Almost two years ago, I was sitting in my bedroom, staring at my laptop as the cursor blinked on an empty page. I was not struggling for ideas, but I felt that my art could do more than exist on a screen. I wanted it to speak, to connect, and to make a difference in … [Read more…]
It has always been my desire to pursue further studies abroad because I wanted to build roots and expand my network beyond what I grew up knowing. But I would say Memorial University found its way to me. It chose me, and I chose it right back. I only learned about Memorial because my friend, … [Read more…]
I’m bad at a lot of things. Parallel parking? Can’t be bothered. Keeping on top of my emails? Unlikely. Poster making? I shudder every time I see the Canva logo. Unfortunately, as a graduate student, I am confronted by my weaknesses every day. And even more unfortunately, they are tasks that need to be done. … [Read more…]
My name is Wubamlak N. Alehegn, and I am a second-year PhD student in the Department of Earth Sciences at Memorial University (MUN). I am from Ethiopia, a multicultural, multilingual, and historically rich country in East Africa. While it is my first time living abroad, the very friendly, smiling, and welcoming nature of Canadians in … [Read more…]
If you had told me a few years ago that one of the greatest challenges of my PhD wouldn’t be designing multistep syntheses or understanding the behavior of distorted aromatic systems, but rather staying mentally resilient through long stretches of uncertainty, I might have been surprised. But now, halfway through my doctoral studies in organic … [Read more…]
This past May 2025, I crossed the stage at the Arts and Culture Centre in St. John’s to receive my Master of Environmental Science (MES) degree from Memorial University. That moment meant everything to me, not just as the end of a chapter, but as a reflection of years of dedication, hard work, and a … [Read more…]
I am almost at the finish line, two years and two months after starting graduate school. From the day I started my master’s program, I fantasized about this moment, but now that I am here, I find myself reflecting on the last two years. While there are plenty of joyous memories, such as travelling to … [Read more…]
Just like that, a two-year journey has come to an end, and what a journey it has been. This is not just a graduation post; it’s a bold step forward, the closing of one chapter, and the opening of another. What started as a diploma program unexpectedly transitioned into a master’s degree pathway, and today, … [Read more…]
Initially, I thought writing this particular blog would be the easiest piece I’d have to complete. But alas, I find myself deeply reflecting on my two-year graduate school experience at Memorial University, wondering – where exactly do I begin? Like many international graduate students at Memorial, studying at this prestigious institution demands a good level … [Read more…]
This past week, I had my biannual existential crisis. What am I doing with my life? Am I prepared to move away to pursue a doctorate? Is the student debt worth it? What about leaving my family and friends? Should I quit my job? What if I just got a job and bought a house? … [Read more…]