As the end of Grade 11 fastly approaches for me, I’ve found myself daydreaming about the future and wondering what awaits me and my peers as we embark on our journeys, whether it’s gaining further education by staying in the province or venturing across the country to study our passions, or even taking a gap year exploring the world. To gain some insight, I asked my sister and her friends, who attend the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and the University of Calgary, some burning questions that have been on my mind.
There’s an abundance of information online on advice for applications, how to pick the right classes and time management, but I wanted to find out the real hard truths and questions that every new-coming freshman has tossed and turned about like: “What’s the best place for a late-night snack?” or “Do I really need to buy that $300 mini-fridge?”
Read on to find out what these four university students have to say about their campus lives, from pulling all-nighters to parties and crazy campus traditions
Mitsna H.
Mitsna is a third-year Applied Biology major from Calgary who specializes in Animal Biology and has a passion for the arts.
Did you have any regrets about deciding to go to a university in
another province?
Yes and No, in my first and second year I was really down thinking
about how much money I would be saving if I had stayed in Calgary. I
felt a lot of guilt. Still, after I got into my third year, I started
to realize the opportunities and experiences I am having in a
different province are irreplaceable and a privilege I get to have. I
have met so many diverse people at one of Canada’s most diverse
campuses and learned how to network.
What is your favourite tradition on campus?
The tradition of defacing the giant Engineering cement block every
week is hilarious but also a great way to publicly display critical
current events that people want to bring awareness to. It has not only
been a way to annoy the engineers but also has been a way for
students’ voices to be heard.
Andrew A.
Andrew is originally from Calgary but is now studying Computer Science at UBC for his third year. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the guitar and attending hackathons.
In your first year, how did you manage your time for academics and enjoyment?
I didn’t manage it well, to be honest. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m slowly learning how to have a work hard, play hard mindset. One important thing I’m learning is how to prioritize – both with school and with enjoyment. For school, you want to always be doing the most important thing (you’ll sometimes find you want to do less important things that you’re more comfortable with). For enjoyment, you want to evaluate what activities are worth your time and which aren’t – sometimes, saying screw it, we ball and going off on a spontaneous adventure might lead to a core memory!
Which item did you wish you had brought with you the first year?
I wish I’d brought my guitar with me in my second or first year, but it’s really hard to carry on a plane. It’s possible, but it’s a headache, and you have to risk damaging it. So if you’re gonna bring an acoustic, do it by car if you can because it’s really fun to have for hanging out with friends!
Naima N.
Naima is a third-year student at the University of Calgary doing a sociology degree with honours as well as a data science minor. Aside from school, she enjoys crafting, reading and going out to eat with friends.
In your first year, how did you manage your time for academics and enjoyment?
First year is a fun time as there are a lot of new things to learn in a short amount of time. Not only are you suddenly in university-level classes, you also meet new people in every class you have, and may be required to work with these people through a group project.
What is your favourite spot on campus?
My favourite spot on campus is the law library for studying and finding random empty classrooms to hang out with my friends (taking advantage of the screens to play movies)
Conclusion
While nothing is set in stone yet for the future, it’s good to know that there are fun and exhilarating times awaiting all of us, and the uni life is not just finals and stress but also lifelong memories. When you’re making the big decision on where to go to study, don’t forget to take into account your own enjoyment as well as academics.
Thank you to everyone who helped contribute to this blog!