tips and a discussion of what to expect as we began our graduate education. During the personal statement discussion group, I discovered that a strong personal statement was extremely important. I hadn’t realized that so much emphasis is placed on writing well. My mentor was very helpful in improving my personal statement and advised me regarding what I should, and what I should not, include. Another seminar outlined the difference between Ph.D. and Master’s degrees, and provided helpful information in deciding which to pursue. I learned that a Ph.D. leads to research and teaching and, since I would like to apply my knowledge and studies directly to the Navajo community, I found myself deciding that a Masters program would be the best thing for me. At the end of the program, there were college presentations that allowed me the opportunity to talk with representatives and ask questions. There were many group seminars, one which provided personal feedback from my fellow group members and my mentor. Overall, the Graduate Horizons program was very beneficial and the knowledge that I gained is invaluable. GH has helped me prepare for graduate school
and inspired me to be more optimistic and progressive in my steps towards that goal. I learned that, as long as you prepare the right way, the GRE and other graduate school requirements are not so scary. The importance of a strong personal statement that demonstrates, to a graduate school committee, who I am and illustrates that I am a person that would be an invaluable asset to their school and program cannot be overemphasized. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful program. Being in the atmosphere of Native students and faculty, from 40 different tribes all over the nation, has left me wanting, as everyone else was, to make a difference. I feel that I am now ready for graduate school and that I am going to make a profound difference in my community. To end this article, I would like to give a huge ’thank you’ to the American Indian Graduate Center, not only for helping fund the Graduate Horizons program, but as an outstanding organization that funds so many Native students, who dream of higher education, throughout the country. Ahehee Nitsaa’go’ (Thank you very much!) ✦
EQUIP YOURSELF
TURu uHuLLuuGuu uuTu uuuuRTUuuTuuu
The Difference is You uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
www.uisus.uuu
Juiu uuuuu iu uuuuuuuu • uxpuuuu yuuu upuuus • uuuuuuuhuu yuuu uuuwuuk • Luuuu uuw skiuus uuu uxpuuuu uuw iuuus
The American Indian Graduate
13