Student Blog | Gsauwaterloo

Student Blogs

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) Student Blog is a space dedicated to amplifying the voices, experiences, and perspectives of graduate students. Graduate school is not only a place of research and academic discovery, but also a time for reflection, creativity, and dialogue. This blog offers a platform for students to share their ideas and stories with the wider graduate community.

We invite submissions on topics that matter to you, including academic life, research journeys, social issues, personal experiences, creativity, wellness, and reflections on graduate student life. Contributions may take the form of essays, opinion pieces, or commentary.

This space aims to foster an open, respectful, and intellectually engaging community. While posts reflect individual perspectives, they contribute to a broader conversation that enriches the graduate student experience.

Email gsa-advocacy@uwaterloo.ca to submit a blog post.

Two suitcases and a world of change: The International grad school experience

When you start grad school as an international student, you arrive with two suitcases and a lot of excitement . Everything is new—new people, new campus, new routines. You’re eager to dive into research and make the most of this opportunity. But soon, small challenges start adding up. Things take longer— understanding expectations, adjusting to new ways of communicating, figuring out how things work in a different academic system . You watch others move through tasks effort

gsa-comms

Feb 91 min read

Finding Home Away from Home: The Power of Campus Involvement

By: Bhagya Chandani When I first arrived in Canada as an international graduate student, everything felt unfamiliar—the weather, the people, even the way small talk worked. I was excited, but I also felt a little lost. Back home, I had my routines, my favorite cafés, and my go-to friends for a late-night chat. Here, I had to start from scratch. I still remember my first few days at the University of Waterloo—walking around campus, trying to memorize building names, and awk

gsa-comms

Feb 92 min read

The Joys of Solving Epic Rock Problems

School terms have always been stressful, so I’ve been looking for things to do to take breaks that would not only offer relaxation but would also be something exciting to me. Rock climbing, while not “relaxing” to some, has been that hobby for me. I started rock climbing about a year ago, but it has now become a constant in my life. I look forward to getting my assignments and studying completed in a timely manner because it means that I have more time to go climbing.  The

gsa-comms

Feb 92 min read

Not Your Average Classroom: MSc Fieldwork

Waterloo has a reputation for pushing the boundaries of science, and when I accepted my offer to start my MSc, I knew I was signing up for an adventure! As an Earth scientist, a lot of our research happens outside, which comes with its own set of challenges and unforgettable experiences. Along the way, I’ve faced my fair share of obstacles, but each one has taught me something valuable. Now, as my MSc comes to an end, I’m able to reflect on the valuable lessons I’ve learned a

gsa-comms

Feb 92 min read

Rock Climbing

By: Jared Isaac Friedel I am very thankful that I have the time and ability to participate in rock climbing while being a graduate student here at the University of Waterloo. I spend a lot of time looking at a screen in my office, which is terribly ironic for someone researching biomechanics and ergonomics. Throughout my university career I have tried to maintain a balance between school and hobbies. For me, climbing is more than just exercise; It’s a perfect blend of physi

gsa-comms

Feb 52 min read

Embracing the Unexpected: My Journey from MEng to MAS

- Anik Ashirwadam, MASC – Chemical Engineering, Graduated: 2024 The saying, “One often meets their destiny on the road they take to avoid it,” aptly describes my journey toward earning a master’s in chemical engineering at the University of Waterloo. Receiving the acceptance letter was a milestone, but arriving late in Fall 2022 due to visa issues impacted my first term. Despite the initial struggle, exploring campus life was an exhilarating experience. Initially, I pursue

gsa-comms

Feb 52 min read

Experiencing 2025 Toronto’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade as an UW International Graduate Student

By Yuqi Zhao March 16, 2024, was a day filled with energy, tradition, and a sea of green as Toronto hosted its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. As an international graduate student in the Master of Accounting program at the University of Waterloo, attending the parade was more than just a fun outing—it was an opportunity to immerse myself in Canadian culture and understand the importance of embracing new experiences with an open mind. Growing up in a different part of

gsa-comms

Feb 52 min read

A Simple, Joyful Birthday in Chilika Lagoon

By Greeshma Prakash Sherly MES SUSM Candidate, SEED. It was my third day in Chilika, I woke to the delicate clinging of bangles filling the morning air. It is their part of tradition and culture for married women to wear those bangles. As the clinging echoed around me, I slightly opened my eyes and glanced at my phone for time, it was 7:00 am already and I also realised it was my 25 th birthday. Birthdays have always been a mundane day for me but taking a twist this year. S

gsa-comms

Feb 54 min read

A Global Learning Experience in Taiwan: Federated Learning and Beyond

By: K axit Pandya As a Master’s student at the University of Waterloo, my journey into technology and research has taken me across borders, with one of the most enriching experiences being my research internship at National Chung Cheng University (NCCU) in Taiwan. During this internship, I explored the field of Federated Learning to predict water quality parameters using drone images. This approach enables collaborative learning across multiple devices without compromising da

gsa-comms

Aug 15, 20252 min read