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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
Promoting accessibility and flexibility within the classroom can benefit more than just disabled students. Without knowing it, other students may have been subjected to and utilized various learning methods presented in the classroom by their instructors. These methods can range from videos (and live lectures) with closed captioning to lecture notes provided before or after class. Even … [Read more…]
As an undergrad, I idolized my professors and believed they were some of the smartest people I would ever meet. They were experts; they had spent years gaining highly specialized knowledge in their fields and had eloquent, complicated answers to any question thrown at them. I was constantly in awe of the academics around me, … [Read more…]
Growing up as a disabled person in Newfoundland, I never considered what being disabled genuinely meant until I began thinking about what life after high school should look like for me. Looking that far into the future was a scary endeavour, one that I continue to think about as I navigate through the last few … [Read more…]