Postscript Archives - Page 3 of 6

Overcoming adversity to become a leader

Written on March 22, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

I spent the 14-hour drive from my home in Bedford, Nova Scotia, to my first day at Queen’s shaking. My mind raced with dreams of someday becoming a ‘Queen of Queen’s’ and finding my footing in a new environment. But I also knew that I was anything but the typical Queen’s student. My father is a first-generation...

Not drinking at one of Canada’s top party schools

Written on March 15, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

On Homecoming of my first year I got drunk for the first and last time. I spent the first two months of school desperate to fit in with my peers and, sporting a tricolour rugby shirt and stumbling down University Avenue, I felt like I finally had. In my first few weeks at Queen’s, I’d somehow missed...

Forging my Jewish identity as a minority

Written on March 8, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

As one of few Jewish people attending my Anglican high school, I was accustomed to being the centre of attention in curious rooms. While learning about the Holocaust in History class, my peers’ eyes would dart towards me before participating. When we covered Judaism in World Religions, my teacher...

Bringing my family’s hopes, dreams and fears with me to Queen’s

Written on February 28, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

When I stepped onto my first university campus in 2016, my family came with me and never truly left. Seated in our beat-down pick-up truck, my hopeful mother and father shared my confusion navigating Queen’s on move-in day as we searched for West Campus. Moving my luggage into the top floor of the...

Being Black, queer, and hopeful for our future

Written on February 14, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

I found it difficult to connect with other men during high school because I didn’t feel masculine enough to fit in, even when we shared similar interests. Nonetheless, I was still able to make some male friends and I’d like to imagine we had fairly decent relationships. But I faced a significant issue...

Personalizing Black History Month

Written on February 8, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

Mental illness doesn’t stop for any occasion. I’ve spent birthdays and family vacations playing tug of war with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. I’ve found myself immobilized by fear minutes before leaving my house because the mere idea of being in a room full of people was overwhelming. Try as I may, events...

Me before you: love and mental health

Written on February 1, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

This article mentions suicide and may be triggering for some readers. Due to the sensitivity of the content, the author’s name has been removed to maintain anonymity. As the middle child in a family of three girls, my mum always referred to me as the glue. I kept the sisterly fighting to a...

Photo essay: North America in the eyes of an exchange student

Written on January 25, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

When I arrived in Canada for fall semester, I never expected a series of adventures would follow meeting a wonderful travel buddy. Coming to a new place—especially one on the opposite side of the world—is tough. Once I got used to my surroundings and started making friends, I noticed all the activities...

Entering the Lion’s Den of residential Kingston

Written on January 18, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

Getting too comfortable in your environment is a sin. After a run-in with a local Kingston resident, I realized that’s for good reason. After three years in Kingston, I’ll admit my cockiness has the tendency to get the better of me. I tend to forget I live in a real town and not a student jungle...

Tackling diabetes as a team sport

Written on January 11, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

When I was first diagnosed as a diabetic, I thought my condition was a burden to carry alone for the rest of my life. It took me a few years to figure out I had it backwards. When I was twelve years old, I abruptly lost an alarming amount of weight. I suddenly looked like I was drowning in my Lululemon...

Spending the holidays like a Gael

Written on November 29, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

While some students are lucky enough to head home early for winter break, others spend most of December getting exam-ready in the library. As the end of the year approaches, The Journal asked students to share their most memorable holiday experiences at Queen’s. We hope these stories remind you to...

Students and alumni share how they met their Queen’s housemates

Written on November 23, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

The end of first semester means two things: stress, and for some, house hunting. When you’re already pressed for time, it can be hard to decide where you want to live and who you want to live with. The Journal asked Queen’s students to share how they met their housemates. Hopefully, these stories...

Standing strong in the face of antisemitism

Written on November 16, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

I can’t remember a time where I was unaware people in the world would harm me solely because I was Jewish. That statement may sound extreme. But in the aftermath of the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, where the shooter yelled, “All Jews must die” before taking...

Discovering my limits at the New York City Marathon

Written on November 9, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

Turning the corner onto Lafayette Avenue, I looked at my arm. It was covered in goosebumps for the sixth time in the last 50 minutes. I’d been counting. Two hours later, the pain had set in and I was incapable of thinking anything so small. At that moment, there were 26.2 miles of the New York Marathon...

Photo essay: A picture-perfect tour of Lake Louise

Written on November 2, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

When I set out looking for a summer job, I didn’t plan on living in a postcard. As it turns out, pleasant surprises are a reality. After first year, I worked at Lake Louise in Banff National park for three months. If you Google “Canada,” you’re basically guaranteed to see photos of either Lake Louise...

