April came in busy, bloomed beautifully, and left me full of gratitude. Here’s the full rundown. ☀️
Here goes an attempt to make use of my blog, which I have left dormant for quite a bit — trying my very best to use it. With my courses done, it felt prudent, or otherwise a better use of my time and an opportunity to curb my screen time, to at least write. While I do have other niche or personal writings tucked away in my journal, let’s begin small with these monthly recaps. Started last month, and somehow it feels like April just flew by — but not without its moments. Some monumental, others seemingly grounded.
📄 Paper Prep & Publication Deadline — April 2
April started on a busy note — the kind of busy that reminds me why I’m here in the first place. The first couple of days were all about getting my paper ready for submission and publication. It had already been accepted (yay!), but I still had to implement the reviewers’ updates before the deadline on the 2nd. My advisor was gracious enough to secure an extension, which honestly was a lifesaver. So yeah, the first couple of days were heads-down, getting everything polished and formatted just right.
🛍️ Spontaneous Evening with Abi & Herschel — April 4
On April 4th, after working out (or perhaps while working out), I got a message from Abi about going to the mall. As someone who hadn’t been to the mall all year, an invitation to go — even just for window shopping, which is mostly what I do — is one I couldn’t turn down. So I accepted.
We had the loveliest spontaneous evening, with our favourite puppy Herschel in tow. I genuinely love that dog. I get excited every time she brings him around! Oh, I forgot to mention, Abi came bearing flowers. I love love love flowers. I love when friends speak my love language.
We explored different shops, which was so fun. Abby grabbed this really nice Japanese drink (delicious, and I cannot for the life of me remember the name). We also popped into Macy’s where… okay, I have to tell this story. I tried on a dress that was an extra small. Somehow I managed to get it on, but getting it off? Absolute struggle. Like, a real, full-on ordeal. 😂 I eventually freed myself from the shackles of that sky blue evening gown — which I was drawn to purely for the colour — but for a moment, I genuinely thought I might just have to live there forever. Sweating and panting. Uggghhh. Definitely a moment.
On the plus side, I did purchase a pair of soldier-green heels — my first green heels! And they were on sale… double yippee! 🎉 Haven’t worn them yet, but they are absolutely coming out very soon.
Hot Tub – April 9
April 9th marked another first — my very first time in a hot tub! 💃🏿🤸🏾 My friend Rob and I had gone swimming after school, and afterwards he suggested we try it out. It took me a while to adjust, as expected. When I first dipped my feet in, I just stood there like… is this normal? But once my feet got used to the heat, the rest of my body followed suit, and it was honestly such a relaxing experience. A solid “first” moment. Highly recommend. Hooray for new things!
🐦 First Time Bird Watching — April 11
Okay, so how did we go from writing papers to window shopping to swimming in a hot tub… to bird watching? Stay with me, I have an answer for that.
I hate it when my brain is inactive — by which I mean not preoccupied. My weekends, my evenings. Yes, I absolutely doom scroll, and I am the queen of memes on Instagram, but I wanted to fill the rest of my time with things I wouldn’t typically do. So I searched for activities close by and stumbled upon Frank Melville Park, which had a whole list of things that genuinely piqued my interest.
On Saturday April 11, I went bird watching — without binoculars, I should add. Thankfully, one of the attendees who came with a professional camera was kind enough to lend me his. It’s such an interesting hobby. I don’t want to say “fun” just yet because I’m still learning the names of the birds, but I am absolutely going back on the second Saturday of May.
While the initial goal was simply preoccupation, I truly enjoyed meeting and interacting with people there. And that’s not all — the park also has dancing, tai chi, yoga, and more. Guess what I signed up for next… dancing. 💃🏾
💃🏾 First Dance Class — April 16
Oh yes, about that first dance class. Dear oh dear. As a Black African woman, one might assume dancing is encoded in my DNA by default — but let me burst that giant bubble right now. Not always! While I can dance on rhythm and move in coordination when I’m seated, the moment I stand, my upper body and lower body magically enter into a disagreement and refuse to coordinate. Every. Single. Time.
We started with stretches, then some afrobeats moves, but a good portion of the class was ballet. I have nothing but absolute respect for anyone doing any form of dance or movement art, because that is a skill. A real one.
I love doing things I don’t typically do — things I wasn’t ushered into as a kid, or things I simply haven’t tried before. This is absolutely one of those activities I’m adding to my routine. Watch this space. 🩰
🏅 5K Race — April 19
Okay, this is probably the highlight of my April. I ran a 5K again on April 19th! I did the same race in Fall 2025, and I came back for round two this year.
The weather, though? Oh my goodness. It felt like winter came back just to spite us. It was drizzling in the morning, freezing cold, and the wind was relentless. My fingers were completely numb. I genuinely could not feel parts of my body. It was harsh.
But we made it through! I finished in 29 minutes and 52 seconds — under 30 minutes! That was a huge win for me, especially in those conditions. And I got a medal. My second medal, might I add. So proud. 🥇
Full transparency though, I know I can do better. Last year I was running 5Ks in around 26 minutes. The shift toward more stairmaster and cycling has slowed my pace a bit. But I’m not going to be hard on myself. The fact that I finished under 30 in those conditions tells me the fitness is still there — I just need to run more consistently and let my body readjust. More running incoming. 🏃🏾♀️
🌸 Cherry Blossom Photo Shoot on Campus
And then — my other favourite part of April — the cherry blossoms on campus at Stony Brook.
Every spring, in the spirit of truly enjoying my PhD journey and making every moment worthwhile, I make it a point to take photos under the cherry blossom trees. This year, Abby came with me and took the most beautiful pictures. I wore a girly, pretty dress and honestly felt like myself in the best way. 🌸
There’s something really special about cherry blossom season. It’s fleeting — almost heartbreakingly so — but that’s exactly what makes it beautiful. Every year the trees bloom and it feels like the universe’s way of reminding us: winter is over. You made it through the cold. Now here’s something soft and pink and alive as a reward.
Spring is my second favourite season (fall takes the top spot — I love the colour changes and the crisp air), but spring holds a very specific kind of magic. Living in New York, you really feel the full weight of winter before spring arrives, which makes the transition so much more meaningful. The flowers, the warmth returning, the colour coming back — it just feels like a gift every time.
💛 Closing Thoughts
April was genuinely a great month. Busy, cold at moments, but full of good things and good people.
There’s a saying back home in Ghana that I keep coming back to: if you have life, you have hope. As long as you’re breathing, as long as you’re here — there is something waiting for you. The gift of being alive is the gift of possibility.
So I’m going into May with open arms, an open heart, and a whole lot of hope. I know good things are coming. I trust that. I believe that.
Here’s to a better me. A joyful me. An incredible me. ✨
Thank you so much for reading to the end.
See you next time! Cheers. 🥂
Quote that stood out this month: “Sometimes the greatest testament to love is to let someone go” (While watching Maxton Hall)
Book completed this month: Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
