Leadership & Involvement as a Thunderbird

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Almost everywhere you look at UBC you’ll see some form of advertising for getting involved on your campus or “giving back” to your future alma mater. While the options may seem like a lot of work or not interesting, I firmly believe there’s something for every Thunderbird. As I’ve mentioned in past blogs, there’s a niche’ for a variety of individuals and interests. While these opportunities may only focus on this idea of “giving back” to your school, there’s equal opportunities for you to also gain something from the experience. I found my opportunities through various leadership positions on campus.

My second year of university began the same way my first year did – with the unforgettable Imagine Day. Except, this time around, I was a student leader in charge of a group of new –to-UBC students. It was a good chance for me to practice being in a leadership role while simultaneously re-living one of my personal favourite memories from freshman year. Now, in the second half of my second year, I am taking this same role a step further. After an application and interview process, I was given the opportunity to be an Imagine Day Orientation Squad Leader. In this position I would be observing not one, but about 10 new-to-UBC student groups which each contain anywhere from 5 and up in people. It seems like a huge responsibility but leadership is a learning and ever-growing process.

This particular volunteer job has given me the chance to strengthen the leadership abilities I already possess as well as learn new ones. The orientation leader position required me to attend the UBC Student Leadership Conference (The SLC) and partake in a weekend long retreat in the stunningly beautiful Chehalis. This is just the beginning of my role and I’ve already gained more than I’ve given. I’ve made new connections, found new friends, learned more about my community, and more all in the process of giving back to UBC. These are just a few of the things my opportunities have given to me. I encourage you to find your own whether it be a leadership role, within extracurriculars, or even a club – the options are diverse and numerous. If my experience seems like something you would also enjoy, please apply to be an orientation leader here: http://students.ubc.ca/fun/give-back

Feel free to leave any question, comments, or even your own personal stories on involvement and/or leadership in the comments section below. Happy studying!

Oh Hey There…It Has Been Awhile…

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Hi all!

It has been awhile – and by awhile I mean like a semester and some change. Whoops. I didn’t intend to be neglectful, but you know life gets in the way and by life I mean university. I can easily say that my first term of sophomore year hasn’t been the most graceful in terms of excelling at school. As difficult as it has been, I have learned so much! University is a learning experience that expands well past what you discover and study in the classroom.

I have found myself here.

Who I am, what I stand for, and what I want in life – I have discovered all of that here. I can’t say that all of these discoveries are set in stone, but it’s a start. I can’t help but think that with each passing year in university I change a bit more but become more concrete in who I am as a person. It’s a beautiful occurrence that I think you won’t understand unless you undergo it yourself. And I hope you do.

I’ve gained a lot from my time here and I want to be better at sharing it with you. I’m going to attempt to commit more time to this, not only for readers, but for myself as well. It’s always entertaining to look at where you have been and where you are. This is my documentation of my experience and I hope you enjoy it.

Before I leave you I have compiled some short bullet points to essentially sum up where I am currently in my ever fascinating life here at UBC.

– I’m entering second term of my sophomore year

-I volunteer as a psychology research assistant

-I live off-campus

-I work as a barista part-time

-I switched my major from Cognitive Systems to Psychology

-I’m still in a long distance relationship with my wonderful Marine boyfriend (Over a year strong, hooray!)

-I’m attempting (and somewhat failing) at spending less time on Netflix and more time learning to be a functional adult

 

So, that’s pretty much it in a nutshell. I’m going to do my best to cover some of these topics and more over the next few weeks to give you an idea of not only what life at UBC is like, but what life as a student in Vancouver is like. If you have any questions, comments, or would like to suggest a topic for me to write about, feel free to comment below! Thanks! Happy belated holidays and happy New Year!