Queen’s students share their personal ghost stories

Written on October 24, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

Rooming with Spirits In 2017, five of my friends and I moved into our new house to find we weren’t the only ones living there. We’d been looking forward to moving in for almost a year. Second year meant no more cafeteria food, dons, or public bathrooms—only six friends living together. We quickly...

Queen’s students and alumni share their most memorable Homecomings

Written on October 19, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

Whether it’s running down Aberdeen Street or connecting with past generations of Gaels, Homecoming is an unforgettable experience in the Queen’s community. As this year’s celebration approaches, The Journal asked students and alumni to share the stories of their most memorable Homecoming. *** “In...

Applying minimalism to the student lifestyle

Written on October 12, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

In September 2016, I came to school with a truck full of boxes and a mind cluttered by expectations. It would be a few months before I sought help and turned to a minimalist lifestyle—a way of life that seeks value in non-material things and declutters more than your personal space. Minimalism focuses...

Opening up about my silent struggles with mental illness

Written on October 4, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

Growing up, I was under the impression mental illness was the result of some trauma or difficult upbringing, leaving me safely unaffected. However, in grade 10, my doctor said I may have anxiety after I recovered from an 18-month-long undiagnosed stomach illness that led me to miss school. While it...

Five days of post-worthy student perfection

Written on September 28, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

The public personas of social media stars are perfect—no ‘cheat days,’ no sleeping in, and no mistakes. As an avid Instagram and YouTube consumer, I’ve noticed social media personalities commenting on fitness, diet, and the student lifestyle. Their messages seem positive, but leave no room for...

Facing our fears in float therapy

Written on September 21, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

Josh: In high school, I had nightmares where I was horrifyingly buried alive. A few years later, I was asking Kingston’s Immerse Spa to drop me into a pitch-black sensory deprivation tank. You can imagine my internal shock. Immerse Spa specializes in float therapy, where you lie in a closed pod that...

Tales from a summer at a racehorse fertility clinic

Written on September 14, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

I’ve always wanted to be a veterinarian—at least I tried to remind myself that when I shadowed a racehorse fertility vet. His prize job: preparing a fake female horse—parts and all—for the “collection” time of a male in heat. It was a surprise. When I was little, I would tell every grown-up about...

When we knew Queen’s was right for us

Written on September 7, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

As the first days of classes close, some students already feel at home already while others are doubting their choice of university. The Journal asked students to share when they knew Queen’s was the right school for them. We hope these stories will prove that if you haven’t fallen in love with Queen’s...

Learning to process my grief during frosh week

Written on July 30, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle.

When my mother walked into my room with tears in her eyes as my brother and I watched tennis, I assumed it was about her son’s first year at university. I knew seeing her first child go to university wasn’t going to be easy for her. I asked if everything was okay. She sat on a wicker laundry hamper...

How my late aunt Susan’s words guided my life and education

Written on June 25, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle.

Recently, I’ve been bombarded with advice about how to navigate university. I never expected the most meaningful guidance I’d receive, for university and life, would come from a speech my late aunt delivered over seven years ago. The speech—and her battle with cancer—taught me happiness isn’t something...

Finding the strength in an allegedly weak name

Written on May 28, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle.

Our parents’ names for us can be reminders of what they hope we become. My family gave me various nicknames but the weakness associated with my birth name hung over me until I learned to understand its true meaning. To my grandfather I was Assal (honey); to my mother I was Sumaya (highest point) and...

Life lessons from Queen's University

Written on March 29, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle.

Starting at Queen’s, everybody tells you that graduation will come sooner than you can imagine. But when you’re a nervous frosh juggling countless hours of new classes and commitments, the end seems like it couldn’t be further away. With less than two weeks of school left, leaving this place seems...

Having an abortion doesn't need to be a horrific experience

Written on March 23, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle.

This story talks about abortion. It may be triggering for some readers. I’m a girl from a Catholic family who went to church every Sunday. I attended Catholic school my whole young adult life. Consequently, I — like many other Queen’s students — grew up surrounded by people who believe abortion is...

Navigating mental illness, trauma and intimacy

Written on March 16, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle.

Feeling even the slightest bit of love when you’re struggling with your mental health can reinstate value in yourself and your life. But it can also create a dependency on a person to define your self-worth. It’s a double-edged sword. Navigating my mental illnesses, trauma and general mental health...

Finding inspiration outside of normal confines

Written on March 9, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle.

Despite living in a world where men dominate politics, engineering and other powerful societal roles, my own personal world growing up taught me to not think for a second that there was anything a woman couldn’t do. When someone looks at a summary of my life up until where I am now, they would likely...

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