Vin

A lot of grad students turn to Vin Diesel for advice and insight when they get stuck or are struggling. Not a lot of people know that. It is probably because Vin Diesel says things like this: 

It is insecurity that is always chasing you and 

getting in the way of your dreams.

~ Vin Diesel

So, on behalf of graduate student almost everywhere - thank you, Vin Diesel.

Giraffe

In many graduate student cultures, the giraffe represents an ability to rise above - to rise above challenges, to rise above pettiness, to rise above the drama of others. In other graduate student cultures the giraffe represents a toy giraffe someone found on the ground.