 

Going the Distance? : Tips & Personal Advice on Long Distance Relationships in University

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Whether you’re an incoming first year student deciding whether or not to hold on to that high school sweetheart back home or an upper-year who has recently been separated by his or her recent graduate moving on to bigger and better things – I have some reassuring advice for you! Now, I’m definitely not a love expert (if such a thing even exists?), but I am and have been a member of the long distance relationship club for almost a year now. I know a lot of people will discourage a long distance relationship for a multitude of reasons, but I just wanted to shed some light on the subject and insure all of you who are questioning whether or not to make your relationship work that there are plenty of people, like me, making the whole long distance thing work.

So, I’ve separated this blog in to two sections: 1. Tips and Questions that might help you decide whether to hold on or let go of your someone special and 2. My own personal long distance story is at the end. I know some people would like to be spared the “sappiness” of such a story so I thought I’d separate it like so.

PART 1: Tips & Questions

In order to decide whether to stay together or break up for the better, you should ask yourself a few questions to help assess whether you honestly feel that what you and your sweetheart have is long distance proof.

1. Do you wholeheartedly trust this person?

Trust is a huge factor when it comes to long distance. If you have trust issues or have struggled to believe what your significant other tells you while you’re actually together, you might want to reconsider. Stress from a long distance relationship (or any relationship) can easily seep in to your academic life and can cause a lot of distraction so be sure that trust issues won’t become a hindrance. Also take in to account fidelity and honesty.

2. Are there going to be opportunities for you to see this person in the future?

While part of being long distance is being a part, the best part is being able to look forward to when you’ll actually be together! If you aren’t going to or aren’t able to see your significant other as often or as much as needed, take this in to account.

3. Will there be a way for the two of you to keep in contact while apart?

Communication is key in any relationship and if you lack it completely, your long distance status might become a little bit of a struggle. If the two of you are living in separate countries, your phone bill might be run up by long distance charges. I highly suggest investing in a web camera for your computer and a program like Skype where the two of you can see one another face to face and get that much appreciated talking time. Skype sessions are what my boyfriend and I look forward to most because we get that much needed “face time” .

4. Does this person make you genuinely happy?

This may seem like a silly question, but it is not one to take lightly in this process. If you’re already unhappy with your relationship, don’t hold on while coming in to university because as discussed before it can become a major distraction. However, if you are happy it will definitely make going the distance a lot easier and more enjoyable.

 

So those are my suggestions for questions to really mull over before making the serious plunge in to long distancehood. I learned this year that “LDR” is actually an acronym for long distance relationship and it’s a hot topic because there are plenty of people in university and all around the globe experiencing the separation from their loved one. If this is something you’re really considering, I highly recommend this link: http://www.lovingfromadistance.com/index.html . It’s a community of people in long distance relationships. There’s lots of great advice, message boards, gift ideas, and more.

 

Now, for PART 2: My Own Personal LDR Story

                My current sweetheart and I met in my hometown where we used to work together. Over the summer before I left for university we became pretty close as friends, started dating, and couldn’t help but make it official right before I left. My story has its own extremely cheesy twist because as I was heading off for my freshman year of university, my boyfriend was on his way to boot camp for the United States Marine Corps.  Upon telling my new found friends at university about this, they all exclaimed “Ahh it’s like the movie ‘Dear John’!” I’ve never seen that movie, but I’m pretty sure it has a sad ending. But anyways, the strict rules of the United States military make it so the only form of communication my boyfriend and I could have for the next 4 months was letters. JUST LETTERS. No texting, no Skype, no e-mailing, nothing but letters for four whole months. I know, I’m a crazy woman. So, after four whole months (my 1st semester of freshman year), I received and responded to a grand total of 8 letters from my boyfriend back home in boot camp in America. BUT right after December exams I had a plane ticket home to see him again for the first time in 4 months.

