Why did you choose Waterloo?
I’ve had wonderful math teachers, both through elementary and high school. The majority of my teachers – especially in higher math – were all women. I looked up to these teachers who were teaching me something amazing that I loved, and they showed me I could do it too, so I decided to study math.
I went to the University of Guelph to participate in their cross country and track and field program. The math program there was very small – between 20 and 40 students in my graduating class – and it was wonderful. It was a mathematical science program, and you were required to take some other science or STEM classes, so I took a bunch of environmental sciences, and minored in creative writing as well.
So I was taking all of these classes on climate change, math, and environment, and I realized I wanted to do a master’s. I found my supervisor here at Waterloo, Chris Bauch, who focuses on human-environmental systems, and decided I wanted to see what I could do related to climate change from a mathematical perspective. Oh, and then I found out that the Faculty of Math colour was pink – and my favorite colour is pink – so it felt like the stars aligned!
What does a typical day look like for you?
I moved back home in December to finish my degree, but before that, I lived at Columbia Lake Village with a lot of other graduate students. I tried to always get up with my alarm, eat a good breakfast, and then walk to campus, which forced me to get a breath of fresh air no matter the weather. Then I’d settle in to work in my office, doing simulations, reading research papers, writing and editing my thesis, or doing my TA duties. I made sure, however, to take frequent 5-15 dance breaks, where I would literally just hop around and dance for a little bit of movement for the body and the mind!
One of my favorite parts of the week was attending the Writing Café at the Writing and Communications Centre on Wednesdays. It was a guaranteed good time and I looked forward to it every week! My minor in creative writing did not prepare me for the amount of writing, rewriting, and editing that was necessary for a master’s thesis, and I found the Centre really helpful.
Usually by four I’d be fried, so I’d go rock climbing or get food with friends then head home to do more work if necessary, play some video games, and head to bed. I really tried to make a distinction that I worked on campus and relaxed and disconnected at home.
What do you do for fun?
Like so many other math students, I’ve recently gotten into rock climbing. I am competitive about doing puzzles, and it’s like a fun puzzle-solving competition with my friends. I also love to read: I read every single night before I go to bed. I especially love to read fiction by Canadian authors; one of my recent favorites is Moon of the Crusted Snow, by Waubgeshig Rice.
Do you have any advice for incoming graduate students?
Go to events put on by your departments, and other graduate student association events – a lot of times they’re held at the Grad House, our bar and meeting place for graduate students. Making friends with other graduate students outside of a direct academic context can be so good for your mental and physical health.
Go to events put on by your departments, and other graduate student association events – a lot of times they’re held at the Grad House, our bar and meeting place for graduate students. Making friends with other graduate students outside of a direct academic context can be so good for your mental and physical health.