{"676501":{"#nid":"676501","#data":{"type":"news","title":"8 Tips for Thriving in Graduate School with Executive MBA Student Mel Tobias","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDespite her fear of heights, executive MBA student and GT6000 group leader Mel Tobias participated in the Leadership Challenge High Ropes course during immersion week at Georgia Tech. This experience taught Tobias the value of teamwork, a crucial lesson both in graduate school and the workplace. It was one of many instances where Tobias pushed herself outside of her comfort zone to grow and succeed. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough experiences like the high ropes course, Tobias learned the importance of embracing challenges and teamwork, a mindset she has applied throughout her professional and academic journey. Drawing from these experiences, Tobias has compiled a variety of practical strategies to help fellow graduate students succeed both academically and personally.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUse read-aloud features for PDF and textbooks. \u003C\/strong\u003E\u201cRegister for any electronic textbooks. This is a huge time saver and allows for listening while doing other things, such as walking, relaxing, housekeeping, etc.,\u201d said Tobias.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYour network is your net worth.\u003C\/strong\u003E \u201cBuild relationships with your fellow students, advisors, professors, etc.,\u201d said Tobias.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESay yes to more and try things you didn\u2019t know you were capable of. \u003C\/strong\u003ETobias received some valuable advice from a classmate, which she has reflected on over the past year: \u201cWhen you are having trouble trying to decide to do something, ask yourself, \u2018When I reflect on this tomorrow, which will I regret more?\u2019\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAllocate time for self-care. \u003C\/strong\u003E\u201cFinding \u0027me time\u0027 was essential since I work full-time remotely from home, plus attending weekend and asynchronous classes online,\u201d said Tobias. \u201cBe intentional about allocating time for yourself and fun with your peers and step away from schoolwork. I use the Nike Training Club app for quick and free exercises, and I participate in local outdoor fitness offerings through the Beltline, the Home Depot Backyard, and the nearby Epicurean hotel that hosts yoga on Mondays.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKnow your why.\u003C\/strong\u003E \u201cHaving gratitude for the journey helps with focusing on my why,\u201d said Tobias. \u201cWhen things are tough, I try and remind myself that \u003Cem\u003EI get to\u003C\/em\u003E instead of \u003Cem\u003EI have to\u003C\/em\u003E.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECreate a matrix to manage time.\u003C\/strong\u003E \u201cWhen you look at all the classes and deliverables, it can feel overwhelming,\u201d said Tobias. \u201cIn my first semester, I created an Excel matrix to track due dates for all deliverables, including class preparation, and categorized by individual and team. I would work two weeks out, similar to the sprint work in my day job.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUtilize the library subscription offerings.\u003C\/strong\u003E \u201cI subscribe to Atlanta Business Chronicle, New York Times, and the Wall Street Journey,\u201d said Tobias. \u201cI will miss these free subscriptions once I lose my Georgia tech email address.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECustomize your email address.\u003C\/strong\u003E A customized email address enhances professionalism and is easier to recognize and remember. \u201cYou can customize your Georgia Tech email address,\u201d said Tobias. \u201cTo do this, log into OSCAR, select Passport, click on email preferences, and click \u2018Change your customized address.\u2019 This is how I went from mtobias6 to mel.tobias@gatech.edu.\u201d\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConnect with Tobias on LinkedIn at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/meltobias\/.\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/meltobias\/.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMel Tobias, executive MBA student and GT6000 group leader, has compiled a variety of practical strategies to help fellow graduate students succeed both academically and personally.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Mel Tobias, executive MBA student and GT6000 group leader, has compiled a variety of practical strategies to help fellow graduate students succeed both academically and personally. "}],"uid":"36249","created_gmt":"2024-09-03 20:42:09","changed_gmt":"2024-09-04 22:05:23","author":"Sara Franc","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-09-03T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-09-03T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674804":{"id":"674804","type":"image","title":"Mel Tobias","body":null,"created":"1725396486","gmt_created":"2024-09-03 20:48:06","changed":"1725396486","gmt_changed":"2024-09-03 20:48:06","alt":"Mel Tobias","file":{"fid":"258367","name":"mel-tobias.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/03\/mel-tobias.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/03\/mel-tobias.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2383702,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/03\/mel-tobias.png?itok=19TEgUov"}}},"media_ids":["674804"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/about-scheller\/scheller-stories\/mel-tobias.html","title":"Humans of Scheller: Mel Tobias"}],"groups":[{"id":"221981","name":"Graduate Studies"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1808","name":"graduate students"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESara Franc\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:sara.franc@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Esara.franc@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003Cbr\u003EOffice of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}