Orientation, Transition & Engagement
News
Validation Time on the CCR!
To get validated on the Co-Curricular Record (CCR), select the position you participated in and request validation so that your validator can approve it once you have fulfilled all of the requirements.
30th March 2017
Become an Orientation Leader
Winter term is when applications for Orientation Leaders will become available. Find out more from your college or faculty Orientation team!
Event Highlights
Improv Class at The Second City
Grad Escape: Learn how to think on your feet, be in the moment and say YES to everyone's ideas all through fun improv games and exercises. No experience required. June 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Details and registration.
29th June 2017
Life @ U of T Blog
Recently, I took a walk into the future. There were diplomas, bells ringing, black gowns, hats, and families bursting in... Read more »
22nd June 2017
With the last few days of Ramadan in full swing, it seems appropriate to reflect on this month’s experience. This... Read more »
21st June 2017
Gone are the days where summers consisted of hours playing in the sun. Or in my case, playdates and a... Read more »
21st June 2017
Hey! My name is Avneet and I will be one of your bloggers at Life@UofT this year. One interesting fact... Read more »
19th June 2017
Right now it’s 2:00 PM Japan Standard Time. That’s 14 minus 13 hours. So, it must be 1 AM... Read more »
14th June 2017
Hello! Introductions are probably the most difficult pieces to write. However, as I will be one your Life@UofT bloggers this... Read more »
13th June 2017
Congratulations on finishing exams and another year of university! The end of school definitely calls for a reward, but while junk... Read more »
1st May 2017
It’s hard to believe we’re at the end of the year. I feel like I say this every end of... Read more »
19th April 2017
On Tuesday afternoon, I finished my last exam of undergrad. It has taken some time for that fact to sink in. I’d imagined... Read more »
13th April 2017
For those of you who have followed me throughout the year via this blog or any of our other social... Read more »
7th April 2017
When I first met with my supervisors to begin blogging for Life at U of T, I was suddenly unbelievably,... Read more »
4th April 2017
The Swedish semester is odd, and classes start and end seemingly randomly, but sometimes this strange system can lead to... Read more »
3rd April 2017
The end of the school year is here, and I don’t know about you, but as much of a relief... Read more »
3rd April 2017
I recognize I am the type of person that avoids realizing what I am not good at. I tend to... Read more »
31st March 2017
I dream about writing essays. It’s what happens when you are in a program that is heavy on writing papers.... Read more »
31st March 2017
Here’s a new tongue twister for you – try saying “Exam Anxiety” five times really fast. Can you do it?... Read more »
30th March 2017
Exam season is rapidly approaching, and you know what that means? Lots of studying! To make studying as pleasant and... Read more »
30th March 2017
I once read online that my generation spends an average of seven hours on social media per day. This at... Read more »
29th March 2017
Source: http://copewithlife.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stress.gif Looking back, this was probably the busiest school year of my life. I balanced five co-curricular clubs, a... Read more »
28th March 2017
When studying for exams of writing essays, I like to take breaks every so often. Usually, these breaks consist of... Read more »
23rd March 2017
I am drowning in essays, every single word coming out of the pages of my novels and off of the... Read more »
20th March 2017
Last year, I organized a Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence workshop, and it was the most empowering experience of my life.... Read more »
16th March 2017
I’m a big fan of being part of a team. Or rather, I’m a big fan of collaboration. Of course,... Read more »
14th March 2017
I’m about as good at operating LinkedIn as my grandmother is at using Facebook. To put it simply, I’m... Read more »
14th March 2017
One of the things I love most about university is the independence. Unlike in high school, you don’t need to... Read more »
13th March 2017
Sweaty palms. Shaking hands. S-s-stuttering voice. Look up and speak. But nothing comes out of my mouth. That is my... Read more »
13th March 2017
My favourite thing about the first few weeks of March is that it falls right in between midterm season and finals... Read more »
9th March 2017
So, networking is something I’ve always struggled with. I’m afraid people will think I’m trying to schmooze. I’m afraid of... Read more »
7th March 2017
I like to think I’m a creative person, but not in the traditional sense. I can’t draw or sing (although,... Read more »
6th March 2017
It can be surprisingly easy when living somewhere to miss out on the local museums, gardens, and interesting sights in... Read more »
6th March 2017
If there is something that I’ve learned in my three years of university, it’s that attending a lecture... Read more »
2nd March 2017
A couple years ago, I was at Delirium, the famous bar in Brussels known for having literally thousands of beers. I... Read more »
2nd March 2017
Back in the day (literally just a few months ago), when I was in high school I would have eight... Read more »
1st March 2017
My productivity is directly related to me keeping an agenda or calendar. For example, I still haven’t bought a 2017... Read more »
28th February 2017
Reading Week has come and gone, and now we’re back to classes. Sigh. Every year, I look forward to the... Read more »
27th February 2017
One of the wonderful things about Europe is the train lines. Trains are cheap, fast, and frequent, making it easy... Read more »
22nd February 2017
I always seem to have epiphanies about my life and my career when I’m doing mundane things. When I’m in... Read more »
21st February 2017
To me openness is the ability to embrace that which you don’t know. “OPEN” happened to be the theme of... Read more »
21st February 2017
Happy Reading Week, U of T! When considering what my #JoyatUofT is, I had a hard time coming up with... Read more »
20th February 2017
Lifting gloves: Disclaimer: “Trolls” on the internet love to pick on people who wear lifting gloves – just ignore them.... Read more »
17th February 2017
To be completely honest, I felt out of place. I recently attended an etiquette lunch that my college invited me... Read more »
17th February 2017
This weekend while I was looking through my Facebook newsfeed I came across a shared event through my college’s Facebook... Read more »
16th February 2017
Welcome to the first midterm season of 2017. Chances are, within the next few weeks, you will write... Read more »
16th February 2017
Six years ago, I found myself heartbroken on Valentine’s Day. As I met up with my friend, crying, at our... Read more »
16th February 2017
Is it just me or has reading week snuck up on us this year? I feel like I just started... Read more »
14th February 2017
When I first came to U of T, I had a plan to get the most out of my tuition.... Read more »
14th February 2017
I made a wild, wild decision in December 2014. I was in first year, almost done my first semester, and... Read more »
13th February 2017
This past Monday, Move U and U of T’s Black Students’ Association hosted the university’s first Afro-Caribbean dance workshop. It... Read more »
10th February 2017
As I mentioned last week one of my goals for the new year is to increase my water intake and... Read more »
9th February 2017
Teamwork – it’s essential. In your academic and professional career, you will inevitably work in teams. Therefore, the earlier... Read more »
8th February 2017
Working with children and with younger students has been a constant passion for me since I started babysitting in grade... Read more »
8th February 2017
I was fortunate enough to have some great teachers growing up, but one of the most influential and inspiring teachers... Read more »
6th February 2017
What’s your one-minute success story? This was the first question we had to ponder at the Career Centre’s Own Your... Read more »
7th February 2017
I’m a first generation student. This means that I’m the first person in my family to attend a post-secondary institute.... Read more »
6th February 2017
One of the most iconic and exciting parts of living in Lund is Lund’s bicycle culture. There are separated bike... Read more »
6th February 2017
There were a lot of events going on last week as part of Indigenous Education Week (IEW). While not officially a... Read more »
30th January 2017
When I heard about the Extern Job Shadowing Program, I was interesting in learning more about it, and hopefully participating... Read more »
31st January 2017
I stepped into the halls of Sid Smith, resume in hand, feeling confident. I had a few questions in mind... Read more »
24th January 2017
If anyone were to look at my Google calendar for the upcoming months, they would probably assume that I’m a... Read more »
23rd January 2017
Over the past few years I have been formulating this image of the person I want to become, specifically academically.... Read more »
24th January 2017
Being in my 3rd year, I’ve realized that my class sizes have gotten significantly smaller. As opposed to first year,... Read more »
23rd January 2017
As this is my first blog post, let me introduce myself. I am a third year geophysics specialist student at... Read more »
23rd January 2017
With a new year, the old problems don’t disappear. For me, the biggest of these old problems is falling... Read more »
18th January 2017
Everybody hates January. After a well-deserved break from courses, assignments, readings, exams and –for some – the cold commute, we’re... Read more »
12th January 2017
I never imagined myself living a whole ocean away from Toronto; away from U of T, my parents and my... Read more »
12th January 2017
Looking back on my (almost!) four years of university, I think I’m most proud of how much my time management... Read more »
12th January 2017
January is the month of New Year’s resolutions – discounted gym memberships, free calendars, half price journals and... Read more »
12th January 2017
Sometimes, I have a pride problem when it comes to academics. This means that I don’t really enjoy seeking help... Read more »
20th December 2016
I have just finished my classes in London and cannot begin to explain how overwhelmed I am by nearing the... Read more »
13th December 2016
If you’re as prone to self-deprecation as I am, the end of the term may inspire some troublesome realizations and... Read more »
9th December 2016
A trap I often fall into this time of year is thinking that I’ll have some more time to study... Read more »
9th December 2016
I didn’t hit rock bottom, but I came pretty close. The past few weeks I’ve been struggling to stay afloat... Read more »
8th December 2016
Today officially marks my last day of class for this semester. Time really does fly, I remember the day my... Read more »
8th December 2016
Networking makes me uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. So uncomfortable that I try to do it as infrequently as possible. That’s why... Read more »
6th December 2016
My inbox is usually flooded with e-mails regarding new course information, scheduling details, and other announcements from various departments at... Read more »
5th December 2016
December has officially arrived and final exam weeks are on the horizon. It’s no secret that December has a reputation as being... Read more »
2nd December 2016
Before I made the decision to finish my education, I was fortunate enough to experience the beginnings of a promising career in social innovation. It was an exciting time because I was working...
