Supporting our Students: Jamie’s story


SOS is an ongoing series that highlights how COVID-19 is impacting McMaster students. This instalment is by Jamie Sippert, a Masters student in the Department of History. Jamie is starting a Ph.D this fall.

I have, throughout all of my degrees, paid entirely out of pocket by relying on bursaries and government loans. My parents were not able to support me.

Until the COVID-19 pandemic, I spent almost all my time in my Wilson Hall office where I worked doing research and writing my thesis. I was rarely home so I rented a very small room, about 150 square feet, with a bed, a small window and a child’s desk. It was poorly ventilated, dimly lit and there were severe maintenance problems that I won’t go into. This room was acceptable for sleeping in for a few hours before returning to campus. Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit and after a whirlwind of a few weeks, I was suddenly expected to stay inside every day, all day, and continue to produce a graduate thesis.

I started suffering from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety issues from the variety of problems in the home and being unable to leave it. Eventually I realized, after three or so weeks, that I was beginning to break down completely, and was entirely unable to do any work. I wound up renting a new apartment, one with space for a desk to work at and a kitchen big enough to cook in while still paying rent on the old room.

This alone was an expense of nearly $2,000 that, had COVID-19 never happened, I would not have faced. On top of that, I had to buy a chair and desk so that I could continue working on my graduate research. Ultimately, I had planned to enter into the summer with about $4,000 in savings, which would have seen me through the summer months along with an income from a part-time job I was expecting to start at an archive.

Almost all of my savings were obliterated by the sudden onslaught of housing and working expenses, and my part-time job evaporated. I was beginning to consider abandoning my thesis and moving home to my family in Ottawa. That’s when I heard about McMaster’s Student Emergency Relief Fund.

My situation seemed to fit the bill perfectly for this financial help. I reached out and was connected to an extremely sympathetic and incredibly kind and expedient McMaster staff member. They listened to me and expressed sympathy without any sort of degrading pity. They made me feel heard, acknowledged my struggling, but did not make me feel helpless or foolish for reaching out for help. It was a flawless experience.

When the emergency relief came in, I was able to pay my credit card bill and cover some rent. It helped me slide my savings back on track and re-organize a plan to make it through summer in this new world we live in.

I am now — although just barely above water — above water nonetheless.  Just a few weeks ago I considered packing in everything. Now I’m in an apartment with a new desk from which I can comfortably, safely, ergonomically and efficiently conduct my thesis research from home while social distancing continues. The Student Emergency Relief Fund stepped in at a moment when I was completely out of options. I am genuinely grateful for that.

Having these sorts of programs is essential for helping students like myself who have no other supports, no parental income and no savings accounts; students who suddenly lose employment; students who don’t qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit; students who already have thousands of dollars of debt from OSAP loans; students who have paid their way through university and then something like COVID-19 wreaks havoc when we’re just barely above water.

Without programs like this during a crisis, many students, possibly myself included, would not be physically able to continue our studies.

To any students who are struggling, I would say this: If your reasons are COVID-19 related and you have no other recourse, do not hesitate to reach out. The worst that can ever happen is you don’t qualify. The best that can happen is that your entire summer can be rescued financially.

I was in an absolute pit of sudden COVID-19 related expenses, stresses and debt. The Student Emergency Relief Fund helped me, and it could help you too.

McMaster has established a Student Emergency Relief Fund to provide financial relief to students affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19. The fund can assist with food, rent, utility bills, provide emergency grants and offer help to students who are caring for dependents. It can also help repatriate Mac students studying abroad. Find more information on applying for help at the Registrar’s Office website.