm really excited to have him here. Bernard, thanks so much for being here today. Bernard Drew [00:01:32]: Well, good morning. It's an absolute pleasure to be part of this discussion with you, and I'm probably even more honored because I wish I would have known this existed before I started my own journey and glad that you're providing this kind of platform from others before they get started on theirs. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:45]: Well, as I said, I really am appreciative that you're being here now. What I want to do is I want to go back in time. And I said, you did your undergraduate work at the University of Michigan, and after that, you. You went off. You got a lot of different experiences along the way that helped you kind of, I'm going to say, explore many different things in your career and careers per se. And at some point, at some point while you were working in the different jobs and the different careers that ...
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    16 min
  • Balancing Career, Family, and an MBA: Lessons from Keith Poniers

    Balancing Career, Family, and an MBA: Lessons from Keith Poniers
    Apr 27 2026
    Are you contemplating a return to graduate school, or perhaps already in the thick of balancing higher education with work and family commitments? The latest episode of Victors in Grad School dives into the inspiring journey of Keith Poniers, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Hurley Medical Center, as he recounts what it truly takes to thrive in graduate school after years away from academia. Hosted by Dr. Christopher Lewis, Director of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan-Flint, this episode offers an honest, firsthand account of re-entering higher education more than two decades after earning an undergraduate degree. Keith Poniers reflects that it had been 26 years since he stepped into a classroom, and details how evolving career ambitions and executive opportunities motivated him to pursue an MBA (02:25). He candidly discusses the challenge of shaking off "school mode" and stepping into a new academic environment surrounded by both younger students and peers from diverse backgrounds (05:03). A primary theme throughout the episode is the importance of resilience and adaptability. Keith Poniers openly shares the nerves that came with his first orientation, the adjustment to working alongside younger classmates, and the rapid pivot to online learning brought about by the pandemic (09:04). He credits supportive professors and a strong personal support system—including his wife—for helping him maintain balance and motivation during challenging times (07:28). Sacrificing leisure activities, managing work stress, and dedicating ample time to study were keys to his success, alongside the drive to meet his own high standards (08:37). Listeners will find actionable advice woven throughout, especially for professionals considering graduate school. Keith Poniers emphasizes finding a program that fits your personal circumstances, preparing for a demanding time commitment, and being ready for collaborative, group-based learning environments (13:15). The episode is rich in reminders about the personal and professional rewards of graduate education, the value of maintaining motivation, and the necessity of adapting to new formats like online learning. If you're seeking relatable insights and practical encouragement on the road to an advanced degree, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to hear Keith Poniers and Dr. Christopher Lewis explore the realities of balancing life, career, and education—proving that it's never too late to become a victor in grad school. Ready to take the next step? Listen to the full episode and let their stories inspire your graduate journey! TRANSCRIPT Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:01]: Welcome to Victors in Grad School, where we have conversations with students, alumni, and experts about what it takes to find success in graduate school. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:11]: Welcome back to Victors in Grad School. I'm your host, Dr. Christopher Lewis, Director of graduate programs at the University of Michigan, Flint. Really excited to have you back again this week. As always, every week we are on a journey together. This is a great opportunity for us to be able to take a look at this journey that you've decided to explore or maybe that you're already on. Graduate school is definitely a journey. And no matter if you're just starting off, you're just starting to think about things, maybe you have applied, maybe you've been accepted, maybe you're in graduate school. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:44]: No matter where you are, this is a journey and it's leading you down that. That proverbial path toward the light at the end of the tunnel. And every week, I love to be able to talk to you, to work with you, to help you, to provide you with some tools for your toolbox, to give you some sense of how can you find success in this journey that you're on. That's why every week, I truly enjoy being able to introduce you to new people with different experiences that can share the graduate journey that they went on. With you this week, we got another great guest. Keith Ponyers is with us today. And Keith is the vice president and chief financial officer at Hurley Medical center. And I am really excited to be able to have him here to talk to you about his own journey in education and to welcome him to the show. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:31]: Keith, thank you so much for being here today. Keith Poniers [00:01:33]: Thank you. Thank you very much. I appreciate the time and look forward to sharing my experience. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:38]: Well, I'm really excited to have you here, and I always love to start these conversations with a turn back in time. So I know that you did your undergraduate work at Indiana University and you went through that experience, you got your bachelor's degree in accounting, and then you went off, you went off, you worked, and you got a lot of different experiences in different types of companies in you. At some point along the way, I'm ...