Seeing him again for the first time definitely seemed like a moment you’d read about in a romance novel. We had a great 2 weeks together and I couldn’t be happier to see him again. But, I had to go back to Canada to finish my freshman year of university while he remained in America to continue serving our country and training. At least now his intense training was over and we were able to text and Skype frequently which definitely became a high light and still is in our relationship. Upon finishing my finals and first year of university, my darling bought me a plane ticket to visit him at his new base (which was so nicely situated on a beach!) for 10 days. It was definitely an awesome and much needed visit for us. Being a part has made me appreciate him so much more and realize the meaning in the saying of you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. And the grand almost 3,000 miles of distance between us has definitely made my heart grow fonder.

Now, as we’re coming upon our 1 year anniversary, I have realized that we’ve spent more time together than apart and we’re working on spending more time together as soon as possible. Thankfully, in the upcoming months he’ll be stationed on a base on the West Coast so we’ll be much closer. And if things work out, he’ll be visiting in me in Canada for Christmas. *Fingers Crossed!*  Until then, we’ll look forward to our Skype calls and unfortunately spending our anniversary a part, but it’s a lot better than it sounds. Sometimes you realize you’d rather have someone in your life at a distance than not at all. Regardless of whether we stay together or separate, I’m definitely glad I had this experience and got to know this wonderful human being that is my boyfriend.

With that said, I wish you the best of luck with your own love stories. Regardless of how it turns out, it’s always for the best! I hope you found this blog helpful J If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or recommendations on what I should write about next , please be sure to comment below! Thanks for reading.

First Year Wrap Up

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So I know this blog post is way delayed, but I felt that it was definitely necessary to do.

 

After completing my crazy first year of university I learned a lot of things – inside and outside of the classroom. I figured I would break these two types of learning experiences in to two and pass on some helpful hints to you, especially if you are an incoming freshman. If you are, congratulations! You’re about to be a part of something great. It’s normal to be nervous – I definitely was! – but all that passes once you acclimate yourself to this new environment. So to help you along here are some personal helpful hints:

THINGS I LEARNED OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM:

1. Always take advantage of your resources! UBC has an abundance of not only great, but often FREE resources that are available to students. Here are a few I really suggest taking advantage of :

–Your ESP (Enrollment Services Professional): This lovely individual should become your best friend because when it seems like every other office you go to is passing you along to the next office for answers this person will likely be able to answer your question in an e-mail. From personal experience, my ESP was very thoughtful and always told me when she was available to meet in person. So definitely take advantage of this awesome resource!

– UBC Counselling Services:  If the stress of university is getting to you or you just want someone to confide in, take advantage of this awesome centre . Everything is confidential and the centre hosts lots of awesome support groups for a variety of circumstances and situations that often arise in university.

-Centre for Student Involvement & Careers : Looking to get involved or have questions on how to vamp up your resume’? Head over to this wonderful place! I was so lucky to be a part of the Blog Squad this year which was run out of the Involvement section of this centre. This place hosts a great atmosphere and serves as a very helpful place to learn how to get involved on campus and how to prepare yourself career wise. Be sure to check it out.

-UBC Pool: Enjoy swimming or diving? Be sure to get your daily dose of chlorine here! I’ve spent so many days after class distressing at the pool. **It’s also a popular place to nap in between classes**

 

2. Have a social life.  University isn’t always about being buried in your school work. Be sure to take the time to have some fun and relax. Visit the many relaxing beaches near campus, explore downtown, or if you’re looking for the popular event of the week visit thecalendar.ca. This website lists all the big events happening at or close to UBC. Be sure to bookmark it on your browser!

3. Be sure to always have this month’s UPass. The transit police aren’t always the nicest people.

4. If you enjoy a good laugh and/or the webpage Tumblr be sure to follow #whatweshouldcallubc . The page is hilarious and filled with all sorts of UBC related jokes.

 

THINGS I LEARNED INSIDE THE CLASSROOM:

1. Don’t talk, whisper, practice Morse code, or whatever during lecture!  It’s extremely rude and I promise your fellow classmates will hate you for it.

