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By on September 8, 2015 in Academic Life, Entertainment, Extracurriculars
Image by Jirka Matousek, Flickr

Image by , Flickr

With many schools beginning frosh this week, things are about to get crazy. School spirit and booze will be flying, but as a second year, I’d like to offer you froshies some carefully considered and hard-learned advice about keeping your week fun, safe and educational.

1. Be friendly!

A lot of first years I meet always tell me the same thing – I didn’t make any friends during frosh week. And frosh, like anything, is bound by this rule: you get what you give. If you give all your effort trying to talk to people in your dorm or at a party, and really work on maintaining those friendships, you’re going to meet new people and have fun. A lot of people are shy, but trust me, if you see another shy person across the room, take a chance and talk to them! Frosh is all about making the most of your new environment. Not everyone will be receptive to you, but it’s always worth a try and most people appreciate the effort. I find that everyone has the same friendly spirit during frosh, so make the most of it.

2. Try to visit all the frosh events you can

As a commuter, trying to make friends during frosh was tough, but it becomes easier if you try to attend as many events as you can. Go to the club fair and homecoming. The more events you attend, the more you learn about your school and the more people you meet. It’s so important to take this time to get to know your school and feel the pride and connection the student body has. Get out there and try new things! That being said…

3. Don’t overdo it

I know many people who go out every single night and drink way too much for seven days straight. The reality is, you’re going to make yourself sick. And being sick for the first day of class doesn’t reflect very well on you to professors. If you’ve never drank before, pace yourself and make sure that you know what you can handle. And only drink with people that you know – and I mean people that you know WELL. Getting lost in a place you don’t know is dangerous and scary, especially if you are intoxicated. And NEVER EVER feel pressured to drink. You do whatever you are comfortable with. It’s your frosh and you can make it fun doing the things that you enjoy – alcohol not necessary.

4. Ask questions

You’re going to have tons of opportunities to connect with upper years and learn more about the campus and its programs during frosh. Definitely take the time to speak up and ask questions – about anything. Ask about clubs, bars, secret study spaces or who the good profs are on campus. Upper years at frosh events love to help out and are there for a reason, so take advantage of them! You could also make a new, older friend in the process, which can help you in the long run with study tips and old notes!

5. Take an off campus trip

Getting to know your new place is one of the key things to do during frosh, but that also means getting to know where your campus is and what the nearby cities are. Get to know the public transit, where the banks, grocery stores and shopping centers are, as well as if there are any off-campus libraries nearby – they make great study spaces during exam time. Your registrar office is also a great place to contact if you have questions about the area.

Happy Frosh!

By on July 24, 2013 in Academic Life

Image by clpo13, Flickr

Image by clpo13, Flickr

HEALTH

1. Eat well

Being a victim of the Freshman 15 is never good. Since you don’t have a schedule that starts and ends at the same time like high school, you may end up skipping meals or eating at abnormal times. If you don’t watch what you eat, you’ll end up a few pounds heavier. Not only will it make it more difficult to fit into your favourite pair of pants, but it will also have detrimental effects on your health. You’ll become lethargic and irritable, making it more difficult to concentrate on your studies.

2. Exercise

In university, you’re always going to feel tired. This will make it really difficult for you to muster up the energy to go and exercise. Force yourself to find the time to exercise every week. It can be a 30 minute jog or a full workout session in the gym every few days. Students who exercise do better on tests and exams than inactive students. Combined with a good diet, it can help keep the lethargy away and keep you motivated to study.

3. Relax

You’re not in high school anymore. University is extremely stressful. When you feel like you’re being suffocated by all the work, take a moment to breathe. Grades and staying on top of your work are important, but keeping your mental sanity is even more so. When studying, take a 10 minute break every hour. It helps keep you from stressing out too much and also helps you retain information. If you feel too stressed, take the day off or seek professional help. This is only your first year of university. Enjoy it!

