Article August 16, 1999 Issue

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE

Melanie Ann Wahlberg

As a graduate student, I needed to choose a doctoral dissertation advisor. Some fellow students concluded that there really wasn't a choice to be made, as there was only one faculty member whose research interests exactly matched mine. Besides this, he was internationally renowned for his scholarly work and publications. So to have his name associated with my work would bring prestige and credibility. However, I had worked closely with him previously on another project and had always felt uncomfortable. The idea of beginning a yearlong project with him was not appealing, but the alternatives were even less so.

I began seeking the opinions of faculty members I trusted. Should I bite the bullet and work with this man, or should I choose a professor whose research interests didn't match mine? Colleagues offered much sincere advice, but the suggestions were mutually contradictory, leaving me to conclude that the only way to get an answer was to listen to God for fresh inspiration.

I realized that my relationship with this professor needed healing, regardless of whom I chose. I prayed diligently to be free to base my decision on Principle rather than on fear.

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