2. The standard time table option can be a great option. One of the best aspects of my experience as a first year student was my enrollment in the Coordinated Arts Program (CAP). Even after completing what felt like a Harry Potter series worth of essays, I would still say it was a great and highly influential experience. I chose the CAP option because honestly, I had no idea what to do with my university career! However, the CAP option is divided in to different streams that cater to different interests. I chose the Global Citizens theme and loved it! Through this program I learned very quickly where my interests lie and it helped shaped many of the decisions I made in regards to future steps in my university career. So, if you don’t know exactly what you want to do in university – don’t worry! I definitely suggest looking in to some of the standard time table options, especially CAP.

2. Sometimes the class you think you’ll do the worst in, will become your favourite.  As a part of my bundle of CAP courses I was required to take political science. To be honest, I knew very little of political science, but I very much dreaded taking it. However, after a few lectures with a great professor (Professor Farkasch, I highly recommend him!) I came to love the subject. The lesson I learned is the class you might be dreading may not turn out to be so bad. After completing my first year of university, I realized PoliSci was without a doubt my favourite class and I had done the best in it.

3. When it comes to choosing between reading the nonsense on your Facebook newsfeed or typing notes – take notes.  Finals and midterms can count for a large portion of your grade and the best way to do so is to pay attention. While the drama of who is with who may be a little less dry than your biology lecture, take notes instead. Your stressed exam self will thank you for it later.

4. Take classes you are interested in. I know this may sound like common sense, but you would be surprised by how many students, including myself, regret taking certain classes just because they were told they should. Obviously there are required courses you can’t avoid taking, but if you can bypass something without it harming your future in university – Do it. You will do better in classes you actually have a passion for compared to those you find difficult to sit through.

 

While I have definitely learned many important lessons throughout my freshman year at university, I would have to say these are my top tips. I hope they can help you in some way. To my incoming UBC freshman, once again CONGRATULATIONS! If you’re in Arts and participating in Imagine Day (**Another tip: You definitely should!) come say hi! I’m one of the lucky squad leaders and I can’t wait to meet you all. So whether it’s your first of fifth year here at UBC, congratulations on making it this far and best of luck in all your future endeavors.

The Housing Crisis

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This title is definitely way too serious for what I’m actually going to be talking about, but now that I have your attention…! Housing offers have recently gone out to everyone that has applied. Unfortunately, myself among many others have updated their Facebook status to something along the lines of “Homeless next year wahooo!” Of course my initial reaction was anger which quickly transitioned to fear – Where am I going to live?!

Thankfully, an unexpected savior came to the rescue – the UBC International Student’s Association. One of my friends invited me to an awesome Housing Resources Fair the club was hosting to assist those of us who didn’t receive housing for next year. For those of you who couldn’t make it to this event, I thought it would be helpful to provide you with some of the information I learned in case you, like me, had no idea where to start when it came to finding somewhere else to live. Below, I’ve attached a picture of a list of the links to check out that the ISA provided to help with finding housing. Best of luck with your searches and feel free to leave any suggestions about housing in the comments!

Midterm Stress?

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It consumes all of us going through the process…

We hibernate in our rooms while studying…

Lose track of time…

Procrastinate…(Unfortunately)

But worst of all, we worry, naturally. I’m here to tell you – RELAX. We’re all so busy with exam stress we forget we made it this far. You did it last semester, do it again. 🙂

 

Finally, don’t completely bury yourself in your books and studying. Remember, especially on the sunny days, this campus is gorgeous. So breathe in, breathe out, and relax.

 

 

 

 

Hectic, In a Good Way

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Hello All! And happy second semester!

I know it has been a while, but like most university students know – life gets crazy! Today’s blog is essentially about why my life has been so hectic and hopefully it can be helpful that it can make your life hectic as well – BUT in a good way.  I find that generally university life is going to be an eventful, yet busy, time in life so why not clutter it up with things that you’ll enjoy? Hence, my term “hectic, in a good way.”