SOCIAL

4. Introduce yourself to the person sitting beside you in class.

Not knowing anyone else in class is not fun, especially when your prof decides to give you a group project. Before class, introduce yourself and chat with the person sitting beside you. Follow up by meeting up after class for a cup of coffee. Having a friend in each class is really important in case you miss a class or need help on an assignment. Outside of class, you’ll always have somebody to grab a bite to eat or drink with. Everyone is different and it may be more difficult for some people to warm up to you. You will meet people who don’t like interacting with others at all. If someone is not agreeable, sit somewhere else in class and introduce yourself to someone new.

5. Join in

There is a club for everything in university. Sign up for clubs that interest you and you can meet plenty of new friends who have the same interests. Attend events around school like football games, concerts and film festivals. Not only will you meet new people, but it might also peak your interest in something new.

ACADEMIC

6. Get to know your professor

Your professor is going to be one of the most important people you know. You can ask them questions and get feedback so you can do better in their class. If you maintain a good relationship with them after the course is over, they’ll also help you get a job by giving you letters of recommendation, or even notifying you of opportunities.

7. Make use of your school’s resources

Your school offers plenty of free resources like career centres, counselling and workshops. Make use of these to help you get a job or improve your essay writing skills. It’s always good to find ways to improve yourself.

8. Take interesting electives

Don’t take a course just because it’s an “easy A.” Your GPA may be spectacular, but you wasted thousands on a useless course. Take courses that really interest you. Unless you’re actually interested in the “history of meteorology” or “contemporary gemology,” take an elective that you like. If it’s something you really enjoy, the assignments will be a breeze and good grades will follow suit.

BALANCE

9. Budget your money

Tuition is expensive. Transportation is expensive. University food is expensive. Everything is really expensive. A lot of students are thousands of dollars in debt after university and spend several years trying to pay it off. Don’t be one of these unlucky folks – start budgeting so you can more easily manage any debt you may accumulate. That doesn’t mean you should stop having fun altogether, but learn to be smart with your money.

10. Work hard AND play hard

The biggest regret of someone who partied too hard in university is that they didn’t study enough. Someone who studied too much wishes they would’ve partied more. Learn from their mistakes and find a good equilibrium. Enjoy your youth but also prepare yourself for the future. Good luck and have fun during your next few years of school!

By on July 24, 2013 in Academic Life

 

Image by John Loo, Flickr

Image by John Loo, Flickr

The first day of school is uncomfortable for everybody. It will be even more uncomfortable if you don’t learn to embrace the discomfort. Use the first day of school to step out of your comfort zone because it will help make your transition into post-secondary life easier. Here are some tips on how to make the most out of your first day:

  1. Don’t get lost on campus. Before classes start, map out where your classes are and attempt to walk from classroom to classroom. If you need to, print out a map of campus so you don’t get lost in the crowd on the first day.
  2. Get lost on campus. Only do this if you’re done classes or have some time before your next class. You’ll have a lot of fun discovering all of the buildings, restaurants and facilities in your school. It will also help you familiarize yourself with the campus.
  3. Talk to strangers. Talk to the person beside you in class, on the bus and in line at the coffee shop. You’ll meet new people and you’ll also have someone to talk to in class or on the bus in the future. Soon, they won’t be strangers anymore, and instead, your best friends.
  4. Attend Frosh/back to school events. A great way to meet new people and have a lot of fun at the same time. Frosh events are specially tailored to help first years get to know each other. Don’t miss out because you only get to go to frosh once.
  5. Approach club booths. A lot of clubs start advertising and allowing members to join early in the school year. Start getting to know what kinds of clubs are in your school. Sign up for any that seem interesting to you.
  6. Introduce yourself to your professors. It can be a simple “Hello, my name is ___. I look forward to your class this term.” at the end of class. It will make a good impression and help spark a relationship that will be extremely important in the middle of the school year when you’re struggling on an assignment.
  7. Pack light. Some paper, a pen and some food is enough for your first day. You won’t have any books because your reading list hasn’t been given to you yet and professors usually spend the first day reading the course syllabus. You don’t want to break your back carrying a laptop and other paraphernalia you don’t need.
  8. Make mistakes. The first day of school may seem like a big deal, but it really isn’t. It’s just another day out of the many that you spend in school. You’re going to forget most of what you did on the first day anyways, so don’t worry if you accidentally walk into the wrong classroom! Good luck!