Zaynab Al-hemed

What is your favourite thing about the program?

The program was exceptional. I got to learn with and alongside so many different folks from various backgrounds, which was a gift unto itself. My favourite thing was how the program really allowed for people to “show up” as they were. That is, I felt as though everyone had a place in the program to grow, be heard, and to listen.

What will you miss the most?

What a hard question! I think what I’ll miss most is the learning and the people. In my classes, I was challenged every day to think about things in new ways. This was such an enriching and eye opening experience for me. And the people that I got to learn alongside were welcoming, and supportive.

Favourite place on campus?

The library! For a while there (and especially around exams) the library was my home away from home. There’s a floor for every kind of learner to flourish (they have different ‘vibes’), which is incredible. Also – the compact shelving system on the first floor (where the shelves MOVE) reminds me of something out of Harry Potter.

What is your favourite reading/book/text from the program?

This question takes me back – there were so many amazing readings/ books/ texts from the program. Each of them were so meaningful to me, and had an impact on shaping my experiences within a given course. One favourite reading that I still turn to is Foucault’s (2005) The Body: a Reader. Such a great read! In this text, Foucault reflects on how historians first began to research and write about the body, with particular emphasis on the historical processes that the body is involved in over time.