“I like the fact that you can go out to the Arboretum and walk during lunch. The flowers and the trees provide such a beautiful and serene outlook to the campus. I like how the buildings are not congested into one area but are separated by trees and pathways.”
The advice or words of wisdom is simple, do whatever you think you want to do. I mean I had to really figure out if this is what I wanted to do and why. When that was settled, I did my research on programs and such but for me I talked with other academics from different disciplines. I needed to hear what it would be like emotionally and mentally and then think about how I would handle those ups and downs. Once, I had the basics of what I needed, and I knew what I could control, I put my best effort forth and then I felt content with results. This has been my mindset, to understand the coursework, to learn and adapt, and do my best. And once you’re in a program, they want you there, otherwise they wouldn’t have accepted you.
Other universities feel like universities, but U of G feels like home. I love that the campus has trees, green spaces, and historic buildings combined with modern elements. Where else would you get to see a cannon regularly painted in the cover of darkness, or a bear statue dressed up for special occasions? The student community is also wonderfully supportive, kind, outgoing, and charismatic. U of G has a personality like no other school.
Graduate studies are not to be taken lightly, and choosing the lab, department, and institution are just as important as the research itself. The U of G supports their graduate students in a way that some larger universities don't, and an emphasis is placed on graduating well-rounded, critically-thinking students that will be able to succeed in whatever profession they choose.
If someone were thinking about graduate studies, I would tell them that it is important to gain education, but it is also just as important to gain experience. Fortunately, the University of Guelph gives you the chance to do both of these things at the same time.
When you are a graduate student, you are not only a student but you are also a teacher. Within my role as a Teaching Assistant, I had the opportunity to teach lectures and share my industry experience. This experience has been very rewarding and I had undergraduate students reach out to me and ask for advice on applying to the graduate program, or simply ask for advice on how to select the right job in the marketing industry.
I have found success in graduate studies by having a solid group of people supporting me. Academia can be daunting and difficult, but having friends and colleagues who are like-minded, engaged, and generally supportive has made my journey possible. Pick your department and supervisor with care, seize opportunities, explore new and old interests, maintain hobbies outside of research, and most of all: stay curious.
I lived in Ridgetown as this is where my research was conducted. Although Ridgetown does not have much infrastructure in comparison to the City of Guelph, it has large acres of land for research in agriculture. I sometimes enjoyed a tour on the vast land with various research work going on. Personally, I think Ridgetown may be the town with the kindest people I have met, and I know the same is true for the City of Guelph.
