Hello fellow graduate students! It is almost Thanksgiving and Reading Week. I am certainly ready for a few days of break.
As you know, I am writing this reflection, second in the series this semester, as I am nearing the finish line in my PhD student journey. I evaluate success from the opposite end of Ahmad Nagib’s “Before You Dive In.” In his first blogpost, Ahmad shared wonderful tips to kickstart your graduate student journey. It is a must to generate impactful research and build a robust publication record if you want a career in academia. I will also suggest that you balance work and play while achieving your academic and career goals. Dedicate weekends to family and friends. Build and reinforce your social circles. Rest whatever that means to you. Today, I’m sharing a few that have worked for me.
My #1 wellness activity has been long walks. I took a 12k walk last Saturday. The weather was spectacular. I strolled along the same streets I had walked when I was a newbie in Canada. I took in the sights with the eyes of an expert this time. Call me a flaneuse. I claim Kingstown as my own by wandering its crescents and streets; discovering its lush parks and shady corners; peering into small shops. I take many photos. On Saturday, I was present to the minutiae of life in the city, continuously processing the sights, smells, and sounds while finding solutions to the questions in my head—be they about a paper I am writing these days or the “now what?” any soon-to-be alumna might have. The photo that accompanies this blogpost is from Lake Ontario Park. Fall is the perfect time to connect with nature in Kingston’s largest urban waterfront park. Don't miss out on the sunshine!
Are you interested more in walking with lanterns to light your way? Then, Kingston Haunted Walks are for you. Get ready to uncover some dark secrets of this haunted town. Or fancy some eerie tales about Queen’s University? The organizers promise a degree in the supernatural!
My #2 wellness activity has been connecting with others through creative activities. A Work Study position I held as the season three host of International Voices at Queen’s podcast was a once in a lifetime project. I interviewed nine students. I planned, recorded, and edited eight episodes in total, with support from my mentors at Queen’s University International Centre and Student Academic Success Service. I learned to use an audio editing tool. I got paid to do my hobby.
Talking about getting paid to do the work you love reminds me of another opportunity for advanced PhD students. Have you heard of Queen’s Doctoral Internship in University Administration? Application portal opens on October 16 for this hands-on learning experience.
My #3 wellness activity has entailed building social circles through volunteering. I am a born introvert. I identify as a sworn extrovert. I purposely put myself out there and talk with strangers, mostly because I am so nervous in the presence of strangers. When I first arrived in Canada, I was quiet. Too quiet. Call me the master observer of life around me, if you like. Later, I would talk about my many silences in a published essay: embarrassed silences, incompetent silences, and so on. I was bewildered most of the time. I had to act on it if I was to thrive in a foreign setting. Several seemingly small steps helped me overcome my shyness:
- The day I entered the Ban Righ Centre at 32 Bader Lane in the third week of my time in Canada, quite homesick and disoriented, would be the first step to make connections in Kingston. I met many wonderful folks there. If you are a mature woman student and/or a student mother, you must visit the BRC now. You will find comradery, support, and food in addition to study space and rooms to nap between classes. On October 24, the Ban Righ Foundation is celebrating its 50th anniversary. You are invited.
- The day I joined King’s Town Trekkers Volkssport Club marked another turning point in my social life. King’s Town Trekkers is a non-competitive walking club under Canadian Volkssport Federation. I learned a new way of appreciating Kingston and nearby towns while walking with locals. The club delivered its promise: it helped me with physical fitness and provided friendship. I even got to lead four walks at our Walking Festival in May 2024, flaunting my knowledge of the town.
- I connected with new students by acting as Student Ambassador for Cultural Studies. You, too, could contribute to Queen’s efforts to cultivate a culture of belonging in your department or as a Graduate Inclusivity Fellow (GIF) within SGSPA while developing your leadership skills. GIFs welcome the next generation of graduate students to Queen's by sharing knowledge they gained through experience. Keep an eye out for communication from the grad office regarding volunteer opportunities. Check, also, volunteer opportunities within Career Services.
- Lastly, my small talk with a teacher at a gathering took me to Kingston Literacy & Skills. I am glad I spoke with her and followed up on an email she sent to the school. The recruiter’s “Our newcomer students will be very lucky to have you as their tutor” was very affirming of my skills as an ESL teacher. I love contributing to newcomers’ belonging and inclusion while also working on my own social skills.
What works for you?