30th November 2016
Before I made the decision to finish my education, I was fortunate enough to experience the beginnings of a promising... Read more »
30th November 2016
Study abroad has been a life changing international experience where I have learned to live independently, experience a new culture, and study in a different academic environment. Most of my posts...
29th November 2016
I took a course in creative writing some time ago, but something that my professor said on the last day of classes always stuck with me. She encouraged us to write in any… Continue reading...
28th November 2016
I’ve always thought that the Multi-Faith Centre has been one of the divisions on campus that has created some of the most interesting programming. A lot of the groups and events that they...
28th November 2016
Continuing with our UofT Residence Tours series, the video crew visited Morrison Hall of University College, Check it out!!
28th November 2016
With November coming to an end, finals are rapidly approaching and it’s time for us to start preparing! I’m going to be honest with you, the first thing I did after seeing… Continue...
24th November 2016
As a work-study Career Centre blogger, I think it’s about time I blog about U of T’s Work Study program. U of T’s Work Study is available to U of T students registered… Continue reading →
22nd November 2016
It all started Sunday. I was sitting at the living room table in the unit I share with three of my housemates. They’d already gone up to campus, but I was hanging back… Continue reading →
21st November 2016
I know you just read that title and exclaimed, “Exams? Prep? Already?” But I checked my calendar and today is exactly three weeks until my first exam. Initially, I thought that sounded...
21st November 2016
To be honest, I’m not big on group studying. For some people it can be beneficial to think out loud with others and work through ideas together, but I’m not one of those… Continue...
18th November 2016
As much as I enjoy putting a mouth guard in and my fists up, I’m a princess at heart. A clumsy princess, but a princess nonetheless. Only two sessions remain in my Skating… Continue reading...
17th November 2016
I lived near campus when I was a full-time student and I still had to rush to just barely make my 10 am classes but lately, I’ve been out of bed by 6:00… Continue reading →
17th November 2016
With less than a month left until exams, it’s officially exam-studying season. If you’re anything like me, studying probably isn’t your favourite activity. However, there are a few ways to...
17th November 2016
Some student’s view grocery shopping as a chore, I view it as a fun activity. As a first-year student, I was scared at first of doing all these things for myself for the… Continue reading...
17th November 2016
When I was a kid, my parents used to have the hardest time trying to put me to bed. I was a night owl. I had an arsenal of tactics that I would… Continue reading →
15th November 2016
I have been in London for almost 2 months and I finally feel like I am at home and settled. Now that I can thoroughly explain the entire tube map of zone 1/2… Continue reading →
14th November 2016
Sometimes, things just don’t work out the way you planned. For example, at the beginning of this school year, I promised myself that I would actively keep up with all the…...
13th November 2016
I have been to a writing centre for every assignment I’ve had since I began attending U of T. It’s November (a.k.a. essay season) and I have six essays due between now and… Continue...
14th November 2016
As a U of T student, we have access to numerous fantastic resources, scholarships, and world-famous libraries. However, personally, my favourite perk of being at U of T is our Hart House membership,...
9th November 2016
A few weeks ago, I was talking to a friend of mine who was extensively explaining to me the benefits of drinking coconut water. “It’s changed my life,” she exclaimed. “I drink it… Continue...
9th November 2016
My entire blog post can be summed up into this: *makes elaborate plans for Halloween* *realizes Diwali falls on the same weekend* *has to finish all assignments before that weekend* *is overwhelmed...
4th November 2016
I normally not a morning person. One of the reasons I was most excited about starting university was the freedom to choose my own classes. So when I realized that the words “8am… Continue...
3rd November 2016
Imagine you are a waiter/waitress. It’s currently rush hour at the restaurant you work at, and you have 24 plates of food to deliver to the customers in the eating area. Based on… Continue...
3rd November 2016
There are many ways to get through midterm season: all-nighters, coffee, 8 hour long study sessions the day before an exam. I have attempted all of these at some point over the past… Continue...
2nd November 2016
The video crew took a tour through the clubhouse at 21 Sussex Avenue to speak to the many clubs that reside inside. Check it out now!
1st November 2016
The way I see it, university is mainly about two things: reading and writing. Obviously this is an oversimplified view of what it means to be a student at University of Toronto, but… Continue...
1st November 2016
Whenever something good comes out of an unrelated event, I’m filled with amazement and unease. I’m amazed at the way unexpected conclusions and positive outcomes can be reaped from seemingly random...
1st November 2016
Right off the bat, let me just say that I’ve never been a huge fan of Halloween. I’m not particularly fond of dressing up or anything of the spooky and scary variety, but… Continue...
31st October 2016
I just finished weeks 6 in London and time is flying by. Even though I miss U of T so much, studying abroad for one semester is too short. After making my “Action… Continue reading →
31st October 2016
I just finished weeks 6 in London and time is flying by. Even though I miss U of T so much, studying abroad for one semester is too short. After making my “Action Plan” (read my last...
31st October 2016
If someone asked me the name of my favourite teacher from kindergarten to high school, it would be easy to answer. Personally, I have been to seven schools in five different countries, my experience...
28th October 2016
As a campus tour guide, I receive a lot of questions surrounding student life and whether a school-life balance is something one can expect to manage at the renowned U of T. Seeing… Continue...
28th October 2016
I’d like to think of myself as pretty “internationally-minded” (whatever that means) and I suspect a lot of Torontonians would too, seeing as we live in such a diverse and multicultural city. Apart...
28th October 2016
When I learned I had to write my blog about self-care for Self-Care Week, I wasn’t sure what to do. I don’t think I’ve ever deliberately set time apart to recharge before. Sure, I’ve procrastinated...
25th October 2016
I live alone. I chose to live alone, and for all intents and purposes I truly enjoy living without a roommate. I have the freedom to walk around in my boxers as I please while singing nineties pop...
24th October 2016
I didn’t know if I was going to like tutorials when I came to U of T. I’ve been notoriously known for not participating in class and it was never for any reason except for the fact that I...
24th October 2016
October is a terrifying time of year – and that has nothing to do with Halloween. I have never before been so overwhelmed with things that need doing/studying/writing. But we’ll get through this…...
21st October 2016
For Self-Care week, I want to share an experience that literally changed the course of my entire university career and perhaps, changed how I will live my life from now on. Okay, yeah, I’m overly...
21st October 2016
Hey guys, this week is Self-Care Week at UofT. By definition, self-care involves the things you do to take care of your physical and mental health. This week is part of the University’s HealthyU...
20th October 2016
Hey guys, this week is Self-Care Week at UofT. By definition, self-care involves the things you do to take care of your physical and mental health. This week is part of the University’s HealthyU...
20th October 2016
What do you do to make time for yourself? Between lectures, emails, practice, homework, exams, and all the other things that fill up my schedule, I always make sure I make some time for myself. Am I...
20th October 2016
In the midst of midterms, taking a refreshing break can often be the last thing on students’ minds. We may take procrastination breaks all the time — YouTube videos, Buzzfeed, scrolling...
19th October 2016
October is HealthyU month at U of T, an entire month dedicated to celebrating physical and mental health! October 17-21 (starting today!) is Self-Care week, which promotes ways to take care of...
17th October 2016
When I first arrived in London I had a “To Do:” list with EVERYTHING on it: goal setting, student life, experiences, and travel ideas. I also made a pact with myself that during my semester abroad I...
17th October 2016
Even though everyone experiences failure, nobody wants to broadcast them. And it’s definitely hard to talk about them at a competitive school such as U of T. When you’ve experienced academic setbacks...
14th October 2016
It is easy to get stressed out this time of the year. I had no idea there was such a thing as “midterms” of the midterm before the actual midterm exams in December. These October tests...
13th October 2016
I’m think I am an introvert, I probably always have been. I try not to shy away from it anymore because I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing. Also, I think a lot of people...
13th October 2016
It’s the middle of October and you know what that means? Pumpkin spiced lattes, a chilly breeze, Halloween décor, and midterms. Around this time of year, students often find their schedules filled...
