By Greg Jao
The anxiety nightmares were comic and consistent. The curtain was going up, and I hadn’t yet memorized my lines. The concert was beginning, and I was scanning my music for the first time. I was headed to law school in a few days, and I was (evidently) anxious.
Nevertheless, I was deeply grateful at how well my InterVarsity undergraduate experience had prepared me for the transition. I knew the local staff. I felt confident I could think Christianly about the study of law. I was prepared to serve missionally.
Sadly, many of our alumni headed to graduate school do not feel so prepared. Here are three things we can do to alleviate (some of) their anxiety nightmares:
1. Connect alumni headed to graduate school with GFM chapters and staff
It’s heartbreaking how frequently GFM staff encounter former chapter leaders who are unaware InterVarsity can meet their need for community and discipleship in their graduate school. Find a GFM chapter and staff here.
(It’s even more heartbreaking how many say they don’t want to be involved because their undergraduate InterVarsity experience burned them out. That’s a different article.)
2. Prepare students and alumni to think Christianly
“I majored in InterVarsity” may be a sign we failed in their discipleship. Incarnational ministry includes fully incarnational engagement in their classrooms. Consider discipling student with the following resources:
If you don’t feel confident you can lead this kind of a conversation, ask a faculty member or graduate student to volunteer with you – and sit in and learn!
3. Introduce them to critical online resources
The Emerging Scholars Network (including the ESN Blog) builds the pipeline from undergraduate students to faculty. The Well is a lively and thoughtful community of women in the academy and professions. And GFM has an online library of resources for grad students (and faculty) across a wide spectrum.
Law school wasn’t that hard. It turned out to be a time of spiritual and intellectual growth, deep community, and ministry engagement. I pray all our chapter leaders headed to graduate school have the same experience.