So, let’s get right in to it. I’m sure you’re probably just bouncing up and saying asking “Alex! Yes! Please tell me how to make my life more hectic!” Well, don’t you worry, I’ll deliver!

*Tune In – What’s going on at UBC?

There’s always something cool going on around campus. Did you know there was a giant colon tour this past Tuesday in the Life Sciences Centre? I bet you’re bummed you missed that lovely exhibition (Check out the details here: http://www.hr.ubc.ca/health/tag/giant-colon-tour/). But, don’t you worry – there’s tons more to do!

One of my favorite aspects of this campus is the support for understanding and diversity. This week is Out Week at UBC. All week is all about celebrating the wonderful diversity of sexuality. There are events all week and an awesome concluding conference this weekend. I’d definitely suggest checking it out!

There’s so much going on around campus, it’s difficult to know where to start or even make time. I suggest just checking out some of the booths in the SUB when you’re grabbing lunch or Starbucks. It’s an awesome place to start because there’s usually something going on.

For all the events at UBC in one place I suggest downloading the UBC app on your smart phone – it has all the events listed with all of the information. It is quite wonderful. If you don’t have a smart phone check out : http://www.events.ubc.ca/.

 

*BROKE? Ya, you and every other college student. Get a job J

Oh goodness I know this one doesn’t sound fun, BUT hang in there! Jobs on campus are one of the best ways to get involved, give back, make connections, and gain experience.  Two jobs I recently applied for, and got interviews for (*pats self on back*), were the positions of Residence Advisor and Jump Start Junior Leader. This is an awesome chance to interact with your peers and practice essential career skills. Who knows, you might have fun! Going through the interview process has been fun and unique because it was my first time being a part of a group interview or carousel session.

Happy job hunting!

 

*Join a Club! Volunteer! Apply to be on the Blog Squad!

One of the most awesome experiences I have been a part of this school year is doing what I’m doing now – blogging! The Blog Squad has become like a second fun family for me. I’ve met new people from all over the globe and different faculties. The best part is I get to read all of their wonderful and often hilarious blogs. There are so many clubs on campus; I honestly believe there’s something for everyone.

 

Well, I hope you find these tips helpful. Best of luck in your wonderfully hectic lives 😀

Tips for Exam Success (and Maintaining Your Sanity)

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Everyone has their own study routine that fits their schedule and needs. However, it can take some time, trial and error, and midterm grades to determine whether your study methods are effective or not. If you find yourself struggling or you would just like some new suggestions for studying, you came to the right place! After my own trial and errors of studying throughout high school and conquering midterm review, I have a few tips that greatly benefit me and hopefully you as well! If you have any study tips or great ideas for study places on campus, please feel free to share it in the comment box! 🙂

 

1. Don’t turn in to a study chair potato. (See what I did there? Hehe.)

Personally, this is one of my most essential tips for exam success – Don’t sit for hours on end studying to the point that you may have potentially rooted your body to the chair you’re sitting in. Get up and move! Designate a certain amount of time you’d like to study (we’ll discuss this more in tip 4) and incorporate breaks in between study sessions. By break, I don’t mean an hour on YouTube for 15 minutes of studying (It’s ok if you done this, I’m guilty too! I’m just looking out for you!). What I have found works best for me is laying out my study places for the day before I leave my dorm and then incorporate errands or different activities in between moving to a different study place so I get the chance to get more things done and give my brain a break.  For example, I had to go to the Outpost in the S.U.B (Student Union Building), run to University Village, and workout.

