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…]