M Puddu did more than get his BA(Hons) with a double major in Canadian Studies and French at King’s. They built a new home a long way from their hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, tried new things, had adventures and life experiences, and discovered community—and found that to be the greatest strength.
What drew you to King’s originally?
Originally, I was drawn to Halifax a number of years ago on a solo trip. Discovering that King’s was the oldest university in Canada, its many historic traditions and that you could study languages there cemented my decision to apply to King’s. I hadn’t even considered the Foundation Year Program (FYP) until months later!
What program are you graduating from, and what inspired you to pursue that program?
I am graduating from an honours double major in Canadian studies and French, though that is certainly not the major I applied to! I had originally applied to a double major in French and German, but ended up plunging deep into studying our country and decolonization. French studies expanded that decolonial lens to the wider Francophonie.
Was there a course, professor, reading requirement or experience that has had a lasting impact on you?
I could never single out just one professor or just one course, but the French department became a kind of family.
There are two days, however, that I’d highlight which had a lasting impact on me. One was May 1, 2023; my last day in residence at King’s and my first day in a new apartment halfway across the country. From campus, I lugged a suitcase back and forth on the #1 bus and trudged through the rain to sleep in a very empty apartment. A second, lighter experience was last year’s Blue Nose Marathon. Mostly walking, I met a bunch of seniors, and we had a hoot! Both these experiences strengthened my resilience and self-confidence; they helped me settle more comfortably in the fluffy old idea of ‘you can do anything if you put your mind to it.’ An idealistic adage for sure, but I did it. Fighting the elements to build a new home and doing the Blue Nose Marathon without any real training, these experiences proved that, through some grit, things not even yet dreamed of are indeed achievable.
Advice from this experience: Halifax has so much to offer, you just need to reach out, not be afraid to be bold and ‘knock’ on doors you hadn’t thought to try opening.
What item got the most use during your degree (ex: headphones, water bottle, a specific hoodie?)
Anyone who knows me knows that I have an ‘ancient’ laptop. It must be at least 12 years old. I’m actually a technophile, but I abhor false innovation for the sake of profit and reject planned obsolescence. So, instead, I personally maintain the device, from running multiple operating systems to installing various hardware and software upgrades. This baby’s a workhorse! And it is my baby. I terrify more than one person by picking up the laptop by its screen with just a few fingers and walking around with it. It’s been dropped multiple times on everything from wood to tile. And yet? Nothing more than a few cosmetic scratches. Some things really were built better in the past; they just need to be cared for. In consumer laptops, there’s been no real, tangible upgrade to computing specs since the early 2010s, it’s just the user interface that’s changed. With love, this laptop will continue to outlast a great many things.
Advice from this experience: you can make things work. Perhaps you don’t know what to expect at King’s or you don’t have all the tools that other people have, but you can make it work and you can excel. Community is your greatest strength; the rest will be navigable.
Do you do your best work at night or in the morning?
My best writing is in the wee hours, where night creeps to morning and tiredness inhibits hesitation or doubt. However! Editing must be done in the light of day, with a clear (and hydrated) mind. Now, research, though, is done at all hours; while walking through campus or speaking with friends, while reading in the morning or searching for articles in the afternoon.
If you could relive one day from your time at King’s, what day would it be and why?
This may come as a shock, but I think I’d relive an oral exam. To be that deeply immersed in the world of FYP so as to get to argue, challenge and investigate its texts in a graded conversation is a weird sort of thrill. I also think I’d do far better this time around!
What’s one thing from your time at King’s that you’re especially proud of?
I have to mention first the truly wild fact that over this semester I wrote 90 pages of academic research, not including works cited and all that. But this makes me look at the King’s MFA with greater surety as to its feasibility.
Otherwise, making the leap from just studying to getting involved. Joining student societies made all the difference. With the French Society, we hosted so many events over the years, from important cultural events and collaborations to our incredibly successful mini conference on decolonizing through literature. Clubs can bridge the gap between academics and real-world practice, but they also form an important part of your community and can be a great way to meet new friends and socialize after hitting the books.
Thinking back to who you were when you received your acceptance letter, what would you tell them?
I would tell them a heartbreaking story. While at King’s, I experienced the worst grief of my life, losing someone incredibly close to my heart. My experience at King’s, as anywhere, is one of duality; of resilience and of pain; of love and loss; of triumph and failure; of community and distance. I would tell them it’s going to be alright. I would tell them this experience is going to change their life and that their loved one would be proud of them.
As Encaenia approaches, do you have any insights you’d like to share for incoming students?
Take full advantage! Go to every event you can, from Formal Meal to the hikes and ice-skating events. Being fully immersed in the world of King’s is a rare experience that will truly set you apart. Despite the arduous journey ahead of you, with so, so many books to read, you will look back on this opportunity fondly.
Where do you hope your degree takes you next?
I’m hoping to join the world of academia, and both teach and research literature. Perhaps one day I’ll return to King’s as a tutor! We shall have to see.
