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Asking for help is not weakness

Asking for help is not weakness

Conquering classes after a year of industry

June 12, 2024 | Sneha K.

I don’t know if I can do this, I thought. Did I make a mistake? I was in just the second week of the chemical engineering PhD program and my eyes, worn by the glare of my laptop, were struggling to stay open against the sea of notes and colored pens scattered across my kitchen […]

Measure twice, cut once, then force it to fit

Measure twice, cut once, then force it to fit

Learning the art of woodworking over IAP

May 22, 2024 | Vyshnavi V.

It was during last year’s Independent Activities Period, also popularly known as IAP, when I came across the woodworking class taught by Lee Zamir. I was browsing through classes that were offered during IAP, scouting for fun ones. The woodworking course, offered by Project Manus, caught my eye because it seemed like the polar opposite […]

The art of balance: A myth or reality?

The art of balance: A myth or reality?

Lessons from a third year PhD student

May 1, 2024 | Favour O.

As a graduate student at MIT, the concept of balance is often discussed as something we should strive for. But is it truly achievable? Can we truly balance our academic responsibilities, research projects, and personal lives? As someone who enjoys nature, exercise, traveling, cooking, and other non-research related activities, I was curious to find a […]

Adventures on Amtrak

Adventures on Amtrak

A story of antics and perseverance

April 25, 2024 | Stephanie R.

Powered by three hours of sleep and some reheated potstickers (in hindsight, this was truly an omen for how the rest of the day would go), I sprung into action at 5:22 am to make the final preparations for my journey back to Cambridge. Coming from a town in Delaware, I had managed to live […]

Quality of life: The heart of the matter

Quality of life: The heart of the matter

How my chronic disease has driven me to live more, not less, in graduate school and beyond

April 4, 2024 | Stephan S.

Most of the children showed off a favorite toy. Some brought items that were meaningful to their family or culture. When I got to the front of my kindergarten class, my hands were empty. “My show-and-tell is…me!” I exclaimed as I pulled up my shirt and bared my chest to an audience of shocked five-year-olds […]