“I am a fraud, and it’s only a matter of time before my advisor realizes it.” “I am the dumbest person in my program.” “I am not as smart as my peers, I have no idea how I even got into grad school” Thoughts like these are a classic symptom of Imposter Syndrome. First described … [Read more…]
Navigating life in St. John’s as an international student was no small feat. Coming from the bustling streets of Lagos, Nigeria—where getting directions is often just a shout away—adjusting to the world of Google Maps was challenging. One cold day, I boarded the wrong bus. Frustrated but determined, I asked questions, figured out the map, … [Read more…]
As a novice to some of the cultures of the western world in the fall of 2023, I remember walking down the streets of St. John’s and seeing some “scary” decorations. Some nights, these decorations genuinely frightened me, and I pondered on the significance. Being a new student at the time, adjusting to my class … [Read more…]
Interdisciplinary Research: What is it? Interdisciplinary research spans multiple academic fields and promotes collaboration between individuals and lab groups worldwide. Such research approaches expose students to a vast range of skills and points of view and are gaining popularity for their utility in investigating complex ideas. For example, up-and-coming degrees, like the Cognitive and Behavioural … [Read more…]
As a Master’s in Applied Psychological Science (MAPS) Co-op student, I had the incredible opportunity to complete both of my work terms with Food First NL, a provincial non-profit dedicated to advancing the right to food in Newfoundland and Labrador. Although it was initially not my first choice for a work term, the experience opened … [Read more…]
Territory Acknowledgement & Positionality I want to acknowledge that the lands on which I work, study, and live—within the St. John’s area—are situated in the traditional territories of diverse Indigenous groups, including the Beothuk [bee-oth-uck] and Mi’kmaq [mee-gum-maq] on the island of Newfoundland. Further, I acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures in the … [Read more…]
Part Three: Past Arctic & Inuit Archaeological Cultures For this final post in my mini series, I will briefly discuss the Past Arctic Archaeological Cultures and Inuit Archaeological Cultures in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). As noted previously, “Past Arctic” is a term I use to describe what many archaeologists call the “Paleo-Inuit” or “Paleo-Eskimo” Peoples. … [Read more…]
Part Two: First Nations Archaeological Cultures As the name implies, archaeologists believe these groups share similar ancestry to contemporary First Nations in the province today. However, as you will see below, some archaeologists believe in a separation between these groups and contemporary First Nations—though they would still consider these groups related as First Nations people—while … [Read more…]
Part One: Introduction Territory Acknowledgement & Positionality I want to acknowledge that the lands on which I work, study, and live—within the St. John’s area—are situated in the traditional territories of diverse Indigenous groups, including the Beothuk [bee-oth-uck] and Mi’kmaq [mee-gum-maq] on the island of Newfoundland. Further, I acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and … [Read more…]
What exactly is intersectionality, you might be wondering? Intersectionality is a sociological framework used to understand the social and political identities of an individual and a group when discussing race, class, gender, sexuality, and, most recently, disability. This theoretical framework stems from critical race theory and feminist studies in the 90s to describe how these … [Read more…]