Persona – Ivana

I’m really enjoying my first few months at U of T, because I’ve been learning from some of the best professors and students in my field. My supervisor is a leader in my research concentration, and I gained so many new skills working alongside them in such a short period of time. My peers also make me feel welcome, often inviting me to hang out after our lab meetings and classes.

Even though my academic experience has been great, I’ve been really struggling with the cost of living in Toronto. I heard about how expensive Toronto was before I arrived, but I never imagined it would be that bad, so I decided to stay with my aunt and cousins to save money on rent while I work on my Master’s degree. It’s a two-hour commute away from campus for me, so I often arrive on campus really early in the morning and leave really late at night because of how my classes are spaced out throughout the day.

I remember one time when I arrived early in the morning and didn’t have a chance to pack a breakfast from home. So, I decided to search campus for breakfast – something quick and simple. I searched every building that was publicly accessible on campus, but the cafes were closed, and I only came across vending machines offering the same set of unhealthy snacks. Going to a local dining hall was out of the question, because I didn’t have a meal plan, and I didn’t know how meal plans worked or if I was even eligible for one as a graduate student. I didn’t have much money left for food, and I could not reach out to my relatives either. I am the first one in my family to receive a formal education, so most of my family budget goes towards paying tuition fees, so I feel bad asking for more. Then I recalled that my advisor often encouraged me to visit the food bank to save money, so I decided that now was the time to go.

When I got to the food bank, I was a bit disappointed. Even though they had lots of food, the quality of the food was not what I expected. It was not bad, but it was not great either. After sifting through food, I settled on some granola bars and bananas for breakfast. I knew it was not enough for me. Then I  decided that I might as well pick up some extra groceries for the week since I had time to spare before my first meeting of the day. But before I left, I was informed that I was taking too many items and had to put some back – there's a daily limit on how much food you can take. I didn’t know about this, so this surprised me and, to be honest, made me more stressed because by that time I really needed to eat. I put the items back and went to my meeting feeling a little weak because I was running on such little food.

I really wish food was more accessible on campus. A few weeks ago, I attended a giveaway event hosted by Sidney Smith, where free “study survival bags” were given away. These bags included some bananas, peanut butter, and a fresh sandwich with a juice box. I was lucky to be at this event since I had to TA a tutorial in the building soon, because otherwise, I wouldn’t have heard about it. I really hope events like these are promoted more and happen more often, because it is the best feeling when you are energized and ready to face the day after fueling my body with nutritious food.