13th October 2016
As the photoblogger on this team, meaning the person who blogs and also manages the Instagram, part of my job is to see the pretty cool things on or around campus. If you’ve been following along with...
12th October 2016
When I entered university, I was determined to take advantage of all the physical fitness resources available and undo the drastic drop in athleticism that had occurred during my teenage years. In...
12th October 2016
I recently attended one of the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Backpack to Briefcase events, Humanities/Languages Speed Networking. University of Toronto alumni were invited to talk to students about...
11th October 2016
Hi, my name’s Liana and…I’m a member of the Procrastination Nation. It’s a magical nation where I go to avoid all of life’s responsibilities and PROCRASTINATE. I...
11th October 2016
Confession time – I’m a third year student at UofT, and up until now, I haven’t really used any of the university services that were specifically designed to guide students towards...
6th October 2016
Between classes, Orientation week, and illness, I hadn’t gotten a chance to hang out with my best friend Julie for weeks. Our lunch dates kept getting postponed, so I was pleasantly surprised ...
28th September 2016
Maybe it was the unusual way my Saturday began, but the brisk morning air stood out significantly in my memory. It was a stark reminder that the summer days were getting shorter and that autumn would...
27th September 2016
Hey everyone – welcome back to school! Whether this is your first year at university or you are a returning UofT student, this year is bound to bring many wonderful changes. You’ll inevitably learn...
22nd September 2016
Waking up to a new school year always gives me butterflies. Butterflies from all of the new prospects that the new school year holds. How many new friends will I make this year? Will I find a good...
13th September 2016
There’s one more week before the school year begins. Around this time, I often have mixed emotions that range from excitably happy to anxiously stressed. I imagine these feelings probably are...
6th September 2016
September brings out all sorts of feels in the student body. If you’re like me, just the anticipation of the first week of September takes out way more energy than when I’m actually living it. The...
1st September 2016
When you’re in university, you’re out thousands of dollars from the first day so it’s almost as if every little expense you make during your time here is basically putting you further in the red....
18th August 2016
I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t ridiculously obsessed with Pokemon GO. I’d also be lying if I told you I wasn’t extremely disappointed that my last 10 km egg hatched me a dang Jynx! But what do...
16th August 2016
The other day, I was talking with my future roommates in our Facebook group chat about when we would move into the apartment for September. The chat was a mix of finalizing plans and cracking jokes,...
10th August 2016
It’s that time of year again when Work Study positions are listed on the Career Learning Network website and applications begin! If you are not familiar with the Work Study, it is a program that...
5th August 2016
With August comes the stark realization that summer is almost over. Alright, there. I’ve said it. There’s no turning back now. How did it breeze by so fast? Maybe it was the initial bout of odd, cold...
3rd August 2016
Whenever I finish course selection, there is always a period of time where my thoughts drift to my future in terms of a career. It’s like an imposing deadline that inches closer when you least...
28th July 2016
Since the age of fifteen I have always been employed. Going through high school, it allowed me to have the freedom to spend my hard earned cash on things that I wanted and not have to rely on having...
26th July 2016
One of my favourite things to do in Toronto is to check out the FREE musical performances and other cool festivals because, WHY NOT? I was at the Harbourfront Centre last week and there were so many...
21st July 2016
It’s official, we are in the last half of summer. With August being two weeks away I’m certain all of us are thinking about the arrival of the fall semester. I’m also certain that many of us are...
18th July 2016
It’s that time of year again! With course selection times coming up, we are suddenly uprooted from the comforts of summer and thrown into fall semester preparation. One of the things that I have done...
14th July 2016
I guess you could say I’m a chronic procrastinator. When my friends were figuring out their courses last month and setting up alternatives, strategic course choices, and treating RateMyProfs like a...
14th July 2016
For those of you taking Summer courses, you know ALL TOO WELL how quickly the course materials go by and before you know it finals are here (…then again, it feels like that during the Fall/Winter...
8th July 2016
So I’m taking summer classes. I love summer school because I don’t have to juggle 5 courses at the same time. The focus on one subject for two months instead of 5 in four months has always made more...
7th July 2016
One Love! One Heart! Let’s get together and feel all right…what up Bob Marley reference!? What do you get when you combine the magical power of a rainbow with a 100,000 square foot crystal at...
1st July 2016
I’m addicted to the adrenaline rush. This addiction is a strange one because I would never go as far as jumping out of a plane, nor would I jump off of a bridge attached to a cord, but in this...
28th June 2016
If you have been down Augusta Ave. recently, you may have come across a flashy marquée that reads “Wrestlers” and wondered, “Hmm…what is that?”. No, it is not an underground fight club I assure you!...
24th June 2016
The red glow of the wall outside beckons you in. In huge sans serif letters, you can read “UTAC” – University of Toronto Art Centre, housed within University College. Curiosity at a new exhibit was...
22nd June 2016
Summer is fun; the sun is shining, birds are singing and people on bicycles are ruling the streets in all of their shiny-helmeted glory. I remember looking at the bicyclists of Toronto with envy,...
16th June 2016
Summer. What a gloriously wonderful season! A season full of sunshine, street festivals, and memorable travel adventures. For students it is the season of rejuvenation after diligently working...
14th June 2016
Hey there! My name is Meimei and I’m excited to join this AWESOME group of Life @ U of T bloggers for the upcoming school year. I am SUPER EXCITED to...
10th June 2016
Hi I’m Sargam, and I’ve got something to share with you. See, I’m done all my credits, I’ve pushed through 4 years of an Honours BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience with a minor in biology. I’ve...
9th June 2016
A brief introduction to me, my quirks, and my personal interests. Continue reading →
8th June 2016
U of T students have a multitude of attractions surrounding them. So why not be a tourist in your own city for a day? Vania and Ben will be your tour guides in this new video from the videographer...
2nd May 2016
With the year wrapped up, a lot of my friends at the iSchool, U of T’s Faculty of Information, have been joking that we’re now “half masters.” We’ve got one more year to...
27th April 2016
Long time, no see, U of T! I’ve been caught up in exams and the culmination of my undergraduate career, and as life goes, the time has just flown by way too quickly. (Exams went well overall,...
26th April 2016
It’s hard to believe that this is my last post as your Professional Faculties Blogger. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the many experiences that I had within the Faculty of Pharmacy as well as...
25th April 2016
In true Emaan fashion, I’m going to start off by talking about the weather today. I know I’ve taken my fair share of jabs at old Mother Nature and her troupe (Wind, Snow, Rain and the...
20th April 2016
This is me, a week before my first exam on Monday. Slightly frantic, considering there are hundreds of pages of extremely dense readings to review and only seven days in which to accomplish this....
19th April 2016
A career as a doctor is one of the most sought-after profession among undergraduates. As such, I figured many of you would like to hear some valuable insight about the program and advice about...
18th April 2016
The video crew paid a visit to the Art & Science Faculty Exam Jam to ask students a few trivia questions, in increasing difficulty…
15th April 2016
Buckle up your seat belts, folks, we’re approaching exam season full throttle. I’ve never understood (but secretly) envied those who can do all their studying in large marathon study sessions....
12th April 2016
With Work Study positions being posted on April 18, I talked to Laura, a recent grad, about her experience as a Work Study student. Work Study positions allow students enrolled in courses to get paid...
11th April 2016
For many of you, you may be nearing the end of your undergrad studies here at U of T. As such, you may find yourself contemplating “what next?”. Or you may be in the early years of your undergrad,...
11th April 2016
“’Cause little by little, we gave you everything you ever dreamed of Little by little, the wheels of your life have slowly fallen off Little by little, you have to give it all in all your life...
8th April 2016
Back in my very first blog post, I set a goal to let myself be more creative. As I explained there, I have a lot of trouble letting my creative juices flow. I get hung up on projects not being...
7th April 2016
It’s that time of year when things start to get really overwhelming. I have learned that this is only exacerbated in fourth year, when you have the stress of figuring out what you’re going to do with...
7th April 2016
Interested in living on residence at UofT or have friends that will soon start their UofT journey? Get an insider look into some of the residences here! Woodsworth College: https://www.youtube.com/...
4th April 2016
Every personality starts off as an open midnight blue sky with a single star. However, with each newfound lesson or realization learned throughout life comes the emergence of a new star. Eventually,...
4th April 2016
I always considered myself more adept to communicating through written word. The idea of speaking in public always prompts anxious feelings inside of me. It has been found that “public speaking” is...
4th April 2016
I don’t know about you, but my to-do list right now seems never-ending. With final assignments piling up, I feel like I don’t have a spare minute. That’s why I always feel a twinge...
1st April 2016
Dear readers, This is my final post of the semester and so I think it’s fitting for me to dedicate this one to the life-force, the stronghold, the foundation of my health. Extra firm futon...
