After the GRC: Reflections and Insights

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Moment of truth: I’ve been struggling with how say "goodbye". Do I write a big speech cheering you on? Do I offer a summary of everything we have covered? But what about the real truth? 

Here it is–and I hate this—but it is the reality. 

Not everyone can win the competition. 

There is a first-place winner, a second-place winner, and a third-place winner. Sometimes, there is a People’s Choice or Audience Choice award. Even though I’m not a math genius, I know that the odds of winning a GRC are low. 

But let me share another, much more important truth: If you have worked through this entire program, if you have prepared and delivered your GRC talk, then you’ve already accomplished something far more meaningful than a prize or a title. 

You’ve planted the seeds for a lifelong skill that will continue to serve you—not just in competitions, but in your career, your collaborations, and your ability to share your research with the world.

In the first week of Take First!, we looked at the reasons why a GRC is a productive activity for you. Let’s remember everything you have done: You have...

• developed excellent science communication skills
• built your confidence as a public speaker
• received feedback about your research from general audiences
• shared your research and passion for science
• become a better researcher because you have engaged a public audience and you can anticipate their questions and concerns
• developed an appreciation for how your research fits into the larger world of science and society
• become more competitive on the job market because you can communicate your research clearly
• built your networking skills as you share your GRC talk at meetings, conferences, and informal occasions
• learned about your fellow graduate students’ research
• participated in the research culture at your university
• created a high-quality video that you can share with family, friends, future employers, and your future self
• and yes—had fun! 

Win or lose, you’ve grown. You’ve shown up. You’ve done the work. That’s worth more than prize money—it’s a lasting personal and professional milestone.

So, here’s my big speech:

I am proud of you. Genuinely. You’ve taken your research beyond the lab bench, beyond the data analysis, beyond the fieldwork—you’ve made it accessible, alive, and human. That takes courage. That takes vision. That takes heart.

Thank you for trusting me to guide you on this journey. It’s been an honor to be alongside you as you found your voice and shared your story. If you ever need a reminder of how far you’ve come—or a bit of encouragement for where you’re going—Take First is here, and so am I.

Go forward boldly. Communicate your research with enthusiasm. And always keep your curiosity alive.

Contact information: Marlit Hayslett, PhD. email: take.first.in.your.grc@gmail.com.