Laurier PhD students hone writing skills as part of Lake Shift experience

Seven Wilfrid Laurier University students studying in the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies recently had the opportunity to focus on their writing as part of The Lake Shift experience, a writing retreat, hosted by Queen’s University, for PhD students across Ontario.

The Lake Shift retreat was held from July 2 to July 7 at the Queen’s University Biology Station on Lake Opinicon, just north of Kingston, Ont. The retreat provided students the opportunity to set goals, make progress on writing projects, develop foundational skills to maintain writing momentum, and make new connections.

“There are many takeaways from The Lake Shift retreat,” says Sahver Kuzucuoglu, a Laurier PhD student in Religion and Culture. “Setting short-term goals, celebrating the smallest of accomplishments, taking time for self-care, the invaluable experience of being able to share and connect with other PhD candidates and students, and the daily structuring are all pieces of the retreat that I will carry through the dissertation writing process and beyond.”

Each day was structured with dedicated work and leisure time. Mornings would begin with a three-hour writing session followed by lunch and an hour of relaxation. Leisure time included swimming, boating, hiking and resting. Students say having the day broken up provided a unique balance that resulted in a well-rounded experience.

“I definitely made use of the free time,” says Kuzucuoglu. “I would venture out to the small towns around the Biology Station where the retreat was held. Every evening, I loved to venture up to the main road to see the deer and the fireflies light up the woods.”

There were several writing locations for the students to choose from and it didn’t take long for everyone to find their favourite spot. Whether it was in the cafeteria, on a comfy chair in their cabin, or along Lake Opinicon, students got into the routine of finding their own area each designated session.

Throughout the week, students had the opportunity to interact with their peers and discuss their research. This created connections between researchers from different schools and fields of study.

“Completing a doctorate is isolating at any time, but the last few years of our pandemic lives have pushed this isolation to a new level for many,” says Yvonne Runstedler, a Laurier PhD student in Human Relationships. “To finally be able to exchange ideas in person with 30 other doctoral candidates was profoundly helpful and I would even venture to say healing given the number of Zoom meetings and pivoting we have all done recently.”

By the end of the retreat, the students felt refreshed and energized. They say they are more prepared to push through and finish their degrees thanks to the skills they learned.

“I came home with clear goals and a clear head,” says Kuzucuoglu. 

“A sincere thanks to Laurier for sending me as one of their PhD candidates and to Queen’s University for hosting such a transformational event,” says Runstedler.