1st April 2016
“Tracing patterns across a personal map And making pictures where the lines overlap” – ‘Where the Lines Overlap’, by Paramore A couple of weeks back, a friend told me...
1st April 2016
Now that we’re almost into April and spring, I’m also almost into the end of my second year here at U of T. And I can’t help but think about the fact that I am indeed, Halfway There. Halfway through...
30th March 2016
We still have a month of exams ahead of us, but summer is just around the corner and I could not be happier about it! Every day, its sunnier a bit longer and just a little bit warmer and it …...
30th March 2016
I have a secret hobby. This is a hobby that is the opposite of brag-worthy and my personal definition of “indulgence.” It’s a little counter-productive, but on my busiest days it’s the one activity I...
29th March 2016
The trend of holding Dance Marathons to raise money for local hospitals has been sweeping the US and Canada. On March 16th 2016, U of T held its first ever Dance Marathon, with the funds going to...
28th March 2016
When applying to a professional school, many applications require an autobiographical sketch of your extra-curriculars or activities that you participate in. It allows the admissions committee to...
28th March 2016
Well, hello there! If you’ve even seen me standing outside a classroom looking frantic, its almost definitely not because I have an impending test or other duty to perform in class. Most certainly,...
25th March 2016
“English summer eating up the atmosphere Day-time bathers sleep in the shade Clouds crawl over dampening our attitudes People run for shelter from the pouring rain” – ‘English Summer’, by The...
25th March 2016
Lettuce delve into the wonderful world of vegetarian food on campus! Olive these radishing meals are sure to beet your hunger pains and squash your bad mood. If you carrot all for what I’m dishing...
24th March 2016
With the semester winding to a close, I’m reaching the exact midpoint of my degree. That realization, along with Alex’s review of his semester, has left me feeling very introspective....
24th March 2016
Just kidding. I mean top ten. Can you imagine 189??? Happy birthday week to UofT! 189 is a ripe old age and our academic institution has seen lots of growth and development over the duration of its...
23rd March 2016
Winter Exam season is coming. As April quickly approaches, the average seasoned student will be preparing themselves for the onset of the most stressful time of year: final exams. Similar to the...
23rd March 2016
One of the best ways to take a study break and feel great is to get involved with a volunteer initiative! It’s hard for any student to take on commitments outside of the classroom — but...
23rd March 2016
When faced with someone showing symptoms of depression and/or suicidal behaviour, only the person who recognizes these symptoms and this behaviour will realize the person requires help. I learned...
21st March 2016
Hi there! This is my good friend Conor. We met at Trinity College Orientation Week 2014 and have been buddies since. Among other things, Conor and I share a passion for physical activity and...
21st March 2016
It’s time for another one of my special features where I get shine the spotlight on students from other professional faculties! Here, I will introduce to you two Occupational Therapy (OT)...
21st March 2016
Finding off-campus housing is a challenge that many U of T students will face. When I looked for my first apartment after living in residence in first year, I looked at over a a dozen places,...
18th March 2016
“I’m writing the future, I’m writing it out, loud.” – ‘Future’, by Paramore Fun fact about that song: it is (to my knowledge, at least) the longest Paramore song to date, as well as...
18th March 2016
It seems like spring is finally springing! Sure, there’s been a lot of rain, but we’ve also had a few beautiful, sunny days. Last weekend, I took advantage of the balmy 12-degree temperatures and...
17th March 2016
Was anyone at the Soul on Ice screening last week? The Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) partnered with Hart House to put together a free screening open to students and community...
17th March 2016
As a longtime history enthusiast, I’m always curious about what used to be. And every so often, while I’m walking across the tiled corridors of University College or peering up at the latest...
16th March 2016
“Beautiful 1 bedroom, perfect for a tidy, respectful young couple” This was the title of the Craigslist ad I responded to last April with high hopes. Two weeks later I was out of $1300, apartment-...
16th March 2016
For many years, students in professional faculties (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant), typically in their second year, are required to...
14th March 2016
Hiya! On Monday evening I attended a workshop focused around my favourite topic of all time: food. (I have Italian origins and I can quite happily discuss food forever). The workshop was hosted by a...
14th March 2016
Last Friday, I attended an event hosted by U of T World Vision Campus. It’s an annual titled “Justice Works,” and this year’s theme focused on the refugee crises that have been regularly making the...
11th March 2016
“You got me shakin’ got me runnin’ away You get me crawlin’ up to you everyday, Don’t bring me down, no no no no no, I’ll tell you once more before I get off the...
11th March 2016
March 15 is the University of Toronto’s 189th birthday, and to celebrate, I’m counting down with a list of great moments in U of T’s history each decade since its establishment in 1827. Earlier this ...
11th March 2016
Some classes are like meringues: light and simple. Some are more like chocolate cake: dense and rich, but very satisfying. Some are like sweet and refreshing ice cream that goes down oh-so-smoothly....
10th March 2016
I’ve been feeling a little-more-than-a-little subpar recently. I’m not sure if it’s the weather or a change in routine due to injury or just everyday stressors, but I don’t like to hang out in ruts...
10th March 2016
There are few things that go together better than Robarts and Buzzfeed. We’ve all had that moment where your twenty minute coffee break turns into an hour of reading listicles and finding out...
10th March 2016
Like Rihanna, I also work (work, work, work, work). I find a simple pleasure in putting in my time, effort and creativity into a job and in turn seeing real results. You can take a wild guess...
8th March 2016
On March 15, the University of Toronto celebrates 189 years of teaching, learning, and discovering. To mark the university’s birthday, over the next two weeks, I’m counting down to the big day...
7th March 2016
There’s a new kid on the block that is sweeping across professional faculties, and that’s the MMI! What’s “MMI”, you ask? MMI stands for “multiple mini interviews” and it’s a novel interviewing...
7th March 2016
Hey y’all! Inspired by Annette’s post about the MoveU Crew, I’d like to share some of the fabulous features of the HealthyU Crew that I’ve been fortunate to be a part of in a communications...
4th March 2016
Student-run conferences have become a big part of my involvement in campus activities. By “conference,” I refer not to a United Nations-like assembly of prominent politicians in suits but to a much...
4th March 2016
Unless you’ve lived under a rock (or equivalent room with no view or exposure to the oustide world) for the past few days, chances are you’ve noticed the sudden uptick in snowy weather. For most of...
4th March 2016
Like many Torontonians, I become a bit of a homebody during the winter. I grumble when I have to be outside for longer than 30 minutes, and I pass up a lot of plans for the warmth of my bed and the...
3rd March 2016
The month of March brings with it many things: Midterms Papers Movie releases (London Has Fallen comes out tomorrow (sequel to Olympus Has Fallen), I’m excited but also skeptical… then again, how bad...
3rd March 2016
I think it was on that satirical Stats Canada Twitter account that I read: “90% of Canadians watch the Oscars just so they can point out who is Canadian.” Funny? Yes. True? Most likely....
3rd March 2016
Do you have an IDeA for how to make the world easier to navigate for your peers that experience barriers to accessibility? The 2016 Innovative Designs for Accessibility (IDeA) Student Competition ...
2nd March 2016
Every now and again, during my midday campus dashes, I’ll cut through Philosopher’s Walk behind Trinity College which opens up on Bloor Street at the north end. And every so often, as I’m huffing and...
1st March 2016
This week I stepped out of my comfort zone. After receiving an invitation to an Arts & Science Backpack to Briefcase (b2B) event, I found myself shimmying into business casual work attire after a...
1st March 2016
Hi there! Last week I wrote about being ill, and I speculated that (in addition to cold weather and a nasty cough virus circulating in the air) my sickness was due to being out of touch with my body...
29th February 2016
Check the ‘UofT Weather Survival Guide’ because winter is still coming…
29th February 2016
Today marks the end of the #JoyAtUofT campaign. I decided to dedicate this post to one of my favourite places to work-out – HART HOUSE! Currently, I hit Hart House’s Fitness Centre at least 3 or 4...
29th February 2016
Unpopular opinion: I am not a fan of Subway. Or perhaps it’s just that I’ve been there so many times while on campus that the prospect of having to eat one more chicken teriyaki sub makes my stomach...
26th February 2016
With the passing of reading week, somewhat begrudgingly, this past Monday marked the restart of classes. While the break definitely provided a much-needed period of rest, trying to get back into a...
26th February 2016
The human body is a remarkable construction. It’s strong, powerful, capable and — unless you’re me — resilient more often than not. With all this talk of being physically active and trying new things...
25th February 2016
I have always thought of myself as a bit of an explorer, a daring wanderer, a seeker of new adventures… …When it comes to cafés. I LOVE cafés. I love the smell of coffee grounds, the...
25th February 2016
Reading week is debatably the best part of February. Some students ditch the books and jet-set off on worldly adventures (hopefully to warmer climates) and others end up spending their week relaxing...
