When an airline asks you to sign a waiver for your guitar just scribble quickly in hard to read handwriting "no thank you" and hand it back. Later if they damage your equipment you can claim you did not understand why they handed that waiver to you.
If you’re considering pursuing post-secondary education but maybe aren’t sure you can do it, especially if you are a first-generation university student, don’t count yourself out. It’s easy to talk yourself out of it because you may not think your voice matters or that you have anything important to contribute—but nothing could be further from the truth. Your own unique life experience and perspective will be your biggest source of strength and learning. No one in the world thinks or creates things like you do!
In graduate studies, you will work harder than you have ever worked, but it is going to be so rewarding. There are experts in every field at the University of Guelph, who will support you and offer so many resources that are available to help you succeed. You are also going to meet some incredible people along the way, especially since there is such strong comradery among fellow graduate students. I know this is a cliché, but I think you get out of your time here what you put into it, and there are so many opportunities available to take advantage of, to ensure you have a great experience.
“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.”
Pursue research that you are passionate about and that inspires you. Graduate studies are a lot of work and can be difficult, and if you're not passionate about your research then you probably won't enjoy it. That being said, don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and experience new things, whether that be academically or personally. Also, don't be afraid to get involved, some of my greatest experiences at the University of Guelph have been outside of the classroom.
I would encourage all prospective graduate students to research their program of interest and speak directly to faculty prior to applying as this can ensure that your research goals align with your prospective advisor/program of choice.
To future graduate students, it is important to keep a clean, legible, and logical lab notebook! Also remember that your brain is your best weapon to succeed in graduate school and it functions best when it is well-rested; only pull all-nighters if necessary. Learn to manage your time and try not to do multiple things at once; multi-tasking in the lab can lead to errors in experiments. Finally, enjoy your time and get all the food and freebies from conferences and other events!
