At U of T and in Toronto more generally, we are taught that one becomes a leader by taking the lead. If there is a club or company you think should exist, you start it. If there is a comment…
Why I Might Pretend to Embroider Kanye West Quotes at Parties
The other week at a party, a stranger asked what I did. I told them I was a student at U of T. But then they said, “No, what’s your thing? You know, for fun." So I just paused and…
To Do: Avoid Sentient Mould
As I wrote about last month, I was scared about how moving out on my own would go: I’d have to do all these responsible-adult-things all by myself. I was worried it would take up all my time and that…
Who Needs Haunted Houses? We’ve Got U of T Grades
When I was 15, I fought off a troll. It was charging at my legs, determined to drag me back into a dark cave where I would never see my family or friends again… So my legs and arms instinctively…
Minding Our Minds: Unpacking Mental Health
Academic panels and conferences can often be dry, which is why I mainly go for the free food. If I happen to learn something interesting, great; if not, I’ll have made my case against the “there’s no such thing as…
What Comes After Pain?
In the peaceful main hallway at Hart House, there hangs a series of panels that depict murderers, mothers, former gang members and an archbishop. This seemingly eclectic collection of photos and stories seeks to “explore how ideas around forgiveness, reconciliation…
How to Live Alone
I'm pretty sure that one person can be an island. In fact, ahead of my moving out alone to a near-campus apartment, I was certain of it. I have never lived alone and so to avoid starving (or at least…
TEDxToronto: The Choices We Make
The fifth annual TEDxToronto conference, themed The Choices We Make, was held last Thursday at the Royal Conservatory of Music. The mix included innovators like U of T's own Director of Urban Design, Rodolphe el-Khoury, who showcased IM BLANKY…
Speak Up. Speak Out. Dig In. Dig Deep.
In high school, I remember a close friend getting an admissions package for some university that had the slogan, “Speak up. Speak out. Dig in. Dig deep. Make it count, "emblazoned on the front. I hadn’t applied there but I…
Working Those Work-Study Positions
Getting involved on campus can have you spending afternoons in ways you never thought you would. I have moved dozens of boxes of books at a college book sale, interviewed complete strangers in the Arbor Room for a blog, entered…