Cultivating Possibility: Reflections on Community, Connection, and the Graduate School Journey
From the Summer Workshop to Recruiters’ Weekend, advising, and SOPA onboarding, IRT scholars, staff, faculty, alumni, and Consortium recruiters continue to build pathways grounded in belonging, purpose, and collective care.
As we move further into the IRT year, I find myself reflecting on the wisdom, generosity, and commitment that make this community so special. Over the past few months, we have been reminded that preparing for graduate school is about far more than applications and admissions decisions. It is about discovering possibilities, building meaningful connections, and recognizing the strengths scholars already possess.
At every stage of the process, we have witnessed people showing up for one another in meaningful ways. Scholars have encouraged their peers, faculty have shared their knowledge generously, alumni have offered guidance and perspective, and recruiters have helped scholars imagine new pathways forward. Together, these moments remind us that access is strengthened when we invest in one another’s growth and success.
IRTA Advising: Finding Fit and Direction
Throughout the summer and early fall, scholars worked closely with their IRT Advisors (IRTAs): LaShawnda Brooks, Catherine Wong, Leislie Godo-Solo, and Alba Lamar.
Together, we support scholars as they develop school lists aligned with their interests, funding priorities, and long-term goals. Our role is not to make decisions for scholars, but to help them examine options, ask thoughtful questions, and identify programs that reflect their aspirations and values.
At IRT, we often emphasize institutional fit and faculty. We encourage scholars to think broadly about where they will thrive academically, professionally, and personally. By the time scholars transition into application writing, many have a clearer sense of what they are seeking in a graduate program.
SOPA Onboarding: Supporting the Next Stage
In September, I launched onboarding for our 2026 Statement of Purpose Advisors (SOPAs), bringing together an outstanding team of faculty, researchers, and academic professionals who will help guide scholars through the application process.
Across two onboarding sessions, advisors shared practical strategies for supporting scholars as writers, thinkers, and future graduate students. What stood out most to me was the deep sense of care they bring to this work.
Our advisors understand that supporting a statement of purpose involves more than strengthening a piece of writing. It requires building trust, encouraging reflection, and helping scholars tell their stories with authenticity and confidence. Their commitment reflects the heart of what makes the IRT community so powerful.
Looking Ahead: Embracing Our Shared Kuleana
As I reflect on the Summer Workshop, Recruiters’ Weekend, IRTA advising, and SOPA onboarding, I keep returning to a Hawaiian proverb that was reinforced for me during a recent trip home to Hawaiʻi: Aʻohe pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokahi. All knowledge is not taught in the same school; one can learn from many sources (ʻŌlelo Noʻeau: Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings).
This proverb reminds me that learning never happens in isolation. It is shaped by the relationships we build, the experiences we share, and the communities that help us grow. One value that continues to guide me is kuleana, our shared responsibility to care for and contribute to something larger than ourselves. Throughout these past few months, I saw that spirit come alive as scholars supported one another and faculty, alumni, recruiters, and advisors generously shared their time, wisdom, and encouragement, paying forward the guidance and opportunities they once received.
This spirit of reciprocity has always been at the heart of IRT.
Another value that resonates deeply with me is aloha. Too often, aloha is understood simply as a greeting. Yet it is also a way of being grounded in presence, respect, compassion, and genuine care for others. Some of the most meaningful moments this summer happened when people showed up authentically, listened deeply, and created space for others to feel seen, heard, and valued.
Whether during a summer workshop seminar, scholar presentation, a conversation with a recruiter, or an advising meeting, I witnessed the IRT community sharing not only their expertise but also their humanity.
As we move into application season, I invite you all to reflect on the following question and share your thoughts:
- How are you using your knowledge, experiences, and positions not only to navigate existing pathways, but also to reshape them so that those who follow encounter fewer barriers and greater possibilities?
As always, I am grateful to be part of this community and inspired by the ways we continue to learn from one another, support one another, and share our gifts in service of something larger than ourselves. The work of expanding opportunity and belonging is never finished, but it becomes more possible when we embrace it as a collective responsibility. I look forward to continuing that work alongside all of you.
Malama pono (take good care),
Catherine
