For some, it is hard to let go of the McGill community. Yasemin Erdogan, a recent graduate from the MA in Educational Psychology (Human Development specialization), felt academically, personally, and professionally embedded within the community. Having started at McGill as an undergraduate student in Psychology, her five years at McGill were marked by continually feeling enabled to expand her knowledge base, acquire new skills, and explore her interests.
Having been with McGill for most of her academic journey, Yasemin describes McGill as “an institution that truly pushes you. It challenges you academically, professionally, and personally all while allowing you to find your community. With such diverse student body there are many opportunities to get involved and engage both within and outside the university community.”
Graduate students are often presented with more opportunities than they can fit into their schedules. This has not slowed down Yasemin who likes to keep busy by being involved with the community. “I like to interact with people, and I find that extracurricular activities and working [part-time] allows me to have interactions with people and gives me a sense of fulfillment. I’m giving back to the community while continuing to learn new things.”
Yasemin recently completed her thesis which focused on school bullying involvement and popularity among primary and secondary school students. As noted in her acknowledgements section, her thesis supervisor, Dr. Chiaki Konishi, supported her on many fronts. Yasemin emphasizes that “she pushed me to do better, to learn more, and to challenge myself. She really encouraged me and allowed me to become an independent learner while showing me the support, trust, and patience that I needed.”
Like many graduate students, Yasemin candidly admits that there have been moments of stress where she doubted her [academic] abilities. As an advocate for mental health transparency, she works to break down stigma and the taboos surrounding mental health problems, especially for students facing academic pressure.
Adding that “it's not always easy to engage in hobbies/activities or take time for yourself. Ironically, it can feel like there's pressure to take time off, which adds to your stress. It's important to recognize that sometimes it's not easy to take time for yourself. It might not come naturally and just accepting that and trying your best is important.”
Equipped with a diverse skillset and an insatiable curiosity, Yasemin is now exploring her post-graduation chapter. Like many recent graduates, she asks herself “where do I go next?” to which she answers “I will be pursuing an opportunity that allows me to grow professionally but also gives me sense of fulfillment. I have a solid skillset that has been shaped by my time at McGill. My future involves leveraging the connections I’ve made with well-intentioned people and seeing what comes from it. Currently, I am looking at humanitarian organizations, community-based organizations, and various research positions."