GSA Student Blogs

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

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

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

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

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

- 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

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

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

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