by Dr. Robert Whitman
This column is a place where members can help each other foster the resilience that has sustained Indigenous people. In this issue, we present Part II of a message from Dr. Robert “Bob” Whitman, professor emeritus at the University of Denver, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and AISES Board of Directors chair emeritus.
Having a strong foundation with deep roots is important in dealing with situations that arise in academic and professional work environments. Knowing who you are, your ancestry grounds you, to be sturdy in dealing with adverse conditions. My father and other elders always advised me to be prepared to deal with any situation. I took this advice to heart when I was working on my dissertation and dissertation defense.
Your confidence, preparation, and knowledge can overcome many obstacles.
Always have a positive attitude. Having a positive self-image and self-talk increases your self-confidence. Your confidence, preparation, and knowledge can overcome many obstacles. A “can-do” attitude is a definite plus. Set high goals for yourself. Write out your goals, with timelines, in a notebook and revisit it often to see if you are on course. My high goal was to return to graduate school and successfully complete a doctoral degree in electrical engineering. I was off in my timeline, but I did complete my doctoral studies.
Seek out mentors to help guide your journey. Mentors are people who are like-minded — who have taken a journey similar to the one you are on. Their insights and advice are invaluable as you go about your journey. I had many mentors over my career as a student, an engineer, and as an academician. The advice I obtained helped me deal with obstacles.
To accomplish a successful career, you must apply all your physical being and energies to the required tasks. Holding back or putting in partial effort will result in a half-done job or, at worse, failure.
Main Photo:istock; portrait courtesy of Dr. Whitman