Megan Yarusso, Masters of Urban and Regional Planning, 2027
What has been a highlight of your grad school experience so far?
One definite highlight of my grad school experience so far has been my TA-ship. Getting to work with students in the classroom as an instructor has been a very unique experience, as its not something I had ever really imagined for myself. I find that not only is providing support to students very rewarding for its own sake, it’s also a very valuable way to apply my own knowledge. In my case, I get to help students with a software I only became proficient in thanks to my graduate coursework, so it’s been neat to watch myself go from a total novice back in the fall, to teaching others this spring!
How has your thinking or perspective changed since starting your program?
For me, the biggest shift in my thinking has been the ability to better apply the beliefs and values I carried into this program through the technical knowledge I’m gaining. I come from the humanities and social sciences, so while I entered my program confidant in my theoretical background, I had less of a material perspective on my field. However, through my coursework I’ve been able to better acquaint myself with the real-world strategies Planners can use to effect change according to their values; I’m thinking here of various policy solutions, legal frameworks, and even feats of engineering. Its definitely improving my problem solving skills!
Where do you go on campus when you need to reset or get inspired?
When I need a break, I like to frequent the 710 mart for a bao bun (or ice cream on a hot day). Its a short and pleasant walk from the south quad (where the planning department lives) and stopping to eat a bao bun always helps get my energy back up.
What would you tell your past self before starting grad school?
Be deadly serious about time management, but also know its not the end of the world to take a break and have fun. I think my past self could also stand to internalize that she doesn’t need to do everything under the sun. Since I’ve gotten here, I’ve had a lot of really fantastic opportunities, but it important to keep in mind that over-committing is a great way to ensure you get the least out of all of your commitments.
Tell us about a project or idea you’ve become really passionate about here?
As of this moment, I’ve become quite interested in property law. This is thanks to a class of mine that’s specifically focused on planning’s legal context, but its got me thinking more about legal frameworks more generally, and it may be something I’ll have to explore further.
