Gradifying Blog

Written by Tiffany Harianto

As a graduate student, you may already have plenty of experience with food prep. On the other hand, this may be your first time living away from home, and the past month may have been a struggle balancing cooking with other commitments. I’ll share my own journey with food, as well as resources that can help you find delicious meals without emptying your bank account.

Written by Catherine Marcotte

Written by Özlem Atar

Hello! I hope that you are finding all the resources you need within reach as you are making Kingston (a.k.a. the Limestone City) your home.

The second week is full on! I thought I would reflect on my experience of intercultural encounters last week and mention two intercultural events.

Written by Ally Frid

As the first week of school arrives after a long and restful summer, it can be difficult to get back into the swing of things. Whether you are a returning student, or this is your first year at Queen’s, it is always important to get acquainted with the resources that are available to graduate students on campus.

Written by Pauline Pitcher

Completing a degree is a feat at any age; drivers range from goal attainment, marketability and employability, learning for learning’s sake, to fulfilling others' expectations. Chasing a degree in later life shares some of the same characteristics with earlier academic pursuits but it is a more intimidating beast. Individuals who pursue a degree in their mid-forties and beyond embark on an adventure, an uncharted course, as the old navigational tools need to be sharpened or replaced.

No matter how old you get, those back-to-school jitters will always be present. Whether you’re entering a new graduate program or returning for another year, it is completely normal to feel nervous for the first day. If this is something you’ve experienced before, or you are experiencing these emotions for the very first time, I am here to offer some advice that will (hopefully) put the butterflies at ease.

Written by Ally Frid

During the summertime, Kingston has endless events and opportunities for fun in the city. That being said, here are three things that you can do in Kingston, during the month of August.

Whether you are returning to Queen’s, or this is your very first year, there are ample opportunities to make new friends in an unfamiliar program. As a Queen’s graduate student, you get the luxury of having access to numerous grad student-only spaces. This allows for the perfect opportunity to meet other graduate students, who may belong to a different faculty or program.

In the midst of working hard, it's important to remember to destress and take time for you.

Every Sunday morning from10:00 am – 11:00 am the city of Kingston offers free yoga classes at Confederation Park - located at 216 Ontario Street, directly across from City Hall on the waterfront of downtown Kingston. Arrive early to find your instructor and set up your mat in your favourite spot.

Each class is taught by a different yoga studio exposing you to a variety of yoga practices and yogis.

At Queen’s we are lucky enough to have the Society of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. The SGSPA works to make our experience in graduate school as positive as possible, providing support, encouragement, and professional development opportunities. I have benefitted greatly from many of the programs that they offer! This post will spotlight some of the programs and events that the SGSPA offers for grad students. 

Grad school is hard. Most of us at some point (or points) during our degree could benefit from some mental health help. It can be intimidating to look for services, and there are options available that you might not even be aware of. I hope that by creating a ‘cheat sheet’ of different sources for working on your mental health, you are able to find whatever you think would be best for you. I also will recommend that you try to avoid my mistake – waiting until things are an emergency.