First Year Package

18
ARTS & LIFE
Looking Back:
Advice from Fourth Year Students
Halima Farah,
Contributor
As a first-year student, you embark on
a journey that at first has no clear path. When
you begin this journey, you are unaware of the
people that will influence your life the most, the
classes that will inspire you, and the professors
that will help you cultivate boundless knowledge
in your selected field. You will learn, as one
does, that all of these experiences contribute to
a well-rounded undergraduate education. The
lessons that you will learn, the experiences that
you will have, and the relationships that you will
form, will all test the ways in which you view life.
Often times, the life of a student is
quite challenging, as there are many facets that
require your time and attention. Personal relationships
are put to the test, as are romantic relationships
and friendships. The status of one’s
occupation also changes, as some students
work two or three jobs to pay for the rising cost
of tuition and everyday necessities. Many times,
this pressure is also coupled with trying to maintain
and preserve one’s physical, emotional,
and mental health.
Recently, The Underground had the
opportunity to speak to two recent UTSC graduates,
Nikita Singh and Ché Jeffery Jr. Gibson,
both of whom were health studies majors. Our
intention was to try and gain some perspective
on the first-year experience through the eyes
of students that had just completed their full
undergraduate journey. We figured that asking
students who were at one time in your position,
would give you better insight into the years to
come at UTSC.
The Underground (UG): What’s it like to have
graduated? Is it what you envisioned it to
be?
Ché Jeffery Jr. Gibson (CJG): Graduating is
honestly an amazing, fulfilling, yet nerve racking
feeling. It’s great to look back on all your difficulties
that you managed to get through, but
you’re also on-edge because you keep thinking,
“What’s next?” The bad news is that life is extremely
unpredictable, and no matter how much
you plan, things don’t always go the way you
envisioned. The great news is that university
teaches you a lot about dealing with unpredictability;
as long as you stay focused and remind
yourself that with hard work, determination, and
persistence anything is possible, then you’ll be
alright.
(UG): What advice do you have for incoming
first-year students as well as second and
third year students?
Nikita Singh (NS): I would say definitely use
the campus resources: the writing center, BV,
and study groups. Capitalize on the fact that we
are paying for these things; so use it and it will
show in your quality of work. Schedule [and] organize
your time. There is always a way to balance
social and school life; even if it is hanging
[out] with your friends for a couple of hours, it’s
something. Sticking to your schedule is also really
important. Putting things off is tempting, but
getting your work done is so much more rewarding.
Then you can have all of the fun you want!
(CJG): Something that helped me a lot was
scheduling everything. As soon as school
starts, mark down all of your due dates for assignments
and tests, that are already available,
as well as when you plan on beginning those
assignments. You can mark these dates down
on your phone [or] computer, but it really helps
having a calendar somewhere in your home or
room where you will see it all the time. Physically
seeing your due dates on a calendar helps
keep you aware of assignments or exams that
you should be preparing for.
(UG): Have you always been at UTSC? What
were your initial thoughts and what will you
miss the most?
(NS): I have always been at UTSC, but I have
been to other campuses. I really did like the
small campus, as it was easy to navigate. I personally
really liked the aesthetic and concrete
buildings, but I also really like the new buildings
as well. I think I will miss [using the tunnels underneath]
the buildings to get to class. It was
pretty convenient; now, leaving my house for a
cup of coffee is a challenge. I will definitely miss
the new changes. I think they will be great, and
it sucks that, [since] I graduated, I won’t be able
to use them.
(UG): If you could give your first-year self
any advice, what would it be and why?
(CJG): Prioritize! The first year of university can
be extremely overwhelming, and as time goes
on you realize you don’t have nearly the same
amount of time as you did in high school to get
things done, especially if you began working [a
job] in university as well. Time management is
really the most important key; projects, exams,
and responsibilities all catch up quickly.
(NS): If I was to give myself any advice, I would
say to not be afraid to put yourself out there. My
first year, I was very timid -- the complete opposite
of high school. I became too shy to participate
in my classes. I was hesitant to join groups
or even seek out things that interested me, and
I was also very shy to meet my professors and
ask questions. As the years went on, I definitely
eliminated the intimidation and got involved,
then I had no problem speaking up. If I had gotten
over it earlier, I feel like it would have greatly
benefited my university career.
(UG): What are your plans for the future? Do
you think your first-year self would be proud
of you right now?
(CJG): I plan on pursuing a career as a Client
Care Coordinator; however, I am also developing
a Basketball Training Program for youths
as well. Since graduating, I’ve really just been
trying to get myself out there and make as
many connections possible that will lead me to
accomplish[ing] my goals. I’ve been fortunate to
land internship/volunteering position at Toronto
General Hospital, so I hope to make the most of
this opportunity and learn as much as possible
about what goes on in the health facilities and
the health community.
No matter how many people you talk
to and family members and friends you consult,
you will never truly be prepared for the whirlwind
experiences that university provides. The key
to success (shout out DJ Khaled!) is knowing
that whatever you experience in life has value.
If you have a dream that you are putting off until
you graduate, start right now! The steps to getting
that internship, creating that Youtube page,
blog, novel, and dreaming that “impossible”
dream can begin right now in your first year. Before
you know it, graduation will be just around
the corner and those feelings of regret -- the
could’ves, should’ves and would’ves -- will be
at the back of your mind. If you are reading this
and you are in the middle or nearing the end
of your degree, know that it is never too late to
start working towards your goals. Both Ché and
Nikita’s advice are merely stepping stones and
pockets of wisdom for you to take on the journey
to seizing every opportunity in your next few
years at UTSC.
www. the-underground.ca AUGUST 22 - OCTOBER 5, 2016
VOLUME 36, ISSUE 01