Hi everyone! I’m Amy, a first year Doctoral candidate in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
While I am really excited to be starting this program, the past couple of months have been a huge adjustment. I am on educational leave from my full time position as a social worker with Stella’s Circle, a local non-profit organization here in St John’s. Becoming a full time student after many years of working has been strange… but good!
The first thing to get used to was not having anywhere to go in the mornings. Having only one morning class makes sleeping in the rest of the week pretty tempting. I had to create my own schedule and figure out the best way I work. Turns out, I am a morning person. I like to get up and get stuff done. It has been challenging to mix course work, RA work, TA work and life. I’m still working on balance and making sure I maintain healthy habits like enough sleep, exercise and good food, as well as time for fun.
One of the things I am really enjoying about being a full time student is being on campus and engaging in campus life. I recently completed my Masters in Gender Studies as a part time student while I worked full time. I highly recommend the program, the staff and faculty are great and there is opportunity to study some very cool topics. However, I think I missed out on some experiences as a part time student. Now that I am on campus more I am taking more advantage of lectures, workshops and information sessions that are offered. It is amazing to be able to listen to all the interesting work that is being done within Memorial, as well as from other universities. One of the things that I love about being a full time student is having an opportunity to meet people who are engaged in really thought-provoking projects. I encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities, whether you are a student or not. Go to lectures that aren’t necessarily in your areas of interest; you never know what you will find inspiring and motivating.
I’m also really enjoying getting to know my classmates. My cohort is incredibly supportive and are a diverse and interesting group of people. It’s nice being able to hang out in the grad room to get some work done, commiserate or have a much needed laugh. It is also great to get to know faculty and staff within the Department of Sociology. Everyone is encouraging, supportive and offers opportunities to expand my thinking and develop professional and academic skills.
I had the opportunity to TA this semester and it has been a great experience. I am responsible for marking student assignments and helping them with problems that arise. I have really enjoyed being able to work with undergrad students and provide some feedback that I hope will encourage them to continue developing writing and research skills.
While I am enjoying my time as a student, I do miss my job, co-workers and clients. I work with women involved in the criminal justice system. As a social worker, I offer therapeutic groups and individual counselling within our provincial women’s prison and in the community. I am very passionate about my work and have learned so much from the women I’ve worked with. My professional experiences have influenced my academic research and I have found my academic experiences helpful in my social work practice. It has been a symbiosis that keeps my passion for my work fueled. For my master’s project, I engaged women living in prison, in a dance workshop with the intent to talk about how being in prison impacts their bodies. Having already worked in this setting, I was aware of some of the issues; but bringing a new and creative method of dance allowed me to explore new issues and relate to women in exciting ways. The experience was awesome and I hope to continue to work with women in prison as I continue my doctoral studies. My graduate program will help me to be a better social worker and I hope that I can share the voices of women in prison to a wider audience.
While starting this program has been an adjustment and a challenge, I am thrilled to have this opportunity. I work with an amazing organization that has allowed me to take educational leave. I have the support of my partner, family and friends who encourage me to pursue my goals. Having the opportunity to go back to school is a privilege. I am grateful and excited to have started the journey.
Until next time…
~Amy