Hello, AEA365 community! Liz DiLuzio here, Lead Curator of the blog. This week is Individuals Week, which means we take a break from our themed weeks and spotlight the Hot Tips, Cool Tricks, Rad Resources and Lessons Learned from any evaluator interested in sharing. Would you like to contribute to future individuals weeks? Email me at AEA365@eval.org with an idea or a draft and we will make it happen.
Hello, I’m Fardin (far-deen) Rahman, MPH. I joined the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) fellow in September 2023 after completing my Master’s degree earlier that year. It was quite a rapid transition—one moment I was a student and the next I’m a professional in the public health evaluation field. At the start of my fellowship, I struggled to let go of the familiar deadlines and commitments of graduate school to embrace the fluidity of the workplace. I want to share three lessons that helped me adjust to my new role and responsibilities while maintaining work-life balance.
1. It’s okay to put work down momentarily; in fact, you may be required to do so.
In graduate school, I thrived as a multitasker. But in the fellowship, where my commitments and deadlines vary, I had to learn to be flexible and know when to reprioritize. At first, setting aside projects to make room for new ones went against my natural instincts. When I shared this feeling with my co-fellow, she reminded me that we are no longer being graded by a professor. Her advice: “You know your deadlines, so it’s up to you to decide how to prioritize and do the work at hand.”
2. Establish a healthy balance between time working and time away from work.
As a graduate student, I was accustomed to having a group meeting in the morning, finishing my paper in the afternoon, and staying up all night to study. There was no end to my school day. Early in my time as a fellow, I considered working after hours or during weekends to keep all my projects moving rather than putting work on pause. However, I had to remind myself that I don’t have to constantly interact with projects once the clock hits 5PM. There is not an expectation for you to work late into the night or on the weekend, so do not sacrifice your free or vacation time.
3. Take your time to do the work and do it well.
To a graduate student, everything is a priority, and it all has to be done in the time assigned. When I was a student, I sometimes had to forfeit quality for the sake of completion, especially during midterms and finals when assignments and exams bunched up in a week. But the fellowship frees me from overlapping commitments. I can spend 30 minutes, an hour, or even take the work week to engage with each of my projects and produce high-quality work. Remember, speed is not always the key indicator, so invest in quality rather than rushing to completion.
The transition from school to work can feel daunting, but a public health fellowship such as this is an opportunity to get hands-on training and develop as a professional. When I received my fellowship offer, I was afraid of stepping into this new role where I’m no longer a student. It wasn’t until I immersed myself in my work that things began to feel calmer. It takes time to become comfortable with change. Just remember to give yourself grace.
Rad Resource
You can explore CDC fellowships like mine and other training opportunities here.
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