Category — Recreation

Just got back from UBC’s Got Talent. It was so amusing. UBC does in fact have tremendous talent. Seriously. PS can someone please upload a video of UBC President, Professor Stephen Toope’s, and AMS President, Bijan Ahmadian’s duet ASAP? Please and thank you. Edit: I found it on Youtube. Hahaha.

It’s been about a week and a half since I’ve been back at UBC. I went to Shanghai for Christmas to visit my family, and had a really nice restful break in my own bed in my house. Yes, Totem Palace is great, but it’s not home. A week ago today, I attended the Student Leadership Conference. Like many others have blogged before me, the conference was really insightful and I was especially pleased to listen to The Buried Life. Yeah, I’m a huge fan. I’m pathetic, moving on. The opening speaker, Drew Dudley, was exceptionally inspiring. Here was my favorite part-

So, lollipop moments. I’ve been thinking about them lately. And in my first few months here at UBC, there have been so many people who have done or said something that have affected me in a great and positive ways, and I’ve never really acknowledged or thanked them for it.

I don’t think many people really realize how much our teachers and advisors do for us. For many of my friends and me, one of the commerce undergraduate academic advisors has created an extraordinarily large impact on our lives. Whenever we’re feeling uncomfortable, upset, or doubtful of the way our classes are going, or the grades we’re getting, we run to Jamie Tooze. He’s the best. I met with him for the second time today and explained to him that I was really disappointed with my term 1 grades and needed to see what other options I had. After a ten, fifteen minute chat with him, my day literally got so much better. I dropped HIST 106 (uh I’ll give global environmental history a try next year instead. Maybe.) and learned exactly what I needed to do in order to stay in Sauder. Also, the sun came out and I think we have Jamie to thank for that. He’s a miracle worker, I swear. My friends Anoud, Topaz, several others and me are the co-founders of his fan club. True story.

Also, I can never seem to post something without somehow mentioning how much I love the friends I have here. I was so upset to leave my family and home after winter break, so the day before getting on a flight back to Vancouver, I called up Topaz and told her how I felt and that I dreaded going back to UBC. She cheered me up, and since arriving back in Vancouver, I haven’t felt lonely or sad at all. A few of my friends and I went out to see Black Swan (which was an incredibly beautiful movie, but so scary. So scary omg.), threw a surprise party for another friend, went to the Student Leadership Conference, and bussed down to Granville Island the weekend I got back. In my Blog Squad application last year, I had to write something about what I wanted to get out of UBC, or something similar to that. And while I’m here to get an education and expand my mind and all of that, I wrote that I was here to make connections, meet people, and create friendships that will last for many more years after UBC. As I sat in the Chan Centre today for UBC’s Got Talent, thinking that in less than four (or five) year’s time, I will be in that hall graduating from school, I realized that while I’ll eventually have to move on from this place, the friends I’ve made in the last six months will be the friends that will be by my side when I get my first job, get married, etc etc. In my application, I also wrote that I wanted to make friends that I can sit in bed and watch Grey’s Anatomy with 24/7. And while it has been more like “studying accounting 24/7”, I have made friends that I can call up to watch TV with and just cry to. And for that, I am so so grateful. I’m not good with words, or talking about feelings, but I just want my friends to know how much they mean to me and that without them, there is no way my first year at UBC could have ever been as good as it is now.

1) I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One on opening weekend. It was amazing. Don’t try to argue with me. No jk, I just love Harry Potter so much. Leading on to point #2.

2) Come join UBC Quidditch. We’re playing again this weekend on the Totem Park fields at 1 PM. Be there or be square. Or join our UBC Quidditch group on Facebook.

3) Oh, yeah, I went to Whistler this past weekend with five other girl friends of mine. It was the most amazing thing. And no, we didn’t ski nor snowboard. We went to a bed and breakfast where we cooked, baked, slept, ate, watched movies, and spent hours in the hot tub.

4) Presentations aren’t that bad. Really. Last week, I had presentations in my Organizational Behavior, COMM 101 and Public Speaking class. Fingers crossed, but I think I did alright.

5) Finals are coming up. My first one is in 6 days. LOL WHAT IS HAPPENING.

6) I signed up for the Student Leadership Conference. I know it’s going to be amazing and all, but for right now, I’m just telling everyone that the only reason I signed up for the SLC is to see The Buried Life speak. I’m such a huge fan it’s not even funny.

7) I started watching A Very Potter Musical on Youtube. Addictive. Great plan, you know, especially with finals just around the corner and all.

8) Studying at Henry Angus is the best. I love being in that building. It’s seriously the only place where I’m actually productive. I love Totem Park and Nootka and everything, but no, I don’t get anything done in my room. It’s always so warm in here. I nap often. Slash all the time.

9) The workload has been pretty insane. It’s gotten better now that I’ve handed in my case 3 assignment for COMM 101, but I still have another assignment to do for it. Some mind-map. Awesome. To be honest, I strongly dislike that class. I’m so glad it’s almost over. I like the concept of the class and I appreciate the atmosphere that the professors and course coordinators are trying to create, but it just isn’t for me. Leading on to my final point…

10) I met with my academic advisor Jamie Tooze last week. He’s the best. I’ve heard so much about him, and I finally understand why everyone loves him. Last week, I was struggling with pretty much everything. I thought that I’d fail math and econ and eventually get kicked out of Sauder. However, after my chat with Jamie, I understand the grading criteria and the marks that I need to get to stay in the faculty of commerce. I also know what my options are in case (knock on wood) I do fail a class. Turns out, it’s not that bad. Also, Jamie asked me what I thought about Sauder and I now, more than ever, firmly believe that this is where I need to be. I simply cannot picture myself in another school, or another faculty. I NEED TO DO WELL ON MY FINALS. I have a math tutor that’s amazing and I have my study schedule all set up. So I mean, I guess what this point really comes down to is this: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re struggling or have any sort of doubt in your mind about your place here at UBC, talk to your academic advisor. Or RA, or search for a tutor as soon as possible. It’ll make life so much easier.

Good luck on your finals, dear readers. And have a very happy holiday season. You deserve it!

UBC Quidditch is now an official AMS Club. Yaaaaayyyyy! This is the first year that Quidditch is a club here at UBC. Founded by first-years and run by an awesome executive team of eight first-years, we want YOU to join UBC Quidditch. You can play, be a referee, or just come out and support Quidditch players by forming a UBC Quidditch Cheerleading Squad.

What is Quidditch?

Quidditch is the premier sport of the wizarding world. It was developed by J.K.Rowling for the Harry Potter series. The sport has been adapted for the non-wizardry (muggle) world. In the United States, teams from more than 200 colleges are affiliated with the International Quidditch Association and play tournaments.

Why join UBC Quidditch?

We strive to provide a place for students to build relationships, make friends, and be active while participating in the growing collegiate sport of Quidditch. Most importantly, it’s going to be an insane amount of fun. Come join us for some all- around good times. Do it for the lawls.

YOU can now join UBC Quidditch by coming out to the Place Vanier commonsblock next Tuesday, November 9th at 7 PM. We will be there to happily sign you up. AND it’s only a $5 membership fee. Or, check out and join our Facebook group.