The time of their lives

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[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Lindsay_Tedds_opt.jpg” caption=”Lindsay Tedds”]Lindsay Tedds is the first to admit that she's different from most graduate students she meets. For starters, she has more than a decade of experience at the federal public service level.

Recently she left her job in Ottawa to pursue a PhD in economics, a choice many of her colleagues questioned because of the job security, money, and career success she would leave behind. Tedds moved to an apartment in Hamilton, downscaled her lifestyle, and has committed to full-time studenthood for a condensed three-year period of study.

“While I was with the public service I received news that a paper I had published as a master's student won an award, and it helped me to remember that I really enjoy academics and that I'm good at it,” says Tedds. “Then my career came to a point where my next promotion would have been to senior management. I'm a researcher, not a manager at heart.”

While many employed Canadians will dream of making the leap to continuing their university education, Fred L. Hall, dean of graduate studies, says the majority of McMaster's graduate students continue right through from their undergraduate degrees.

But whether students are fast-tracking through their university years or rediscovering them after some time away, McMaster's graduate student population is a vibrant mishmash of 2,263 full-time and 367 part-time scholars and researchers from a variety of cultures, backgrounds, and personal situations. They've made a commitment to focus on their field of study for periods ranging from two years for a master's degree to six years or more if they want to pursue both a master's and doctoral degree. And while their backgrounds and career goals are as individual as their personal philosophies and motivations, one thing is for sure: life as a graduate student is about balancing priorities.

Paul Challen and his wife Janine Belzak and children, from left, Henry, Sam and Eva

“They don't usually know it at the time, but being a graduate student is one of the best times of life,” says Hall. “They have the luxury of focusing the majority of their energy and attention on a thesis  after grad school there are generally many more items that compete for our attentions.”

Paul Challen, author and Hamilton-based freelance writer, says his decision to return to school to pursue his PhD in history was made possible only because of the flexibility afforded to him by part-time graduate student status.

As a father of three children all under the age of eight he points out that his first priority has to be making a living and taking care of his family.

“This time around my priorities are different from when I was a master's student many years ago, able to focus solely on my studies,” says Challen. “As a graduate student, I found myself writing papers to deadline much more often than I'd like. Fortunately my professional experience of working to deadline gives me a tremendous competitive advantage.”

Bing Li, president of the Graduate Students Association, agrees that priorities are much different in graduate school than they were as an undergrad in China. Li is an international student pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering, and although he's found time to see much of Canada and participate in student organizations, his first priority is his research.

“In China, undergraduate years are much more relaxed because everyone works very hard through high school,” says Li. “But here I have to remember my first job is in my research, maintaining my scholarships, and satisfying my supervisor. I enjoy my research very much. Social time comes after that.”

In his time at McMaster Li has also been actively involved in the Chinese Student Association and in events catering to McMaster's international students, who represent 78 countries worldwide. While Li learned some English in China, he says practicing his language skills in Canada have also taken a large portion of his time.

“Communication skills are very important,” says Li. “As a graduate student I need to be able to communicate with others while I'm working on my research  I can't do research by myself.”

Being closer to the undergraduate years can be one major benefit to students who go directly through graduate school instead of taking time off. Tedds admits the first year back was a challenge for her because of the significant amount of math and statistics knowledge she had lost along the way. But there are other valuable skills from time away from school, and they've given her an edge this time around, such as time management skills, organization, and meeting deadlines.

“When you're working on a deadline with the government, there isn't really an option  you either brief the minister before he speaks, or you don't,” says Tedds. “I'm more mature, and more focused than I was last time I was at university. And I'm very aware that I gave up a lot to be here.”

Tedds and her partner both left their home in Ottawa when she decided to come to McMaster, but they're living apart for now  he's in Toronto, where it's easier for him to work, and she's living in Hamilton, closer to the University.

Li's time at McMaster also doesn't come without sacrifice. He left his wife behind in China for his first two years of study. This year she finally received the appropriate paperwork to allow her to join him in Canada.

“For international students, competition to come to North America is very tight,” says Li. “Canadian universities have a high reputation and student visas are pretty easy to get once you have an offer.”

Whether students have left a full-time job to return to university, or they forgo new opportunities in the interest of continued education, there's a continued economic adjustment to make.

Hall suggests that's one advantage younger students may have over their more experienced counterparts. “They don't get used to a working income, so it's easier for them to live frugally,” he says.

With three children, Challen admits he can't afford to cut out that working income. In May, Challen accepted a job as a senior writer with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Li helps to manage the living expenses with two scholarships he's received, and Tedds also receives some help from scholarships.

“Economic pressure can be your worst enemy, and it can really inhibit you from thinking straight,” says Challen. “Other grad students are still trying to establish their lives, but in some ways it's easier for me because I don't have to be here. If it wasn't fun, if I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't do it.”

Erica Robinson has taken a more typical path to graduate studies. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Calgary, she came to McMaster for her masters.

However, her story is still unique. At 24, Robinson is the only born Canadian and youngest in her research group. “Everyone else is over 30,” she says, adding many are married, have children and are from overseas. “It's really motivating to see what the others are doing and you really learn a lot about each other and about diversity.”

Robinson has always known she wanted to continue her studies. Even though many of the friends she made in her undergraduate years either have or on their way to a well-established career, she knows this is the life for her.

“Of my graduating class, a number went on to other professional schools, so a lot of them are going to become doctors or lawyers or dentists, before I even get a PhD,” she says. “But that's just not my path and in due time I'll reap the benefits. It's a large time commitment and financially it can be difficult but I think in the end it will pay off.”

Photo captions: Top, Lindsay Tedds and below, Paul Challen, with his wife Janine Belzak and children, from left, Henry, Sam and Eva.