Courses are done and summer is here! For us, it’s a break from the classroom, but we have still so much to do – research assistantships, proposals, field work, thesis writing, comprehensive exam prep. The list goes on! But we made it. You made it. No matter how it went, we all did our best. … [Read more…]
(Photo caption: The author taking their own advice and exploring Bell Island. Photo credit Joanie Kennah) It will likely come as no surprise to you that in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic, and the stresses of grad school, going outside comes as a frequent recommendation to improve quality of life – and only … [Read more…]
(My dog (Randy) hanging out in the armchair where I like to read. He’s always believed in me and known I’d make it through grad school in one piece.) The first time I submitted my thesis, it felt like a failure and I was happy to get it out of my sight. For some folks, … [Read more…]
Welcome to the last day of the semester! For many of you, this is crunch time! There are exams coming up, assignments due, deadlines for your thesis, conferences and presentations, and so many more things to keep track of. I am here to remind you that you can do this. You are almost there, and … [Read more…]
“Just 10 more minutes…” becomes 30 minutes, one hour, two hours…by the time I wake up feeling completely guilty, it’s time to open the computer and get ready to spend the rest of the day looking at that screen containing various word documents, PDF files, and small squares of people. Working from home has its … [Read more…]
Greetings from Grenfell my fellow colleagues! Since I last wrote, it was the beginning of the fall semester and online learning came into full swing. Personally, I was excited to start studies online. I imagined all the free time I would have for writing, research, and just for myself because I wouldn’t have to commute! … [Read more…]
Life is full of mysteries and surprises. One day you are feeling down and the next you visualize all kinds of opportunities knocking at your door. When I listen to other students with great confidence and fluent speech, I can only wish to be like them, and struggle thinking that it will take me years … [Read more…]
Graduate studies and academia throughout Canada, and around the world, have been emphasizing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) work more lately. This is indisputable progress, even if the progress is not as quick or comprehensive as some of us might like. More frank discussions of the additional challenges faced by racialized, disabled, or other marginalized … [Read more…]
“Wow, you’re really confident.” People tell me I act with confidence but that never feels true. I don’t feel confident, but somehow I look confident from the outside. Inside, I grapple with imposter syndrome and a lot of social anxiety. Once upon a time, I decided to take the meaning of a common phrase associated … [Read more…]
When I first came to Canada, there was a lot of excitement and curiosity. There was so much I wanted to do, so much to discover, and so many expectations to fulfill. Little did I know that I’d be graduating in the middle of a worldwide pandemic! Heck, even today as I write this piece, … [Read more…]