What does taking responsibility mean to you as an individual? Does it imply embracing the positive outcomes of your decisions, actions, and choices, or does it also require acknowledging the negative consequences, making necessary corrective actions, and learning from them? I find that taking responsibility means different things to different people, but I strongly believe … [Read more…]
Two incidents that occurred during the data collection stage of my master’s thesis made me recognize the importance of policy-engaged research. As a graduate student conducting research on infant and maternal mortality, I conducted a study at a health facility. I selected three local health facilities and scheduled appointments with the heads of nursing departments … [Read more…]
Nothing is impossible for the one who believes so. This summarizes Dan’s transition into Canada. Dan came to Canada as an international student. Back in his home country, he was a thriving professional. Upon arriving here, he was allowed by his employer to work remotely while studying. So, the ambitious professional concluded he wouldn’t take … [Read more…]
There are divergent views on success. Some say it’s a product of hard work. Some say it’s sheer luck. More recent schools of thought say it’s a combination of both–hard work and luck. That’s well, true. But I believe every success story has something much more important: self-belief. I recall grappling with my academics in … [Read more…]
Mature students often have the subtle connotation of being luddites. Unable to successfully negotiate the academic world, our pursuits are admirable, but ultimately doomed. At 39, I felt the alienation of a repetitive work environment and the longing for intellectual stimulation and fulfilment. I started by listening to a philosophy podcast (Philosophize This! – It’s … [Read more…]
I have heard many times that graduate school is a marathon and not a sprint. In fact, in her blog post last week Amy Sheppard said this very thing! I wanted to expand on this idea because for the past year I spend most of my time either running or working on my thesis. I … [Read more…]