Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Graduate Working Space
I decided to write this article while immersing myself in the Dalhousie student-focused atmosphere - so of course, I went to the heart of campus, the SUB (Student Union Building). With sushi in tow I looked for a place to sit suitable enough to make a mess eating with chopsticks. Not a seat was available; exam season. I wandered a few floors up to find a lovely chair with an attached table for drink and food. It was perfect.
I brought out my laptop and realized, I don’t have the space to write and eat. So, I killed time on my phone until lunch was over. Once my laptop was out for working I realized, in complete devastation, it needed a charge. Frantically looking around, I came to the conclusion I would have to move again. I find myself now in the Student Health Building, where the lovely hum of vending machines is drowned out by the screams of a very upset little one. I rode out the ten minutes of the little guy’s tantrum (poor thing probably just got a shot), finding myself on my phone again, blaming the atmosphere for my lack of productivity.
Now that I am settled in and writing, comfortable, without fail comes the urge to use the bathroom….
Guess I’ll pack all my stuff up again.
Now I do not mean to blame Dalhousie for inadequate space. In fact, compared to most universities, I would say Dalhousie has a lovely and spacious campus.
But does this not seem like a stressful situation?
Now imagine the same situation for a student, who like myself, has diagnosed obsessive compulsive disorder.
Through out my post-secondary education, I have been noted to have a small quirk while settling into class. I always put my backpack down, and then proceed to go through each item in my bag. Every item has a place and I check that it is there, I have to physically touch it. I even open my wallet and count all the cards and change. To some it may seem like I am looking for a missing item, and in my defence as an undergraduate student I transferred between so many classrooms, it became second nature for me to do the “phone, keys, wallet” check before and after entering a new room. But this action is deeper than the need to make sure I have gum to combat the coffee breath. It is a habit driven by obsessive compulsive disorder. A diagnosis that began impacting me seriously around 5 years ago.
When I began at Dal, I had no office; a consequence of renovations. I tried working at libraries but got anxiety at the lack of routine and familiarity. So, I tried working at home. With my condition, that did not prove successful. I lost myself in hours of dusting, ironing pants over and over again, or reorganizing shelves so labels faced the right way.
I recently have been given an office which I am so grateful for but have developed terrible habits. For example, when at home I cannot cross the threshold of my front door knowing there are jeans folded with the pockets hanging out. Being late is a poor character trait of mine. I simply cannot leave the house without straightening rugs; it would pester me the entire day, snowballing into panic attacks which have landed me in the local emergency room on multiple occasions.
Ryley Urban’s workspace on campus
Research done at Florida State University analyzed graduate students’ physical space needs using a variety of ethnographic methods, the study of people and cultures (Kinsley et al., 2015). They noted that in several studies, students indicated the school’s library is a considerable resource for space, but with limited operating hours as a barrier for its use. Thankfully at Dal, our libraries are more accommodating, with greater availability in their operating hours. The literature also indicated that graduate life, in comparison to undergraduate, revolves heavily around the department, and it is imperative that a graduate space is within that department as this helps with their research development. As a dedicated academic, a grad student must work alongside peers and become familiar with the disciplinary culture. It is also beneficial to have a professional in your field at close hand, so that impromptu communications can occur face-to-face as opposed to email. Lastly, what the paper coined as “third spaces” like cafes, also allow students to work among their peers. In this setting a student can work independently but will thrive as there is a sense of community.
The methods of Kinsley et al.’s (2015) data collection were unique and could be used to further inform study and work spaces on campus. The test subjects were involved in interviews and focus groups, but also contributed photo diaries, and drawings of ideal campus spaces. Results derived from a grounded theory approach spoke loudly to the dedication of graduate student space, as they tend to work long hours, seven days a week.
The quality of the space at Florida State ranged greatly among departments, making it clear which ones had greater funding (Kinsley et al., 2015), and is an issue I would argue all universities face. Some have high-tech computers, lunch rooms, private cubicles for students, shared desks, etc. The research suggests that there is no “one size fits all” to satisfy graduates needs and behaviours, but that it is critical they are integrated into their department and have a designated space for their work.
So, now, imagine the same day described above. But instead, I woke up, went to my office, closed the door and kicked my shoes off before diving into some writing. Even typing that washed a sense of peace over me.
I pose the question, as a graduate student, how important is your individual space? Is it ethical to conduct teaching assistant hours in a public area? Where is it best to store sensitive data collected through exams and assignments? For me, office space is a motivation, a place to go in the morning, a place where the people and things are not strangers, and I can be held accountable for not showing up for an entire week. I even keep a plant, so I am forced to work at the office so I don’t kill the innocent thing!
And yes, I do bring my own Dyson vacuum to keep it clean (and clear the cobwebs!).
References
Kinsley, K., Besara, R., Scheel, A., Colvin, G., Brady, E. & Burel, M. (2015). Graduate Conversations: Assessing the Space Needs of Graduate Students. College & Research Libraries. 76. 756-770. 10.5860/crl.76.6.756.