With midterm season just passing over, but pushing us right into that time in the semester where all of our research projects and essays are due, it can be hard to find the time to do anything aside from tying yourself to a chair in the stacks of Robarts. I might even go as far as to argue that essay season is one of the most stressful times of the school year – trying to properly manage all five of my 15-page papers (which somehow, are all due within the same two weeks) has truly been a test of my patience, time management, and ability to not fall asleep every time I sit down.
Despite this, I’ve still done my best to remain involved with the Peace, Conflict, and Justice community – and seeing my peers, many of which are in the same classes as I am and are therefore struggling with the same pile of work – has offered me some comfort and peace of mind. Due to the nature of the program, the tight-knit community that each class facilitates never fails to make me feel welcome and at ease.
With all the events that are held by the PCJ Society and the Munk School, there is always bound to be something that everyone can enjoy. For example, there are many lectures held by the Munk School of Global Affairs that discuss topics anywhere from the volatility of Brexit to the future of international security, with incredible speakers that include the intelligent professors from the University of Toronto, to well-distinguished diplomats that have served overseas.
Photo: PCJ students Stephanie, Rachel, Thuch, Josh, Janessa, and Fernando supporting Sam at the Varsity Blues football game. (PC: Janessa Duran)
At the same time, if you think you’ve had too much of political discussion and academia in general, the PCJ Society and class reps hold events in and around campus that help facilitate bonding and strengthen our small community. For students who aren’t from the Toronto area (many PCJ students are international,) exploring the city with peers helps make one feel at home. Recently, the 360 reps, Janessa and Angalee, organized an outing to the UofT Varsity Blues football team to support our very own Sam MacMillan. We’ve also had movie nights and exam destressors in the past, organized by the PCJ Society executive team.
The PCJ community is so much more than just an academic group, but I have found that it’s turned out to be a small family that just happens to also engage in your occasional heated debate about politics and justice. Being involved with all the events that are held by the PCJ Society and the Munk School offer not just a good break from all the essay writing and studying you’ll inevitably end up doing in the library, but it’s also a great way to re-meet your peers. Lastly, being involved with a community on campus is also a great way to build your co-curricular record – being able to say that you attended events and were involved beyond your participation in class will help you grow immensely as a person and a student.