Meet Maham Khan, a Graduate College Fellow and doctoral student in the English program. Read on to learn more about her favorite places in Kent, what she enjoys doing in her free time and what advice she has for incoming graduate students.
Where is your hometown?
I am from Islamabad, Pakistan.
Why did you choose Kent State University?
As a Fulbright scholar, I was placed at KSU because the English department aligned with my academic interests. However, I chose Kent personally because of its progressive values, and its commitment to diversity. It was important to me that I spend my time in graduate school in a place that feels supportive for international students.
What do you like most about living in/near Kent? Do you have a favorite local spot or activity?
I like how it's small and feels very familiar immediately, but you can always travel to bigger cities nearby. The weather is beautiful! Even the snowstorms are lovely (when you're warm and indoors). My favorite spot is Last Exit Books–I could spend hours wandering around there. And all the little coffee shops downtown.
What is your favorite KSU memory?
There are quite a few, but October of last year stands out to me (and not just because my birthday is in October). In the fall, the campus looked magical–I love the sound of crunching leaves under my foot, and feeling the days get shorter and chillier. There was also an exorbitant amount of Halloween candy available. It was truly one of the best times I’ve had.
What are some differences you've noticed in being a graduate student (expectations, pressures, visibility, etc.) than those of an undergraduate student?
Most of the pressure comes from within–no matter how many hours I spent reading, it’s never enough. Consistency is more important than just being intelligent, however. I have found that in my undergraduate years, there was more of a sense of community, whereas graduate school is obviously more academically rigorous. However, since you’re older, you’re naturally more secure in your sense of self, and genuinely enjoy your studies.
What advice do you have for incoming graduate students?
When you’re a graduate student, it’s important to show initiative and structure your time yourself. Professors are there to facilitate you, but at the end of the day, you have to decide what you want to do and how. That can be scary, but it also makes means you’re far more in control of your academic trajectory than you were as an undergraduate student. Also, make time to have a life–school is important, but it can’t be your entire personality.
Fun Fact About Me:
I have a form of synesthesia called ordinal-linguistic personification, where people associate personalities with numbers (it sadly does not make me good with numbers, however).