learn to be a boss at U of T – kickstart

Let me take you back to a year ago.  I'd just graduated high school and was eagerly awaiting starting university. I was quite giddy in fact, when I received my admission; it was like I had just received the golden ticket to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.  In late August, however, due to an incident that involved a litter of kittens, some chocolate syrup and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards (I cannot verify the truth of this statement), I was unable to respond to the frosh application my frosh overlords at University College sent me.  My reaction? I was still going to U of T this September, and it was still going to be awesome. And then I made the mistake of googling "first year U of T life science".  I heard stories of horror from "seasoned veterans" who had battled the university and came out with scarred GPAs and scarred social lives. In retrospect, these battle stories were more than likely gross exaggerations. But I didn't know that at the time. 🙁 Was I going to spend my four years locked in the 11th floor of Robarts, with only a tub of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and episodes of Scrubs to console me? Then, that fateful day I got an e-mail from the student life department. It may/may not have read like this:

 Hey, we just met you! And this is crazy! But here's an event, so attend it maybe? - Student Life @ UofT

Turned out this event was called Kickstart and it was an alternative to the college/faculty orientations. It was about a week long and had different sessions, with the aim of giving you an introduction to life at U of T as well as making your transition into university life smoother. So, I thought, why not, and I registered for two events. The fateful day arrived and I poked my head in of the room's at Hart House. I saw a few other students and oh, cookies! Things were getting off to a good start already.  It is a little bit awkward at first, but the icebreakers they have planned usually overcome the initial bout of awkwardness. After stuffing my face with cookies, meeting other students and learning the basic essentials of the university, it was off to my next session. This session was about taking notes, in a life science class (there are options for other fields as well).  An academic counsellor gave us helpful tips and there was even a mock lecture, given by, you're not going to believe this, a ... real, live professor. I'm not sure how they managed to do that.  This session was definitely helpful considering you're thrown into lecture halls the next week. Although there are many other sessions available (and I encourage you to sign up for as many as you can); I was only able to sign up for a few.  I coupled them with finding my classes and attending the UTSU Clubs Day event.  Registration is now open for this year's session of Kickstart, and it's available to you whether you are doing your college's frosh or not. If you like cookies and want to learn how to be a boss student at U of T, I'd sign up, bro. It's been quite hot lately. Stay cool U of T, and may the odds be ever in your favour. - Abdullah ----- Any questions, comments, concerns about Kickstart? Feel free to leave a comment below. I love comments.