23rd February 2016
In Pharmacy and among the other professional faculties at U of T, there is a requirement to attend Interprofessional Education (IPE) activities throughout our studies. These activities provide...
22nd February 2016
February is Black History Month, and this week is Indigenous Education Week (learn more about IEW here). These occasions provide the U of T community with the opportunity to learn more about cultural...
22nd February 2016
A storm had been ravaging my mind lately. It had been swirling and churning for the past few days, screaming at me during every moment of the day to study, study, STUDY, and so on Thursday night,...
22nd February 2016
Hey all! Here’s a transcript of a conversation I recently had with my body: Me: Hey body! Have you heard? It’s Reading Week! We can catch up on sleep and dramatically reduce caffeine...
19th February 2016
Reading week is a great time to take a breather after a flurry of midterms in the weeks prior. I’ve heard from friends who joined one of the multiple organized trips to Montréal, and even those who...
19th February 2016
Happy Reading Week, y’all! It seems cruel that Winter with a capital W finally decided to kick in during the one week we don’t have school. But to make the most of these frigid temperatures, I’ve...
19th February 2016
Oh Reading Week, that glorious, majestic, magical gift. It started off with such promise; you had such high hopes. Tasks would be accomplished, fun would be had, naps would be napped. All of a sudden...
18th February 2016
Recently, the idea of introducing a mandatory Indigenous Studies course at U of T has been making waves on campus. It was raised by the Native Students’ Association and echoed by Carolyn...
18th February 2016
I don’t know about you, but second semester has hit me hard. It feels like winter break was just yesterday, but in reality I’m in the midst of midterm season. My reading week has turned...
18th February 2016
This week I thought I’d shed some light on how to get involved with physical activity on campus in an administrative role. I met with the MoveU team to talk about what they do, how they got involved...
18th February 2016
It might not be an official government-sanctioned holiday but for us U of T students, as soon as classes ended for the day on Friday- a much-needed week off began. Which naturally meant taking in...
16th February 2016
Check out the latest video from the Video Crew! People do some crazy things to get on the U of T Snapchat story…
16th February 2016
Two nights ago I called my mother on the phone. This is relatively normal thing for me to do, as I try to call/Skype my mum at least once a week. Since moving away from home, I miss her companionship...
16th February 2016
When applying to professional schools, there is one requirement that is quite daunting. And that’s the interview!! Professional schools such as pharmacy, medicine and dentistry require successful...
15th February 2016
Hi team! “Happiness is not for the faint of heart”. These are words I remember from a life-altering lecture I attended this past August. Over the summer I had the opportunity to attend...
12th February 2016
Last week, I briefly mentioned that midterms had started up; by now, I’m sure we’ve all felt our workloads spike up that much more. I have had 3 this week, amongst other assignments, and that has...
12th February 2016
You’ll never guess what I got to do last weekend. I took a stunt fighting seminar! We have a Jiu Jitsu regional event every few months and last Saturday’s regional welcomed Lori O’Connell from...
11th February 2016
My alarm goes off. I sit up and my head is spinning. I reach for my alarm and miss it the first two times. I finally get it to switch off, lie back down, and assess the situation. I’m drenched...
11th February 2016
My Thursday night started out like any other. I was studying at my favourite spot on campus: the Hart House reading room, pouring over a week worth of lecture notes. I was feeling a little drowsy...
9th February 2016
What does a commuter love more than on-schedule public transit? Free food. And an entire week of it, no less. See, last week was….. *drumroll please*: Commuter Appreciation Week at U of T! Well, okay...
9th February 2016
Happy February! In my last post, I wrote about all the super resources we have on campus that can help you lead a healthy student life. This week, I decided to investigate another great resource on...
8th February 2016
A whorl of chaotic colours, blacks and indigos, fluorescent yellows and oranges, pulsating at the edges of your eyes. A cacophony of shouts and honks drowning out the sound of your own breathing. The...
8th February 2016
Have you ever thought about a career in social work? Well, you’re in luck! As my next “Faculty Spotlight”, I have the pleasure to present the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work...
8th February 2016
It’s Mentorship Week at U of T! From today through to Thursday, there are events happening around campus to explore mentorship opportunities – whether you’re looking to become a mentor, find a...
8th February 2016
“It’s such a cold, cold world (hello cold world) And it’s got me down, but I’ll get right back up, as long as its spins around Hello cold world” – ‘Hello Cold World’, by...
5th February 2016
I am in my final year of undergrad and scheduled to graduate this June (by some terrible twist of fate, I graduate on the date of my birthday thereby having to spend my 22nd year of life in CON HALL...
5th February 2016
I recently finished my very last stage production at UofT. It was a play called “Rope,” which is about two university students who kill one of their friends for “philosophical reasons” and put his...
4th February 2016
I’ve been in a bit of a creative rut lately. Between the perpetual grey weather and the sudden onslaught of midterms, I’ve been finding it difficult to feel inspired. Thankfully, this...
4th February 2016
I walked into my first circus silks class at the Athletic Centre last Friday pretty confident (largely due to the fact that I found my way from the AC change rooms to the Lower Gym in the Benson...
4th February 2016
The other day, someone on my Facebook feed posted something along the lines of, “I’m really not impressed by how dark it is outside – day, if you want me to be productive and get out of bed,...
3rd February 2016
Computer. Tablet. Notebook. Photographic memory. Regardless of how you do it, we all take notes in some way or another. Some of us may take notes a little less frequently than we should, while others...
2nd February 2016
Thursday, January 28th, 2016 was just one of Those Days. We all know Those Days. We’ve all had them. We all know what it’s like when the day takes a completely different turn and leaves you...
2nd February 2016
MCAT. PCAT. GMAT. DAT. LSAT. It seems like every professional faculty has a requirement for interested applicants to write a standardized test which aims to assess the skills, knowledge and aptitude...
1st February 2016
Back in autumn, rain showers were our constant companion, so we turned to apple cider for warmth. Now in winter, we can replace the rain showers with blizzards, but what replaces the apple cider?...
1st February 2016
Ever since my trip to the University of Toronto Art Centre last semester, I’ve fallen in love with the space. I don’t find many things more relaxing than a trip to an art gallery, and...
31st January 2016
There are 44 UofT libraries, spanning UofT’s three campuses. There are libraries of all shapes and sizes, all styles and atmospheres. You would think this would be enough for me. You would be...
29th January 2016
If ever we had to designate a time of the year that made people feel the most “BLAH,” it would be around now. The dreary weather and post-holiday lull make for a very uninspiring...
29th January 2016
Hi all! Sometimes, it can feel as if being a student is a barrier to living a healthy lifestyle. It’s easy to get caught up in a mindset that eating instant ramen daily, experiencing irregular...
28th January 2016
Like most U of T students, I’m proud to be one. People like to call us pretentious and I like to argue there’s a big difference between being pretentious and being justifiably proud. We boast top 20...
28th January 2016
Last week I wrote about some personal strides I’ve been hoping to make academically. Another thing I want to do this semester, though, is to become more involved in the U of T community. Seeing as...
28th January 2016
The Video Crew paid a visit to the Literary Fair hosted by the Hart House Literary and Library Committee on January 21st and conducted interviews with various clubs and organizations. Check out the...
27th January 2016
I work for my College’s residence building, and through this job I have the pleasure of meeting some really wonderful people. This week I decided to write about a coworker and fellow U of T student...
27th January 2016
In my last year of undergrad, I felt pulled in a lot of different directions. Should I start working after graduation, or go back to school? What could I actually afford to do? Scariest of all...
27th January 2016
Well, hello there, U of T! I know it’s been three weeks since we rung in 2016 and the ‘new year’ excitement has worn off considerably with classes and assignments already piling up (it’s not just me...
26th January 2016
As students, we often feel stressed out. Understandably, we attempt to find ways to cope with the stress by taking part in activities to “de-stress”. Finding that “one thing” that allows us to take a...
25th January 2016
Franz Liszt, Justin Bieber. Gordon Ramsay, you. What do these pairs have in common? Well, Liszt and Bieber are popular musicians and idols among their audience, though during different time periods....
25th January 2016
If you grew up in an Ontarian elementary school, you probably remember the Daily Physical Activity (DPA) program, which required teachers to facilitate a minimum of half an hour of physical activity...
22nd January 2016
“Woke up this morning I was laid out flat on the dark side With the moon and the room on the wrong side I took a needle, sewed myself right back at the seams I saw my universal gleam” –...
22nd January 2016
In my very first post, I gave a pep talk for when you’re on your way to office hours. Did you read it? Did you go? Are you and your profs best friends now? Do you give each other wardrobe …...
21st January 2016
Welcome back! I hope everyone’s well on their way to settling into a new semester. I can’t say I started it particularly enthusiastically; however, I feel I’m very much back in the groove. I start a...
21st January 2016
With the new semester, I’ve found myself with a schedule that leaves me with a lot of time to kill on campus between classes. Though school may have only just started, I’ve already grown...
