Dear Reader,
Hello (again)! My name is April McInnes, and some of you may remember me from last year if you tuned into the SASS blog in 2023-2024. I was deep in the throes of a one-year master’s degree in English Language and Literature, and I loved it so much that I signed myself up for another round with the Department of English as a PhD student! Thank you to those of you who followed my MA journey. And to those of you joining this voyage, buckle up; we’re in for a wild ride.
New readers, I should tell you a bit about me. (Former readers, this is where you “skip ad” and mow by the preamble.) I’m from a small, rural, one-stoplight town on the outskirts of Kingston called Glenburnie, and I’m proud to call it home. The longest I’ve been away from the area is 11 days. Yes, I’ve done all my degrees at Queen’s, including a BAH in English and History, a BEd in the intermediate/senior division, and an MA in English. Why stop there, right? Some people struggle to grasp why I would ever choose to complete all my degrees at one university, but I can’t think of any reason I would leave, besides doing so to please those who possess the mindset that you must leave your university to gain new insights from others. I’ve countered this by working with someone new each year, whether it be a new project supervisor, course instructor, or staff member at a volunteer organization. I’ve got enough reasons to stay.
I wish everyone had the opportunity to stay in their hometown and attend the university of their dreams there, but I know this isn’t a privilege granted to everyone. To those of you who do university alone, without your family, without your high school teachers rooting for you from just down the road, without your Grade One teacher cheering you on, without your dog (living, or a memory you find under an apple tree near your family home), I want you to find a community among the student body at Queen’s that is as wonderful as the one I’ve found here. I spend my weekends in Glenburnie, but my weeks would be unbearable in Kingston without the incredible friends, co-workers, volunteers, supervisors, and instructors I have supporting me. I know the people for you are out there; you’ve just gotta find them.
Easy to say, right? “Just be yourself and you’ll make friends.” Yikes, let the flashbacks to grade school ensue. Let’s reel it in for a second. We hardly know each other yet, right? (Unless you read my blogs last year—then you’ve seen me at my best and my worst). I should at least buy you dinner first. May I offer you information about periodic free mason jar meals for grad students from Student Wellness Services (registration required)? There we go. Now that I’ve provided you with the whereabouts of dinner, let’s talk about community.
Here are my tips for meeting new people in your first weeks at Queen’s.
Go to Orientation
Yes. Do it. Even if you’re like me and you’ve been here your entire life. I’ve met some of the best people I know at orientation events. It’s a time to focus solely on building connections and familiarizing yourself with the university. For incoming grad students, check out @queensgradstudy on Instagram and register (link in bio) for the New Student Welcome Reception on September 5th from 5pm-7pm in the Biosciences Complex on Arch St.
Attend the Sidewalk Sale
Looking to join an organization? A club? A student-led initiative? A community group? This is your chance to learn about all sorts of groups that might align with your interests. This year, the Sidewalk Sale is September 7th, 2024 on University Ave, south of Union St and north of Stuart St (the cobblestone road through the centre of Main Campus). There are also some free giveaways, so be sure to keep an eye out.
Use Grad Spaces
If you are lucky enough to have shared office space on campus, I highly recommend using it. I connected with my best friends by showing up to the office every day and simply working in the presence of some of the greatest supporters I’ve met. We hold each other accountable, and we take our lunches together to decompress. If you don’t have shared space, consider checking out the campus spaces specifically for graduate students.
These are just some of the ways to meet other people and start building a community of your own. Classes and research groups are, of course, another way to meet people, but I think we’re at the point now where I don’t have to put on my “teacher voice” and tell you to get to class. Times do get tough, though. So if you do find yourself struggling to find the motivation to go to class, take a look at the services offered by Student Affairs and see which ones might be useful given your situation. When in doubt, give Student Wellness Services a call. There is always someone here for you; you’ve just gotta find them.
Be well, and good luck with your endeavours!
Until next time,
April