Three great ways to spread out study sessions and get my errands done. I started studying in Koerner library (It’s more of a quiet library, which I personally favor), completed my study goal there and then ran to the S.U.B. to run my errands and grab lunch. After, I migrated to an empty class room in Buchanan, completed my study goal once again and then grabbed what I needed at the University Village. Finally, I ended my studying for the day at the Life Sciences building and followed that up with a great work out to relieve my exam stress. It may seem like a lot of running around, but a lot of my study sessions run anywhere from 2-3 hours so I get a lot done and then make time to get some circulation in my legs by taking the time to walk around and get some much needed fresh air. I personally enjoy just listening to music on my walks in between study sessions to clear my mind. So, if you find the same thing beneficial, break in those rain boots! If walking isn’t your thing, at least make some time to get up and move around and give yourself a sufficient brain break. Other great methods are stretching, any form of exercise, or just doing something you find enjoyable for a sufficient amount of time.

2. There’s this thing called sleep. Ever heard of it?

I can’t stress this enough to my night owl friends – GET SOME SLEEP! Sleep definitely factors in to your exam and studying performance so be sure to get an adequate amount each time you study and before your final exams. You will be more alert when you study and will definitely be in a better mood. Don’t turn in to a grumpy cat.

3. It’s caffeine, not cocaine.

In response to not enough sleep, mentioned in tip 2, many people feel that caffeine can compensate for lost sleep. This is one of those scenarios with pros and cons. Caffeine is definitely useful for keeping you alert, so I definitely encourage its use, but don’t feel the need to OD on it! I promise 1 cup of coffee will suffice. Many people can actually build up a caffeine tolerance by frequently consuming caffeine. It’s like anything else – use in in an appropriate portion and it can be more than useful. Caffeine runs also make great study breaks!

4. Hibernation is for bears – Not people.

I’m extremely guilty of studying in my room for days and only leaving when nature calls and I need to shower. In order to accommodate such a bad habit, I’d stock up on food. Don’t let this happen to you! You are a human, not a bear – Don’t go into hibernation mood where you feel the need to eat/stock up on lots of food and stay in one place. Like I stressed in previous tips, your body needs exercise, circulation, fresh air, and human interaction. If you do find yourself to be a comfy bedroom bear and this works for you – No worries! Just be sure to stock up on healthy foods that will stimulate your mind rather than junk food that will slow you down.

5. Make a schedule.

We’re all guilty of leaving something to the last minute – Don’t let this happen for your exam studying. Designate different days for different subject review and plan out your study places while you’re at it. Incorporate group study if you can so you can get that awesome human interaction that life seems to be devoid of when everyone goes in to study mode. Also, set realistic goals for yourself – don’t over or under plan your study days. You want to be as stress-free as possible when exam day rolls around so relieve some of that stress by knowing the material ahead of time. The best feeling is walking out of a test feeling like you did well – let yourself experience this instead of post-exam anxiety that comes from feeling unprepared.

6. Find study places that work for you (A TV with the new episode of Gossip Girl  or whatever game is on is NOT ideal.)

I personally prefer a silent study area so I know I won’t get distracted by anything going on around me. Now, it seems everyone and their brother is camping out at the library, so this isn’t ideal for silent studiers like me. However, I find that Koerner’s bottom floors are generally much quieter than the Irving library. If you also need silent study areas, I suggest empty class rooms and lecture halls in Buchanan, the Coordinated Programs room (only for 1st years in Coordinated Programs like CAP or CSP; located on the 3rd floor of Irving – completely silent), and designated silent study places in residences. There are a plethora of other nooks and crannies around campus that no one seems to be in, you just have to find the one that’s right for you.  If you like noise when you study, there are plenty of places around campus to accommodate you. The nearest Starbucks, the S.U.B., or the Irving library is generally louder.

 

I hope you find this helpful! Best of luck to all of you with your exams – Happy studying 🙂

Adventure Time!

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A key part of succeeding in university is taking the time to de-stress! The best part about living in Vancouver and being on-campus at UBC are all of the opportunities available for you to do this in so many different ways.  There really are activities on and off campus that can cater to many different interests. As for me, I consider myself an explorer! I love to be handed a map and just learn my way around so I did just that this past weekend and had a great time! Myself and two of my friends ventured to the Robson Street area down town and just went exploring – learning street names, finding shops and restaurants we’ve never heard of, and just fell in love with the great diversity of our surroundings.

