Category — Pre-UBC

As the year comes to an end, I can’t help but look back and reflect on my first year of university. The ups and downs (but mostly a crap ton of ups)…

I’ve been to countless second and third floor Okanagan dinners, celebrated plenty of birthdays in style and with a lot of love, been down to Wreck Beach (the stairs really aren’t that bad), went to the Student Leadership Conference, the Arts Career Expo, graduated from the Vice Presidents, Students Emerging Leaders Program, joined house council as a floor rep for second term, watched my beautiful friend Stephanie campaign her little butt off to win house president of Okanagan 2011/2012, I’ve been to Stanley Park, had countless hangouts with the Vancouver (Mob)ilizers (mad mob love for life), experienced the power of We Day, taken incredibly courses with amazing professors, went to Langley, and Washington, and oh yeah, made the best friends family in rez a girl could ask for.

OK 2nd and 3rd at Vanier Spring Formal

I was a little afraid that I wouldn’t use my time here to its fullest, taking in every moment. It is so easy to forget to actually live, to experience things that go against the norm, outside your comfort zone and take advantage of every opportunity you have to try something new or do something you love. I didn’t want to be afraid to live, and I still don’t. Despite whatever sadness I might have experienced this year, whatever stress or anger, frustration or annoyance, I wouldn’t change one damn thing. I feel changed, not a new person but definitely an improved version of myself. Krystal 2.0. This year was absolutely everything that I dreamed it would be, and so much more. I’m currently packing up my room, figuring out where to store my stuff, studying for exams, and hanging out as much as possible with my OK fam jam before I have to say my teary goodbyes as I leave to catch my flight back to Ontario. It’s all happening so fast, and a part of my wants to return to the comfort of my home, my beautiful sister and supportive parents, but I also want to hold on as tightly as possible because I know it’s going to suck being away for three and a half months. But no big, I’ll survive…with a lot of Skype dates, visits from my BC friends in T.O., and some old-fashioned letters. If I had any doubts in September about whether UBC was the right place for me, they’ve definitely gotten the hell outta Dodge.

Now, if you are a potential first year student, whether you have chosen to come to UBC or are still deciding, if you make the decision of where to go rationally and with a lot of heart, you’ll make the right decision. Don’t let someone talk you out of achieving whatever the heck it is you want to do. If I listened to every person and every voice in my head that doubted my decisions, I wouldn’t be here, chilling in my dorm room, getting ready for exams and having the time of my life. And if you’re feeling like your choices are like falling head first right off a cliff…wait for it, cheesy line coming up…you’ll be surprised at how often you learn to fly. Or at least land gracefully at the bottom.

Oh, and if you decide that UBC is indeed the place for you, I’ll see you at Imagine Day as one of your MUG Leaders, and at the VP Student Emerging Leaders Commencement as your Pod Leader. And if you have the opportunity to live in rez, take it, take it, take it! If you let it, it’ll redefine your first year experience. I cannot stress enough how much rez life has impacted me. Plus, if you’re at Place Vanier I just might be your residence advisor. Next year will be a crazy ride, so hang in until graduation, have a kick ass summer and see you (other than in blog form) in September!

With the crazy, amazing opportunities I’ve had lately, and the wicked awesome people I’ve met, I can’t help but think about what I’m thankful for, and why I am constantly grateful. So now it’s time to get a little personal:

I am most thankful for my education, for my ability to learn, be taught and to teach. I don’t quite know where I’d be if I did not have as many opportunities to learn as I have, as I continue to have. And I don’t just mean formal education (I’ve been through elementary, middle and high school, and now I’m attending a wonderful post-secondary school), but the things I have learned outside of the classroom. Reading has always been a major part of my life, and I know it always will be. The ability to get inside of a good book and get lost is irreplaceable. A good book is a stranger and a friend all at the same time. A story that may or may not be familiar to you, but somehow you feel connected as if you’ve read it a million times. I don’t know where I’d be if reading wasn’t a part of my life. Proud bookworm ’till the end.

My heart overflows with gratitude when I think of sacrifices, especially the ones my parents have made. We’ve had our problems, our differences and arguments, but no matter what I know they are there for me. They supported me and continue to support me 100%. It doesn’t matter if my decision is not one they would make, whether it seems to be infeasible and unrealistic, they support me. When I wanted to leave the pre-International Baccalaureate program, they supported me, even if it meant giving up an opportunity to have a “better” education. When I decided I was going to pursue a $17 000 semester trip, they supported me. They were there when I failed, and lifted me up when I most needed it. When I decided to apply for a university on the other side of the country, they were sad, but they encouraged me. They have given up hours of their time and money to be there for me. The sacrifices they’ve made have helped to bring me to where I am now. Their sacrifices will continue to motivate and inspire me toward the life I know I am meant to live.

The things I see, the people I meet, the lives I intend to touch, will only be possible through their love.

And with that, I hope you all find something to be grateful for this week. Have an epic last week of classes, m’dears.

