Hey readers!

It’s hard to believe this year is coming to an end. I still vividly remember writing my first blog post, I probably spent close to three hours trying to make everything perfect. I feel like that really describes my entire first year at UBC; freaking out over everything that isn’t ‘perfect’. Howver, I’ve come a long way. My ASTU class always felt like a safe haven to me, the 25(?) of us would come together and discuss our compelling readings. We focussed a lot on trauma and memory which allowed us to open up about out own personal experiences and views. Being able to work in such a close knit group and develop such strong relationships was truly a treat. With the assistance of Professor Luger we expanded our knowledge in the realm of academia, exploring what we were and were not yet capable of.

A highlight for me was definitely our discussions, all of my peers were full of insightful points that would definitely shake the idea that I had come into class with. It was never rare for us to be debating after class about a Butler article or what Erica from Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist truly represented. Before coming to UBC, I didn’t like when people would disagree with me but now I crave it. I love that all of my friends were able to change my mind or build off an idea of mine to create something even better. I was worried that university was going to be like the Hunger Games, where everyone is for themselves…man was I wrong. Everyone in our CAP program was more than willing to help, I’ve spent countless nights with so many of my new found friends proof-reading papers and studying for exams last minute.

I am confident that I have grown a tremendous amount as both a student and a young adult. I know longer fret about one bad mark like I did at the beginning of the year (lets not talk about the summary exam), I have come to an acceptance with the fact that things are not going to be perfect, in fact if things are mediocre that’s a good sign. I don’t spend hours pouring over these blog posts like I once did because I’ve realized that that’s not the point. CAP has shown me that university is all about what you make of it, I could have easily gone through this year with just showing up to class, I didn’t have to participate, but I guarantee you that I would not have had the amazing time that I did.

Thanks for listening to me babble for the past six months,

Devon Coady