After venturing about, my friends and I visited a local piercing shop called NEXT! on Granville Street. I highly recommend this place if you’re looking to get anything pierced – All of the staff are super friendly, approachable, and detailed when answering any questions you may have. They were very reassuring and sure to inform my friends and I all about the safety measures and precautions they take when they do piercings and they gave thorough instructions on aftercare. It was a little painful, but I got my tragus and my cartilage pierced that day and I’m very satisfied with the results. I’ve been to this same piercing shop before to get my nose pierced as well and the service has consistently been great and safe. After getting our piercings and doing some more exploring, my friends and I decided to have brunch at a Café Crepe restaurant. IT WAS SO DELICIOUS! Anything with nutella is pretty delicious and I’d recommend a lot of the menu items since my friends and I chose different items and shared all of our different selections. After lunch we did manage to get lost, only briefly, but found our way to the Cineplex Odeon which is a theater in a Mall. After some shopping and enjoying some pretty good sushi from the food court we saw Wreck It Ralph. Who says university students can’t see kid’s movies?! Laugh all you want, it was a really great movie with lots of jokes even us “older kids” can enjoy.

After a long day out and about, my friends and I decided we’d had enough exploring for the day. But, every adventure wouldn’t be an adventure without a mishap! In case you haven’t ventured down town yet or anywhere where there’s a busy road, you should know that there are a lot of pedestrians and road safety is CRITICAL. It sounds juvenile, but make sure you’re are very careful when crossing the street. It pays to be extra cautious because even though my friends and I were obeying the traffic light which was indicating it was safe for us to cross the street; my friend was hit by a car attempting to turn right at a red light. Thankfully, there was no serious damage and the driver was extremely apologetic, but it’s obvious it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.

Thankfully most of us made it home after our adventure bruise free. So, lessons for the day:

  1. Take time to do what makes you happy and clear your mind! De-stressing is critical in such a hectic time like university. You’ve worked your butt off to get here and to stay here, so reward yourself once in a while!
  2. Traffic safety is critical! Look both ways before you cross the street and obey traffic signs and lights – only walk across when it’s safe!

So, I hope you have a great week and maybe give yourself something to look forward to by planning something you know you’ll enjoy for the weekend. Best of luck in your studies! Feel free to share some of your awesome adventure/exploring places.

Inspired

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Like every other young adult I’ve found myself wondering what my purpose is. What am I going to do with my life? Who and what am I going to be when I “grow up”? It seems I’ve been catapulted in to adulthood and I find myself unsure of how to answer any of these questions! Initially, I was pretty worried, maybe a little scared, but after a few months of university I felt something way better – INSPIRED.

In high school I knew what I was good at subject wise but, I didn’t know what I liked. University classes have opened my eyes to the very large world I’ve been missing out on! It has been great to not only read perspectives from across the globe but also hear them first hand from my class mates. Issues I’ve never thought of have been brought to light and I’ve realized what gets me excited – human rights and activism. Now, I have no idea if I will or can make a career out of this interest, but I’m slowly finding what I’m passionate about and it is one of the best feelings. I get excited to go to class because I am frequently inspired by not only what I find in the classroom but outside on campus as well.

So, I still don’t have my life all together. A few months ago I would be pulling my hair out over this fact, but now I’ve learned to just enjoy the marvelous learning journey that is university. This awesome time is all about finding myself and what I stand for as a person and it’s been great learning about who I am. I know what I enjoy now and by learning what my interests are I know I’ll be able to not only pick a major that’s right for me but a career that I’m passionate about. If you’re anything like I was – panicking over your future – RELAX.  This time is all about learning about yourself, it’s a process that takes time, but can ultimately be enjoyable once you find what type of work gets you excited!