Welcome to the first week of school. To get a head start, check out Ally Frid’s blog posts Getting Ready to Get Back to School! and The First Week of School and along with my recent post, ‘Back’ To School.
Before we jump into the school year, I want to share a highlight from the end of my summer. Last week, I had the privilege of participation in Dissertation on the Lake, which brought together 30 Queen’s Grad students from various fields, for a week of focused writing at Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre. I am so thankful to have been chosen for this opportunity! From the moment you arrive, you realize you are in a special place, one that fosters both productivity and respite.
I appreciate the time spent with other graduate students who are all in a similar situation I am in, stressed out and trying to make progress on their writing. Each day we took a minimum of 2 three-hour blocks of time to write, write, write. And we really did! Everyone at the camp took this time seriously and respected when others were focused on their work. We encouraged one another to push through the challenges of writing and took breaks together to celebrate our progress. I was thankful to cross a few things off my ‘writing to do list’. It was also a great way to develop a daily writing routine that we can hopefully continue into the school year.
Dissertation on the Lake is also about having fun and building community. I enjoyed daily recreation such as swimming, canoeing, hiking, nightly card games and crackling campfires with gooey marshmallows. As someone who lives alone and often eats alone, I especially loved when we came together to cook and share conversations over food. It is like having a family away from home. This year, I even had a special cooking lesson from some friends who taught me how to make curry. Thank you! I will cherish this memory and attempt to recreate this meal on my own. Yum!
I know that when I look back on my time as a graduate student, the experiences at Dissertation on the Lake will stand out as one of the highlights, and the people I met have already become lasting friends.
A big thank you to The School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs who make this happen for us, especially our Bronzer Camp Leader Colette Steer and Assistant Camp Leaders Heather Merla and Katie-Marie McNeill and Transportation Leader Liam Spink. You all made this experience so special for us!
Be sure to mark your calendar for next year’s events: Dissertation on the Lake, with registration opening in early August and the camp taking place late August, and The Lake Shift, with registration starting in mid-June and the camp scheduled for early July.
Although the summer sleep away camps are over until next summer, there are plenty of on writing boot camps on campus including Dissertation Boot Camp (DBC), Dissertation Day Camp (DDC), and PA Day Writing Circles . These are excellent opportunities to maintain your writing momentum and stay connected with other students throughout the year.