March 2016 – Page 2 – Life @ U of T

Help others, help yourself with Community Action Projects

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 volunteering is fun, rewarding, and gives you a sense of accomplishment that you are helping to make your community a better one.

Game of Groans: an exam themed parody

Winter Exam season is coming.

A photo of Ned Stark overlooking, with the words "brace yourselves, 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 fabled “winter” from the popular HBO series Game of Thrones, exams are dreaded by most and require rigorous preparation of student-friendly rations like caffeine, extra sleep and good study snacks. It’s difficult to say when exams will truly come, as it is not unlikely that the exam schedule will be released later than expected. Like the Wildlings, the masterminds behind our seasonal exam schedules are unpredictable creatures and some of us prefer to leave it up to the U of T Gods to decide whether or not we will have consecutive exams (which sadly rob even the most battle-worthy students of their mental perseverance).

In Her Place: Learning to be Aware of the Symptoms of Depression and Suicidal Behaviour

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 this lesson when I sat at Innis Town Hall’s theatre to watch one of the Asian Reel Film Festival’s films, In Her Place. Originally, I thought I would be watching a film touching on the theme of being a diasporic Asian. It turned out the short film preceding In Her Place focused on this theme, but In Her Place didn’t. In Her Place delved into the unfortunate reasons and dire consequences of being unware of the symptoms of depression and suicidal behaviour.

The Innis theatre with a screen showcasing the film. — The theatre where the movie took place.

Basic Training: Lessons for Student Life

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 education, and we share teaching responsibilities for a Bootcamp class at UofT.

10274177_10203685559126582_3800031889733152331_n — My buddy Conor is one of the most intelligent and honest people I know, and he is always able to provide the best advice!

This week I sat down with Conor to discuss the four pillars of the HealthyU mandate (MoveU, SafeU, HappyU and FuelU). I am always eager to hear Conor’s perspective on important issues, because his life experiences include being a full-time student, a fitness instructor, and Military Maritime Surface Officer with the Royal Canadian Navy. Mostly, I was interested to know how Conor applies some of the techniques and teachings he has received from the military in his life as a student. I learned a bunch of new military jargon; concepts that have considerable applicability to student life too. Here I’ve pieced together our conversation:

When Things Don’t Go as Planned

Going on exchange involves a lot of planning. You plan where you’re going to live, what classes you’re going to take, what flights you’re going to book to get there. Subconsciously, you also make other, less concrete plans about things like the friends you’ll make, the trips you’re going to take, all the cool new experiences you’ll have. You guys can probably already see where this is going, right? You arrive on you’re meticulously planned exchange, ready to put those plans in action, and then….all of those plans fly out the window.

Spotlight on Occupational Therapy!

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) students who will share their experiences with the program and why they chose OT!

Meet the new off campus housing site!

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, and almost fell for a scam in the process! Eventually I found a place with a great roommate, but it wasn't easy. It's hard to find a place that meets your needs, stays close to campus, and stays within your budget — but the new off campus housing website from Housing Services just made it all a bit easier!

Writing the Future

“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 the one containing the shortest set…

Lions and Rhinos and Bears… Oh my!

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 went on a day trip. What better place to fill yourself with the joys of spring than at the beautiful Toronto Zoo? It’s actually pretty simple to get there on the TTC; just take the Bloor-Danforth subway line all the way East to Kennedy Station and then transfer onto the East 86A Scarborough, which will drop you off right at the front entrance. The trip usually takes just under an hour and a half, but it’s worth it to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city. General admission is $23, but if you’re going to be around Toronto for the next year, I’d recommend getting a student membership for $60. The zoo is open every day of the year, except for Christmas Day, but I think it’s especially nice at this time of year because it tends to be less busy and the warm-but-not-hot weather is perfect for wandering and exploring.

Pictured: my Health app data — I certainly did a lot of wandering!

I don’t know about you, but sometimes the urban jungle gets a bit overwhelming for me. The zoo is a great place to get some fresh air, take in some sights, and learn something new! It’s the largest zoo in Canada, covering 287 hectares, and it is home to over 5000 animals. There’s always something going on and there are a ton of conservation initiatives to get involved with too! Of course, there’s another draw this springtime. You may have heard by now that the Toronto Zoo recently welcomed two not-so-giant-yet panda cubs! Their names are Jia Panpan (Canadian Hope) and Jia Yueyue, (Canadian Joy). These two fuzzy little stars already have friends in high places.

Pictured: Justin Trudeau with pandas — OMG!!!! (Picture credit: cbc.ca)

Well, those three are not the only majestic bundles of joy who have been hanging around the zoo lately.

Month: March 2016 (page 2)

Top 189 types of Instagram posts using the #UofT hashtag

Help others, help yourself with Community Action Projects

Game of Groans: an exam themed parody

In Her Place: Learning to be Aware of the Symptoms of Depression and Suicidal Behaviour

Basic Training: Lessons for Student Life

When Things Don’t Go as Planned

Spotlight on Occupational Therapy!

Meet the new off campus housing site!

Writing the Future

Lions and Rhinos and Bears… Oh my!