I got to Vancouver around 12:15pm PST on Wednesday and can I just say this place is beautiful! Just driving toward our hotel was an experience in itself. The mountains and the high rise buildings are such a juxtaposition of nature and modern life. The weather here is absolutely beautiful, compared to the 40°C in Toronto. My family and I took a walk down Cambie St, then along W 6th Ave. It’s so different from Toronto. The buildings are different and the people seem a bit more friendly. I think I’m going to like it here. When I first arrived it definitely felt more like a vacation than the place that will become home over the next four years. Here are just a few photos of the view from our hotel room:

View of City Hall from my hotel.

Yesterday we headed down to UBC for a campus tour and so I could meet up with a few people to buy some of my books (my epic book buying post will come soon!). The campus is everything I thought it would be: sprawling, beautiful and a place to call home. To be honest, I don’t know if the real “I’m at home, this is where I belong” feeling has hit me yet. I think it’ll be a lot different once I move in and get settled. The campus is huge though! I always wanted to go to a big university, but holy moly, how long is it going to take to find my way around? I can’t wait!

For all the prospective UBCers out there who can’t/haven’t visited the campus before, here are a few pictures of this swonderful, and smarvelous place (Funny Face  reference ftw).

Nitobe Memorial Gardens

Koerner Library

View from the Rose Garden

Rose Garden

Nitobe Memorial Gardens

“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – Winnie the Pooh

So I officially fly out tomorrow and I’ve really begun my goodbyes. I’ve been counting down the days until this moment since April, and I never thought that actually saying goodbye to all my friends would be so hard. My excitement overshadowed the reality of leaving them all behind. We’re all moving on and I’m so proud of each and every one of them. It’s a new chapter ahead and it’s going to be so exciting. But at the same time, these are the people who shaped who I am. The experiences that I had with them in high school, the things we did and talked about. Our crazy lunch times laughing at pointless things seem so far in the past. How boneheaded of me to think that it wouldn’t be hard saying goodbye. I was so caught up in leaving and moving on that I didn’t spend enough time reflecting on how much strength it takes to say goodbye. To move on out and start over again.

I went to one of my best friend’s goodbye/birthday dinners last night and it was beyond tough to really realize that I wouldn’t be seeing her until May 2011 (she goes to Ottawa for Christmas). I know it’s not going to be the same, and I’ve never been really good with communicating via the internet, but I have to try because these friends mean the world to me. I don’t know what I would do without them. Our entire futures are ahead of us, and it’s thrilling to be moving on, but things won’t be exactly this way ever again. I can officially say that reality has smacked me right in the face. It’s up to me to now pick up, carry on and do what I’ve been dreaming of doing for the last three years.

On a less intense note, the packing frenzy began a few days ago. I never realized how much stuff I had until I had to pack it all up into suitcases. Here’s just a little preview of how messy my room was the other day, and how the mess has now migrated into my dining room.

Piles and piles of clothes.

My Pooh Bear getting ready for the new adventure.

The beautiful laptop case my big sister made me.

The dining room turned packing station.

Well that’s it folks, the next time  I’ll be ’round, I won’t be in Brampton!

This post has a couple topics and therefore doesn’t flow, reader beware.

1. As the summer comes to a close, I have begun saying my goodbyes. Last time parties, BBQs, coffee dates and movie hangouts. I’m trying to fill these last few days with as much family and friends as possible. I don’t want to leave in September and regret not saying goodbye.

But enough of all the sadness. My summer otherwise, has been pretty decent. I worked for a little while but a recurring injury put the kabosh on that. I just spent the rest of my weeks trying to get through all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls. (I’m so close, I might actual make it.) I’ve been to the zoo, and frolicked in downtown Toronto many-a-time. I took a trip out west to St. Jacobs and Listowel to do some nice antique browsing and had the most uuh-mazzzing cupcakes at this bakery called The Cake Box². I went to Buffalo to shop, and I’m squeezing in one more trip before I leave. I’ve seen countless movies, seriously: Toy Story 3, Eclipse, Despicable Me, Inception, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and The Other Guys. Telus Tuesdays! Hellooo! I’m trying to fit in at least three more before I leave: Eat Pray Love, Salt and Takers. Have I mentioned I’m a total movie buff?

I’ve had Lord of the Rings marathons and I’ve roamed around my city, just trying to drink it all in. The next 7 days (OMG! one week!) are super packed with, well, packing, more trips downtown and countless more friend encounters to get through. Let’s hope I make it in one piece and don’t come out a blubbering, homesick-before-I-even-leave mess.

2. I’ve hit another iPod phase where everything on it sucks, and I’m getting bored of listening to the same things over and over again. So I’ve begun a new music hunt. So far I’ve discovered Paper Route and, Now, Now Every Children. I have pretty eclectic tastes, if i say so myself. Here’s a little preview of some of these bands for your listening pleasure:

Now, Now Every Children – Giants (from their new EP)

Paper Route – Wish and Enemy Among Us (from their album “Absence”)
I couldn’t find a non-live video, terribly sorry.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, kids! I hope it’s been a fantastic one. Mine was looking a little drab for a moment, but everything’s been pretty chill since then. I’m hoping to stretch it out as much as possible before getting back to the daily grind of school. Be safe, say “no” to drugs and go back to school! I’m out.

PS: Happy music hunting!