For the first four years after I first walked down the big lawn of Stony Brook University in August 2009, I walked into many different science classes dreading f an upcoming midterm. But somehow, I completed the BS in Biology and took my MCAT, which didn’t turn out the way I expected. After so much of my youthful days spent in college, I wasn’t sure what I would do next. What can I do next? How marketable is a degree in General Biology? I didn’t realize that over the next six years, as I entered the workforce,
I toiled over what to do next and what I can do besides getting a low-paying office job. A letter comes in the mail talking about Polysomnographic Technology (Sleep Technology). I read the description: “Wow! Working with doctors? Fifty to sixty thousand dollars a year! Sign me up!” I apply for the program and get in and begin my studies in sleep technology.
Approximately five years after, I am worn out by the night-shift and began to become bored with the sleep technologist position. Once more, I am back to square one. I spend hours on the computer looking for alternate paths. I look into a career that often ranks high on the lists of best professions in terms of job satisfaction and pay…the actuary. This is a career I’ve looked into during my undergraduate education, but I was more concerned on just getting that piece of paper.
I think to myself, “How do I apply my analytical skills gained during my undergraduate and professional skills?” To this day, the answer to this question is still in progress. This is a prime example as to how my ‘intellectual entrepreneurship’ is evolving on a day-to-day basis. Cherwitz and Sullivan (2002) provide insight into how those beginning their careers apply intellect as a multi-faceted enterprise. This particular enterprise details strengthening of skillsets to market themselves to organizations that thrive on fostering the growth of their employees. In other words, we learn, we improve and we conquer!
An intellectual entrepreneur is always looking to market their skills to the business world. In turn, an ever-expanding market is out there hungry for the expertise of such people. During my time as an undergraduate in biology, a good amount of time was spent in the laboratory. In biochemistry, chemistry, physics and organic chemistry laboratories, invaluable analytical skills were gained. Even in my professional career as a sleep technologist, we needed to analyze those plagued with sleep issues, such as sleep apnea. This was crucial for us to work with doctors to implement the best treatment.
I am still working on the application of the undergraduate degree in General Biology to the workplace. However, the analytical skills needed to become a successful actuary aligns very well with the analytical skills gained during my professional and undergraduate careers. How do I utilize these skills and collaborate with like-minded professionals to solve complex problems that an actuary may tackle; entering a promising and challenging new career?
“Synergy groups” form a multidisciplinary team to solve complex issues. Cherwitz and Sullivan (2002) describe how like-minded professionals pool their resources together to solve complex issues in such groups; in the process learn more about themselves. Different skillsets meld together to form a powerful tool for conquering hurdles that may come with tackling these said issues. In working together, the group members may discover passions that they did not even know existed. In turn, the group benefits by allowing each member to focus on certain intricacies of the issue in question.
Similarly, collaborative writing in the workplace strings together various experts within an organization to produce a document that thoroughly informs a certain group in question. Schneider and Andre (2005), details how different paths of study use collaborative writing to form a cohesive piece of writing (which in turn is accessible to the general public). It is important to voice the strengths that each contributor has. However, there must be a seamless cohesion of ideas in producing a collaborative writing effort.
Analytical skill development allows for the latter effort to become facilitated. Egos must be put aside and the mind must be open to the ideas of colleagues to form a cogent piece of writing. In the case of collaborative writing, the audience themselves come from all walks of life. Therefore, it is important for the collaborative writing piece to be simple enough for it to be accessible to the masses.
I am studying applied mathematics, with a focus on becoming an actuary. Actuaries work with other professionals to determine risks in terms of insurance-related issues. The group dynamic is of utmost importance in an actuary’s skillset. Another activity related to the day-to-day work of an actuary is conveying complex actuarial issues to those not familiar with the actuarial field.
An actuary may need to consult other professionals or even work together to procure a document that addresses the complexities of actuarial science to important parties. Stakeholders in the company need to be informed of products to guide them with investments. In turn, these very stakeholders provide the funding needed to further the goals of the organization.
It is amazing to see how the interconnectedness of an organization and its professionals dictate the level of success at achieving certain organizational goals. A focus on group work and the discovery about both oneself and hidden passions, makes for a tantalizing opportunity. The vast amount of information exchange benefits all that are involved in a collaborative effort .
I believe that group work eliminates the need for the hiring of an expert outside of an organization. It is empowering to know that you contributed to the development or improvement of a product. The synergy involved makes insurmountable issues less daunting. The pooling of minds is important in creating milestones that we cannot fathom on our own.
In all, both multidisciplinary group formation and collaborative writing have a great amount of applications in the real world. Translating the group dynamic in the classroom into the workplace is tantamount on becoming functional units in society. When we work together, there are endless opportunities for us to explore!
Cherwitz and Sullivan, Intellectual Entrepreneurship–A Vision for Graduate Education