Thriving in Grad School with Lessons, Challenges and Community Building
Edited by Vismitha Yaji
The Student Voices is back for a new spring semester, and in the first installment of this series, we feature a fellow grad student, Arpi Khachatryan who is navigating the highs and lows of academic life with resilience, creativity, and a deep passion for media studies.
From balancing a packed schedule to fostering a sense of community through a self-initiated film club, she shares valuable insights on thriving in grad school, embracing challenges, and building meaningful connections along the way.
As an international student living off-campus, she reflects on the unique experience of balancing independence in the city with creating a sense of belonging on campus.
Can you share a moment from your student life that challenged you and taught you something valuable?
The busier you are, the more you can accomplish. Every student faces a point where juggling classes, work, relationships, and future plans feels overwhelming—I certainly did last semester. But I’ve learned that if you push through, you’ll discover that a packed schedule actually helps you get more done. It might sound contradictory, but it’s true! Some see tasks as a game; I prefer to view them as quests. Why not make writing a paper or cooking dinner an adventure? The key lesson: if you truly want to do something, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find excuses.
What’s the one thing you wish more people understood about being a student today?
Being a Master’s student is a completely different experience from undergrad. Universities often feel like they belong to undergrads—with their big communities, strong friendships, active clubs, and closer ties with professors. I don’t blame them; I had the same experience during my bachelor’s and made the most of it. Undergrads have more time and space to explore and grow. Grad students, on the other hand, usually come in as more formed individuals, focused on using this phase as a bridge to their goals, without putting down roots.
While individualism is great, it thrives because of community—a connection many grad students, especially aspiring academics, often miss. That said, it’s not impossible to create meaningful connections. Grad school demands more responsibility and self-reliance than undergrad, but it also offers the chance to build a few deep, rewarding friendships. With some effort, you might even find or create the community you’ve been craving—I did, and I couldn’t be more grateful!
Is there a particular class, event, or experience here that changed your perspective on something?
The thesis proposal lab in the Fall of 2024 completely changed my routine as a student, made me fall in love with research even harder than I was before, and formed my academic research interests that might influence my work for years to come – I hope. First of all, I feel so lucky, that I have such great thesis readers, from whom I have already learned and look forward to learning a lot. I became more responsible, (almost) got rid of my procrastination habits, learned to take criticism better and use it to improve my writing and ideas, and met fellow grad students/future scholars with very promising projects – people I’m very excited to work with.
If you could change one thing about your student experience, what would it be and why?
I’d spend more time on campus!! For me, campus is an inseparable part of college life, it helps the school feel like home. Yet, as I live in Brooklyn, I only come to campus for classes and handpicked events – which is also a great part of grad student life! Makes me feel like an adult more. But, honestly, I only started feeling part of The New School when I first had a meal at the cafeteria! So, even if you don’t live on campus, the key is to find a balance; I guess – to have your adult life and independence in the city AND be part of the campus life and the community.
What’s a lesson you’ve learned outside the classroom that’s had the most impact on you?
The art of being a good director starts with people skills. In Fall 2023, I started Dreamweave, a two-part meta-movie with friends that’s been my most challenging yet rewarding project. Having made 8+ award-winning short films as a one-person crew, this was my first time working with a full team, and it taught me so much.
Directing isn’t just about creativity and storytelling—it’s also about leadership, communication, and managing relationships, often balancing them with friendships. This project has been an incredible learning experience, and the connections I’ve made are priceless. Here’s to finishing strong before graduation!
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your university journey or any achievements of yours that you would like to highlight?
The New Film Club! During my undergrad, I was part of the film club and eventually became its president, forming a great community of like-minded people. When I came to The New School in Fall 2023, I noticed a lack of film societies, so I teamed up with two friends to create The New Film Club. We screen movies monthly, provide snacks, and I lead discussions afterward. Although it’s a low-key club with a few loyal members, it’s been a fun and rewarding experience. It’s definitely one of the highlights of my grad school journey—popcorn machine and all!
If you’d like to share your own stories with the community, we’d love to hear from you! Submit your contributions here or reach out to us at smscommsandevents@newschool.edu.