21st January 2016
Last Friday I had the pleasure of attending the Winterfest 2016: Battle of the Bands, which took place at the Annex venue, Lee’s Palace. The Battle of the Bands event is a competition for U of T...
19th January 2016
It’s a New Year! A fun fact about me: I am a fitness instructor on campus. No, but seriously. I love being a fitness instructor: I find group fitness motivating. It keeps me active, because I...
18th January 2016
If you remember last semester, I shared the story of a recent nursing grad. This semester I hope to showcase students from other professional faculties! My next Q&A session is with a first year...
18th January 2016
Hey U of T! Recently, I had the phenomenal opportunity to interview Nathan Chan, one of the founders of a group based in Trinity College called PoC@Trin. The group’s mission statement is as...
18th January 2016
In my first few years at U of T, I found myself frequently really nervous about any kind of public speaking – raising my hand in class, doing presentations, or even participating actively in...
18th January 2016
They say you can’t go home again. I say that’s 100% false. After four months on exchange and six months away from home, I flew back to Toronto in mid-December. And it was WONDERFUL. I knew before I...
18th January 2016
You know that person in tutorial that is so articulate it hurts? They seem to have a rhythm when they speak, they never get lost in a train of thought, and they know how to hold everyone’s attention...
14th January 2016
Like a new year (hello 2016!!), a new semester never fails to get me in the mood to reflect on my goals. Goals forgotten, goals achieved, #goals that I aspire to move from the murky depths of my...
12th January 2016
I pray I’ll be able to colour a doll’s eye by the end of the year—specifically, the eye of a Daruma doll. Last summer, when I went to Japan, I saw these dolls sitting on window sills everywhere, and...
12th January 2016
I’ve been in school for a while, but I somehow feel like I learn something new about myself every semester (besides the incredible amount of something new I learn in all my classes). I start off...
8th January 2016
Hello! There’s no doubt, this time of year can be full of emotions. We are reminded of all the things we witnessed and experienced over the past twelve months. Google is reminding us of what...
20th December 2015
The video crew checks in with some UofT students to find about their holiday plans, how they deal with the transition from exam season and whether or not they like snow… Check it out!
21st December 2015
December is my favourite time of the year. Well, it usually is. Since starting university, the stress of December exams has sapped up any and all of the holiday spirit in me. After realizing the fact...
16th December 2015
Although the exam season is upon us, you can’t help but feel that tingle of holiday joy in the month of December. Whether it’s organizing gatherings to see friends and family, exchanging gifts or...
14th December 2015
It’s that time of year. We’re all muscling through, and we’re all going to make it! Don’t get overwhelmed by stress – practice self-care by eating right, staying active, and taking breaks!...
14th December 2015
Hey there! The Community Crew has been sharing some great tips recently for de-stressing during exam season. Annette wrote about staying active when we are busy; Tiffany provided some very helpful...
11th December 2015
As a Life Sciences student, I understand the pressure and trepidation you feel when someone in class goes “So in my research lab…” Meanwhile, you’re screaming internally about how you can barely fold...
11th December 2015
Crazy as it may seem, this semester’s almost over! Classes ended this week, and finals season has finally arrived. If it weren’t for my impending doom, I wouldn’t have been able to tell that it’d...
11th December 2015
I recently became aware of the fact that quite a number of students don’t know that their T-Card gives them access to the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC), located at the University of Toronto...
10th December 2015
As I was walking down St. George the other day, I heard snippets from other peoples’ conversations. I promise, I wasn’t eavesdropping; I just forgot my headphones and I was bored. Anyways, these are...
10th December 2015
It’s almost the most wonderful time of the year – but first, it’s a marginally less wonderful time: final papers and exams! I’ve got an all-day event everyday in my calendar for the next two...
9th December 2015
Exam time has finally arrived. If you’re anything like me, your sleep schedule is not the only thing that suffers during this time of year. In addition to never getting the amount of sleep my body...
8th December 2015
Guilty citizen of the ProcrastiNation right here, everybody. I’ve got an exam tomorrow, lecture notes and several hundred pages of readings to re-revise, and definitions to repeat over and over to...
8th December 2015
On a crisp Saturday morning, I had the pleasure to drop by the IMAGINE Clinic. What is the IMAGINE Clinic you may ask? The Interprofessional Medical and Allied Groups for Improving Neighbourhood...
8th December 2015
The video crew practiced their gingerbread house building skills in a fundraiser workshop run by SKFUofT (University of Toronto In Support of SickKids); check it out!
7th December 2015
Ever received a text saying something along the lines of: “smh srsly w/ever idc anywho ttyl g2g $ [insert pizza emoji here] rn”? I have, and let me just say, trying to decode those texts gave my...
7th December 2015
Exams are upon us, U of T. Time to buckle down, catch up with readings, and hit up the nearest campus library for some serious studying. Robarts is the natural go-to choice for many students. Exams...
4th December 2015
Finals are just around the corner, and it’s a pretty daunting prospect for us first-years. That said, being a Vancouverite, I’m already looking ahead to when I’ll be going back for the winter break...
4th December 2015
You know what really grinds my gears? It’s the frequent mentioning in the media, on the Internet, social networks, etc. of the importance of making time to work out. They say there’s no such...
3rd December 2015
At about this time every year, I despair. I start to wonder how I am going to finish what seems to be a never-ending list of assignments and tasks. I start to wonder why I even came to this school...
3rd December 2015
This past week, as I found myself staring at the textbook that I haven’t bothered to open in weeks, and looking at the rubric for an essay I really didn’t want to write, a little bird whispered...
3rd December 2015
I’ve moved around the city a few times since coming to Toronto, living with different roommates in different areas downtown. I’m lucky to be able to say that it’s been really fun living with new...
2nd December 2015
Are you an international student missing out on your “home holiday seasons” and family this year? Read on to meet some of U of T’s own international students, and their tips on how...
1st December 2015
Anyone who knows me knows that, by nature, I am not a morning person. Early mornings usually see me with the functioning capacity of a sloth on sleeping pills. (Minus those two wretched early class...
1st December 2015
A pretty important vote was held last week at the University of Toronto Student Union’s (UTSU) Annual General Meeting, at least for the Faculty of Engineering. If it failed to pass in our favor, not...
1st December 2015
Recently, I’ve been making it a priority to be more active. When you’re in school, it’s easy to get bogged down with assignments and term tests that hitting the gym is not even on your radar. This...
30th November 2015
In the wise words of Ned Stark: “Winter is coming.” However, with winter comes . . . exams. Did you feel a sudden shudder ripple through your body, too? Recently, I conversed with an Academic Success...
30th November 2015
I recently chose to attend the safeTALK: Suicide Alertness for Everyone training for the same reason I decide to take First Aid and CPR training every year: I want to know what to do if someone needs...
27th November 2015
So much cool stuff happens on campus all day every day. It breaks my heart that I literally don’t have the time to go do and see and hear everything. On Tuesday, I went to a free seminar that was...
26th November 2015
You gotta write good like you know you should. Take them words and string ’em together all smart-like. Why? Because words make us wanna go: That was painful, I know. I am deeply sorry for...
26th November 2015
Next Monday is Accessibil-UT, a showcase of accessible technology innovations at U of T. Entrepreneurs at the university have come up with some amazing projects using 3D printers, mobile applications...
26th November 2015
Perhaps some of you have felt that shift in winds over the past week or so. Perhaps the chill running down your spine was due not just to the physical cold but also to an ominous feeling of wintery...
26th November 2015
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard that Toronto opened up it’s first cat cafe last week. Sadly, the long lines have kept me apart from Toronto’s...
26th November 2015
As the end of November approaches us, the holiday season is in the air. Christmas music is being played in the grocery store, coffee cups have seasonal doodles splattered across them (although some...
24th November 2015
Guys, it’s almost that time of year again. You’re probably thinking: ‘Oh, it’s almost finals season!’ or ‘Oh, it’s almost Christmas!’ or ‘Ooh, it’s almost the holidays!’ Me: ‘Oh god….it’s...
24th November 2015
Get to know Ben, Sina, Zachariah, and Vania, the U of T Student Life video crew, as they answer a few of your questions from social media.
24th November 2015
My Neighbour Totoro. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Char siu bao. Maple syrup pancakes. Red pockets. Christmas trees. As a child, I never questioned why my life was a mix of Canadian and Chinese...
23rd November 2015
Establishing your network is important in every profession. This is noted within the professional faculties as well as within other disciplines including engineering, business and research to name a...
23rd November 2015
I am a lover of food. I tend to be one of those people who scoff when friends stop to take a photo of their food before they eat– I am too busy lovingly staring at it to ruin the moment...
20th November 2015
For this week’s post I interviewed David London, the founder of the University College (UC) Yoga Club. David is a 3rd year undergraduate student studying computer science. He says he founded the club...