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    16 min
  • How to Share Obstacles You've Overcome in Your Personal Statement (Without Sounding Clichéd)

    How to Share Obstacles You've Overcome in Your Personal Statement (Without Sounding Clichéd)
    Apr 20 2026
    There's a question I hear often from graduate applicants—and it usually comes with a long pause and a little uncertainty: "Should I talk about the obstacles I've overcome in my personal statement?" And then the follow-up question: "What if it sounds… cliché?" If you're asking that, I want you to know: you're already thinking like a strong writer. Because the truth is, many applicants do write about challenges in ways that feel generic or overly dramatic. And that can make an essay blur into the background—especially when admissions reviewers are reading dozens (or hundreds) of statements. But here's the good news: You can absolutely write about obstacles you've overcome in a way that feels authentic, powerful, and professional. In fact, when done well, it often becomes the most compelling part of the essay—not because it's dramatic, but because it shows the real qualities graduate programs value: resilienceself-awarenessmaturityproblem-solvinggrowth So today, I'll show you how to present challenges you've faced without sounding cliché, without oversharing, and without turning your personal statement into a "sad story." Instead, you'll learn how to turn obstacles into narrative strength—while still clearly showing you're ready for graduate school. First: Yes, you can talk about obstacles (and sometimes you should) Let's begin by addressing the concern directly: You are allowed to talk about obstacles in a graduate school personal statement. Graduate programs understand that people don't arrive at graduate school with perfectly smooth paths. In fact, sometimes a challenge is what shapes a person into the kind of student and professional who thrives in graduate-level work. But there is one key principle to keep in mind: Your obstacle should not be the centerpiece. Your growth should be. This is where many essays go off track. Why some "obstacle essays" feel clichéd Let's talk honestly about what makes a challenge story land poorly. Obstacle stories often become clichés when they: rely on generic phrasesfocus too much on pain without reflectionjump to a "happy ending" without showing the processmake the reader do the work of connecting the dotssound like an inspirational movie trailer instead of a real person You've probably seen phrases like: "I learned that everything happens for a reason.""This challenge made me stronger than ever.""I never gave up on my dreams.""Through hard work and determination, I overcame…" None of these are inherently wrong—they're just vague. They don't show anything specific about you. Graduate programs don't need a motivational quote. They need clarity. They want to understand: what happenedwhat you didwhat you learnedhow it changed youhow it prepared you for graduate study The most important shift: Move from drama to meaning If you want to avoid clichés, here is the simplest and most powerful advice I can give: Don't write your obstacle story like a headline. Write it like a reflection. Instead of making the reader think: "Wow, that sounds hard." You want the reader to think: "This person learned something important, responded with maturity, and is ready for the next level." The heart of your obstacle story isn't the obstacle. It's the decisions you made and the growth you gained. What graduate programs want to see in an obstacle story When admissions reviewers read about a challenge, they're usually looking for signs of: coping and resilienceresponsibility and ownershipproblem-solvingability to seek helpself-awareness and reflectionforward movementreadiness, not fragility This is important: The goal is not to convince them you've suffered. The goal is to show them you can succeed, even when life is difficult. The best structure to use: Situation, Action, Growth, Connection This framework is the simplest way to write about obstacles without sounding cliché. I call it: SituationActionGrowthConnection Here's what that looks like. Situation Briefly describe what happened, with just enough context to understand the challenge. Keep this section short. You are not writing a memoir. Action What did you do in response? This is the most overlooked part of obstacle essays. Your response is what shows maturity. Growth What did you learn? Not a generic lesson—something specific that shows insight. Connection How does this connect to your goals and graduate readiness? This brings it back to admissions. What to include (and what to leave out) Let's make this practical. Include brief, relevant contextyour response and choiceshow you adaptedskills you developedhow it influenced your directiongrowth you can name clearlyforward-facing mindset Leave out or minimize overly detailed personal informationblame toward otherslong emotional descriptionsmedical or mental health specifics, unless necessary and handled carefullyunresolved hardship presented as ongoing crisisanything that makes the program ...
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    11 min
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