Money matters: Part 2
How to make your money work for you as a grad student
If you’ve read part one of this blog post, you know how to use a budget to help manage your money. What can we do with what we save, and how can we make what we spend really count? Beyond budgeting, there are some more advanced moves that we can make with our money, even […]
The First ‘Hello’: Bridging Worlds in a Symphony of Minds
A reflection on making friends and overcoming the jitters of imposter syndrome
Walking through the iconic corridors of MIT, I am constantly reminded of the sheer brilliance that surrounds me. Here, every corner seems to buzz with the promise of innovation and breakthrough. Yet, amidst this symphony of intellect, a silent beat throbs—the universal quest for connection. Since the day I received my offer letter, I had […]
Money matters: Part 1
Making the most of your stipend
Financial stress is often assumed to be an unavoidable part of the graduate student experience. But does it have to be that way? With a bit of planning and discipline, I have been able to save up enough money to pay off my undergraduate student loans, fund a retirement account, buy a new phone, and […]
Talking to myself through a reverse to-do list
How keeping a “done” list got me through my first few years of grad school.
Communication is the most important skill I have developed in grad school. The types of communication we usually think about are technical and interpersonal communication, such as publishing and presenting your research, or communicating with your advisor. However, one type of communication I overlooked in my first year was communicating to myself. As a first […]
A photographic ode to Cambridge and Boston
A picture perspective on making a city home
Sunsets over the Charles River have my heart ❤️ What is home for you? Everyone has a different concept of home. For some people, a space enclosed by four walls in which they live is home, and for some it is a certain city or town. People like me who have traveled across the globe […]