20th November 2015
One thing that’s become particularly evident to me this semester has been the drastic changes needed to my time management methods. I’ve heard from other first years that they too have had to adjust...
20th November 2015
I recently discovered the wondrous phenomenon that is the Good Food Box. It is a program started by FoodShare, designed to bring cheap, fresh, and high-quality produce to Ontario residents. They...
20th November 2015
You know that thing that sometimes happens when you’re about to fall asleep but then all of a sudden you feel like you’re falling, you jerk violently, and you’re wide awake again? That’s how I feel...
19th November 2015
As a student who ‘double-dips’ in both the arts and sciences here at U of T, I can tell you that sometimes a full library day is something you can’t avoid. My kitchen table is where I do the majority...
18th November 2015
Hey, U of T! Do you ever…. set an alarm for 6AM in order to be in time for an 9AM class? hear the words “Attention TTC customers….” and roll your eyes at least twice a day? carry one of …...
17th November 2015
In my first year at U of T, I took astronomy to fulfill my breadth requirements. When the first midterm came around, I studied really hard because the topic was out of my liberal arts comfort zone. I...
16th November 2015
Every year, the Faculty of Pharmacy puts on a talent show which showcases pharmacy students and their talents. The show is affectionately called “Phollies” and is one of the most-anticipated events...
15th November 2015
Step aside, Ms. Trelawney. Disney is the new fortune teller of the future. Didn’t they create “It’s a Small World,” the infamous ride where dolls sing about how small the world is, years ago? Their...
16th November 2015
On campus and tired but can’t find a good spot to sleep? Our video crew took matters onto their own hands to test out some of the best spots to sleep on campus!
13th November 2015
Hello, UofT St. George has some pretty fantastic student programming on campus, and opportunities to connect with resources. I think its particularly great that students who are seeking help are...
13th November 2015
The other day I was rushing through the UC Quad, something I do on the regular, when I did something out of the regular, I stopped to read the sign that I usually side-step to avoid. This sign lives...
12th November 2015
The start of the ’gap’ between midterms and finals is definitely a good time to find more opportunities to de-stress where possible. As I’ve been emphasizing the importance I’ve placed on striking a...
13th November 2015
As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I’ve been meaning to check out UTFOLD for some time. I thought that it’d be cool to advance my paper-folding skills beyond paper airplanes (is that even...
13th November 2015
The other day I was rushing through the UC Quad, something I do on the regular, when I did something out of the regular, I stopped to read the sign that I usually side-step to avoid. This sign lives...
12th November 2015
I didn’t know what to write about this week, but then I went to my Olympic lifting class and the “eureka” moment happened in the strength and conditioning centre (SCC) between sets of clean pulls (...
12th November 2015
Cyberspace: the final frontier. These are the enterprises of the modern student. Her undergraduate mission: to explore strange new syllabi, to seek out help and resources, to boldly go where many...
11th November 2015
The beginning of November marks the start of “Unplugged” month at U of T, which is an initiative that encourages students to escape the tight grasp of their social media accounts. Who hasn’t felt...
10th November 2015
November 11 is Remembrance Day. This year marks the hundredth anniversary of the writing of “In Flanders Fields” by U of T alumnus John McCrae. There are lots of ways for you to learn about the...
9th November 2015
As your Professional Faculty blogger, I hope to provide you with insight from other professional faculties at the University of Toronto. I figure the best way to accomplish this would be to interview...
9th November 2015
We have all been newbies at some point or another. Fresh-faced and naive in comparison to The Wise Ones, a.k.a. the students experienced in the subject or activity. For most of us first-years, we are...
9th November 2015
Halloween is over, so we’re officially allowed to countdown to Christmas right? I LOVE holidays, especially Christmas. I can’t wait to see the city all dressed up and to go gift shopping and skating...
6th November 2015
Brushes fly across the canvas, water spills, paint splatters. There’s one more minute left in this round of the art battle, and each artist is trying their hardest to win. I had the pleasure...
6th November 2015
Happy November all! What if I told you I have absolutely no idea how much I weigh? In fact, I haven’t weighed myself in years! It wasn’t always this way. In high school, I was a member of the school’...
6th November 2015
Halloween is over, so we’re officially allowed to countdown to Christmas right? I LOVE holidays, especially Christmas. I can’t wait to see the city all dressed up and to go gift shopping and skating...
6th November 2015
This past month has undoubtedly been one of the more strenuous months of my life thus far, and that probably goes for a lot of my fellow freshmen. Midterms hit me hard and have left me feeling...
5th November 2015
In the spirit (tee hee, see what I did there?) of Student Life’s fifteen-minute leaf walks on campus—and also in the spirit of Halloween—I have decided to create a walking route of my own. Autumn...
5th November 2015
Words. Words that form a thesis statement. More words, separated into paragraphs. Further words. In conclusion, words. When I start a new paper, the first thing I type looks something like the above...
3rd November 2015
I am writing this post from bed. Five days ago, I found myself in the emergency room of a hospital with a rather bad kidney infection. After I was released from the hospital, my boyfriend insisted I...
4th November 2015
Bonjour! Hola! Namaste! Guten Tag! Ni Hah! No, I don’t actually speak all these languages (gosh, I wish I did) but get this- U of T has sent students to all the places these languages are...
3rd November 2015
A common phrase in the pharmacy profession is that “pharmacy is a close-knit community”. It didn’t take too long for me to realize that this phrase was even applicable to pharmacy...
2nd November 2015
Follow the yellow brick road. Follow the yellow brick road. Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow (follow, follow?) the yellow brick road, the munchkins of Oz sing. For Dorothy, the yellow brick...
2nd November 2015
Living in downtown Toronto can be fun, and as U of T students we’re rarely bored. But it’s easy to forget that living in the concrete jungle, we don’t experience nature as much as...
2nd November 2015
Hi there! Where is your phone right now? If you are like me, the answer is almost certainly face-up on the desk beside you, or in your pocket on vibrate. I keep my phone within arms length at all...
30th October 2015
This past week saw a couple of events hit Nathan Phillips Square that provided me with perfect opportunities to better immerse myself in Toronto culture. Wednesday, October 21st, was the Light the...
30th October 2015
Anyone who knows even a little bit about me probably knows that I do Jiu Jitsu. I started practising Shorinji Kan Japanese Jiu Jitsu in September of 2013, when I began my undergraduate degree. I...
29th October 2015
Happy end of October! Hopefully many of you have reached the closing round of midterms and are either eagerly or miserably anticipating your grade. While studying for U of T tests is stressful,...
30th October 2015
I always look forward to Thanksgiving. This time around, I had a very productive time; I cleared out my closet of all the old clothes that I never wear anymore, I baked several pies, I caught up with...
29th October 2015
I was sitting in the lower lounge of E.J. Pratt library last week when I looked outside and realized that there was waterfall just outside the glass, and that somehow I had been completely oblivious...
29th October 2015
I studied abroad twice during my undergrad at U of T (I wrote about my time in Berlin a while back on the blog). I learned so much during those trips, made some of my favourite memories, and met some...
28th October 2015
If you have ever had a job or wanted one — chances are that you have probably written a resume or a cover letter at some point throughout your adolescence. I remember sitting in Careers and Civics...
27th October 2015
If you’re like me, a big barrier to trying something new is being that person that’s standing in the middle of the hallway with no idea where they’re going or what they’re supposed to be doing. If...
27th October 2015
In my last post, I talked about how just showing up to things can have a huge impact on your happiness, and can ward of feelings of homesickness and loneliness while you’re away on exchange. I...
26th October 2015
There was an exciting interactive “mix and mingle” event hosted by the University of Toronto Pre-Medical Society (UTPMS) recently! The event allowed undergraduate students the opportunity to receive...
26th October 2015
October is a month of horrors in more ways than one. Yes, we have the typical ghost stories circulating around, where we masochistically devour them and subsequently jump at every single porcelain...
26th October 2015
Hello! I’m a chatty person. In elementary school, the comments sections of my report card consistently remarked on how I would benefit from chatting less in class. As much as my chattiness is often...
23rd October 2015
Having had a (relatively) lax last couple of days, I decided to get out and discover a new part of Toronto. At a photo walk last month, I met a couple of people who work at Fujifilm who recommended I...
23rd October 2015
Why did my professor do this to me? Why is she making me read this overly dense, buzzword-ridden, thinly veiled torture device of a book? We are repeatedly told never to make our essays too “wordy.”...
22nd October 2015
For the past week, we’ve been talking about stress management. The thing is, stress and I don’t get along. At all. When stress strikes my first inclination is to climb under the covers...
22nd October 2015
The past few weeks or so have been jam-packed. I’ve had so much work to do that I’ve barely had time to breathe, relax, eat, sleep, and all of those kind of important aspects of being a human. If you...
21st October 2015
Feeling stressed out at university is natural. There are deadlines, midterms, relationships to keep up, moms to call, birthdays to remember and somewhere in there you are supposed to get eight hours...
20th October 2015
As students, I’m sure we’re all too familiar with the dreaded term…’budget’ I’m still acquainting myself with it. A trip to Eaton Centre, as well-intentioned as it may be (“I just need to visit...
20th October 2015
In honour of wellness month, I thought I’d write about something that’s been affecting my own wellness lately: a bad case of homesickness. There are a mountain of great things about being away on...
19th October 2015
Since October is Mental Wellness month, I decided to share a recent experience which highlights the stresses of school even at the professional faculty level. Prior to my studies in pharmacy, I...
19th October 2015
Shrouded in a thick layer of mist, where compasses cease to work and where you see not land or sky, but an ocean of uniform grey, the pursuit to the Bermuda Triangle is a frightening one. Going to a...
19th October 2015
Hi all, If you’re like me, you probably have some go-to strategies for dealing with stress in your life. These may be coping skills or activities that help you slow down, relax, and take a...
16th October 2015
I went to my second Olympic weightlifting class last week. What is Olympic lifting? Well, it’s pretty straightforward really. Olympic lifts are the ones you see in –you guessed it- the Olympic Games...
16th October 2015
In light of Mental Wellness Month, the Life at U of T video crew took a trip to ‘Movies for Mental Health’ organized by Art With Impact and Healthy U. The event showcased various films...
16th October 2015
Fall is in the air, but for us university students, that just means that midterms have arrived. Personally, this past long weekend consisted of studying for a term test and a midterm, getting work...
16th October 2015
I went to my second Olympic weightlifting class last week. What is Olympic lifting? Well, it’s pretty straightforward really. Olympic lifts are the ones you see in –you guessed it- the Olympic Games...
15th October 2015
Have you ever heard of the “turkey dump”? It’s that phenomenon where a high school couple go to different post-secondary schools, they inevitably change and grow and forge new relationships there,...
15th October 2015
Walking around Toronto’s neighbourhoods, reading the newspaper or checking the Facebook profile of your poli-sci friend makes it pretty hard to ignore the impending election, which is taking place...
15th October 2015
Election day is coming up – in fact, lots of students have already voted in the advance polls on campus over the past week. There are lots of reasons why you should vote – because you...
14th October 2015
Hey U of T! I hope you’ve had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed this lovely long weekend- which for me, included some much-needed sleep-ins because my world is about to get a lot busier.
My...
13th October 2015
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife university students write—a lot. At some point, the word ‘writing’ might elicit an...
13th October 2015
Martial arts have demonstrated to me the incredible capabilities of the human body –of my body. They have changed my perception of where my limits lie and what I can and can’t achieve. They have...
13th October 2015
Hello fellow U of T Students!
Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Sandra and I’m a new face to the Life @ UofT team! I’m currently a third year student studying at the Leslie Dan Faculty of...
12th October 2015
Good day all,
As you may know, October is Mental Wellness Month at UofT. I hope you’ve had a chance to experience some of the events and initiatives that have taken place so far on campus. This...
9th October 2015
Hey there, fellow first-years! I’m Alex, a freshman Computer Engineering student. Over the course of the next few months, I’ll be sharing my experiences as a first-year student at the St. George...
9th October 2015
This month is dedicated to raising awareness and reducing the stigma around mental health and illness. This month says, “Hey, it’s okay that you’re stressed… it’s okay that you’re not feeling well”...
9th October 2015
When I think of multitasking, I usually don’t equate it with being mellow. In fact, to me, multitasking looks a bit like this:
I apologize for my terrible drawing skills, but in my defence, I drew...
8th October 2015
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that Nuit Blanche, an all night contemporary art event that turns the streets of Toronto into an art gallery, took place this weekend....
8th October 2015
As some of you may know, October is Mental Wellness month. This is a month to celebrate healthy lifestyles, raise awareness and support for those dealing with mental illness and appreciate positive...
6th October 2015
Ahead of my last year at U of T, I decided to apply to graduate schools in the fall. At first, I thought that I was going to apply to graduate studies in English literature, but I had decided against...
5th October 2015
As a child, I often tried to solve 1000-piece puzzles, and sometimes I lost patience and tried to jam a piece into the wrong area because it just didn’t fit. Obviously it didn’t work, and all I ended...
5th October 2015
The Community Crew takes it to the streets of U of T to show how student’s perspectives have changed over the years!
2nd October 2015
Well, friends, I would just like to take this moment to congratulate everyone on what was hopefully a successful and memorable first month of school.
If you’re like me, you’re still checking your...
2nd October 2015
Hey all,
Last week I wrote about forming new habits and routines. An important part of my weekly routine is attending Drop-In Fitness Classes on campus. I like the variety of the instructors, the...
2nd October 2015
I was reading “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” today—amid my mountain of course readings, I like to have at least one book of my own choosing on the go at all times—and I stumbled across a quote...
1st October 2015
Last week, I ventured into Hart House to snap a few pics of Madelin. While there she mentioned that Hart House is one of her favourite places on campus, and how not enough students take advantage of...
1st October 2015
You’re four. Your grandmother asks you what you want to be when you grow up. What a silly question, grandma! Has she not been noticing your doctor’s kit for the last eight months?? Maybe it’s the...
29th September 2015
In my first year history class (Statecraft and Strategy, anyone?), I took at least four pages of lectures notes every week. I would sit at the front of the room and transcribe almost every word. And...
29th September 2015
Hey, U of T, how long has it been since you sat down at a table and played around with markers or crayons or tubes of paint? Or actually attempted one of the many DIY projects you keep adding to your...
29th September 2015
Emerging from your three-hour study session, you recall doing only three things: (i) writing your name on top of a blank paper that is currently your essay; (ii) eating; (iii) re-watching season 5 of...
28th September 2015
How are you feeling?
Well, I hope.
My name is Madelin and I have the wonderful role of blogging about my pursuit of wellness this academic year. I’m a second year student, constantly looking to...
25th September 2015
As an Arts & Science student, I find myself restricted to the areas on campus reserved for classes and events specific to my faculty. I’ve made it a point to try and branch out by exploring the...
25th September 2015
Hello Internet! My name is Emma and I am a new member of the Community Crew this year, writing for CTSI (Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation). I am going into my fourth year (eek!) double...
24th September 2015
On my way to school on Monday morning, I followed my usual routine. I hopped on the streetcar with my backpack in tow and my mind racing, thinking about an assignment due later in the week, my...
23rd September 2015
Hey friends! My name is Madeline and I’ll be blogging for the Community Crew this school year under the super cool alias of the “Arts & Science Blogger.” I am majoring in Ethics, Society...
22nd September 2015
So it’s been a week since classes started. Seven whole days, phew. Everybody stop and pat yourselves on the back, so far so good! For all the first-years out there, you’re probably still navigating...
22nd September 2015
Maybe you got hand cramps from packing sand to make sandcastles all over a beach, maybe you got them from tapping lines of candy in the intense game that is Candy Crush, maybe you got them from...
21st September 2015
Autumn is my favourite season – perfect weather, perfect attire, and mysteriously the season when the best albums come out. But with autumn comes a new school year which has stirred mixed...
18th September 2015
I had the chance to quickly stroll through UTSU’s Street Fair between classes this week, and I was overwhelmed by the amount of back to school excitement that was in the air. Four months of...
17th September 2015
Over the years, I’ve used health services at U of T as my family physician. In second year, for example, when my roommate and I had the (genuinely brilliant) idea to throw a candy sushi party and I...
16th September 2015
Social media
Student Life Programs & Services: University of Toronto posted This week was the last week of the U of T Spring Convocation! Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2017. #UofTGrad17Student Life Programs & Services: University of Toronto posted “Being first in the family to pursue post-secondary education is such a remarkable experience! Having no one to look up to during my undergraduate studies pushed me to find support on-campus, which came in the form of a mentor from First in the Family Peer Mentor Program. My mentor encouraged me to reflect on my experiences and be a role model to others. Motivated by this positive experience, I became a mentor myself, and empowered not only my mentees but also my family. Today, all my family members are pursuing further education after immigrating to Canada, and I have never been more proud of being a first-generation student.” – Zoha, FITF Mentor #UofTGrad17 #myUofTsnapshotStudent Life Programs & Services: University of Toronto posted #myUofTsnapshot Graduation Edition
"Professors would always emphasize how important attendance was. My friends and I decided to keep a tally of whoever skipped the class the most would have to buy a big cake for all of us to enjoy on the last day of class." - Eba #UofTGrad17
Watch the video: http://bit.ly/2qOEr6OStudent Life Programs & Services: University of Toronto posted #myUofTsnapshot Graduation Edition
“I never expected to find myself managing a café, but getting involved at Caffiends was the best experience of my university career.” – Linh #UofTGrad17
Watch the video: http://bit.ly/2rMQYxa