Category Archives: Arts

The Mighty DIY

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So I’ve never been all that handy of a person. Creative, yes, but handy? No. Case in point: I bought 5 simple wooden shelves from Ikea in January that are still merrily leaning against my bedroom wall. It’s (sigh) May.

Perhaps it was the home culture I grew up in – don’t get me wrong, my family is wonderful and have no qualms getting their hands dirty. But they work on things that need fixing or maintaining. Ask them to invent something new just for the sake of it? They would much rather “invent” another cup of chai. Extra strong, please.

Mmm Indian Chai

I was 13 when I sewed together some rather hideous scraps of corduroy together and created my very first wearable article. It was a simple corduroy purse, and I had made it from cutting up a pair of baggy, equally hideous pants that I had bought from Value Village (or, as we used to call it then, the VV Boutique).

I paraded my purse (might I add that it was this terrible brown colour) proudly to my parents and brother. Instead of the exclamations of wonder that my ear was ready to hear, I heard stifled laughter instead. My mom couldn’t stop laughing. And my brother? A lost cause. If I could see the purse now, I’m sure I would laugh too. I’m fairly certain that the stitching would be quite uneven, and the strap would be wider one side than another. Like the pants from which it came, it too would probably be, well, hideous.

The Treasures of VV Boutique

All the same, it was my creation, and I loved it for what it was. I told my mom the other day that if she had encouraged my spritely talent, I might have been a famous fashion designer by now. She dissolved into fits of laughter at the memory of the purse instead.

Is it any wonder that I can now make an amazing cup of chai?

Can't have chai without snacks

All this to say that I have chosen this summer to challenge my rather complacent attitude towards DIY projects. Carrying on with my commitment to do and not just think, I’ve decided to see what things I can create or reuse rather than buying everything new all the time.

To help myself along, I’ve been checking out resources on campus that promote DIY adventures. My findings so far: U of T has an impressive array of places to go to if you want to learn a new trade. For instance, want to learn how to repair your bike? U of T’s Bikechain is the place for you!

Stay tuned for next week’s post, as I delve into where to explore hands-on activities on campus, from cooking and gardening, to creating interactive displays and even android apps.

As for keeping my commitment, I suppose I should begin with those Ikea shelves…

-Aziza

From The Think to The Do

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The first of May is here – finally! And so begins my summer. I can store my school work away and leave my books in my room, instead of letting them carve perma-holes in my backpack. It’s been a whirlwind of a year for me here at U of T – new people, new ideas, new stressors, and an interesting dynamic between sameness and constant change. At times I’ve felt like Kramer, a few (very few) times like Sheldon but mostly like Samwise  – a bit of a wanderer in this strange new space called U of T. Sam always craves potatoes. I always crave tea. We are not so different!

A friend of mine recently wrote a blog about spring and renewal, which got me thinking about my own life. One of my goals for this year and beyond is to focus on Doing and Being, instead of just Thinking. Hmmm. A tricky thing for someone like me, who gets lost in thought. Correction, lost in Many Thoughts. I’m pretty sure that my mind is a leafy labyrinth filled with comfy chairs, cozy throws and west-facing sunny rooms designed for Great Thinks.

I took an Aboriginal Worldviews class with Professor Jean-Paul Restoule at OISE this semester, which was rather life-changing. It moved me from the Think to the Do. Each class began with a Smudging ceremony, which is all about using the Sage plant to cleanse a space of negative energy. I usually entered class a bit frazzled, my mind jumping between to-dos and must-haves and what-nots. And yet, by the time each of us had drawn the smoke from the Sage over our hands, hearts and faces, I always felt grounded and calm. Professor Restoule would end the ceremony by giving thanks for the grass, for the trees, for winter, for the opportunity we had to gather together again, and so on. We were all brought to the present moment. That’s a beautiful way to start, well, anything, isn’t it?

I decided to start be a bit more grateful for regular things every day. It’s a curious thing: the more I gave thanks, the more content I was with who I was and how my life was taking shape. The less I looked at how others around me were doing and the more I focused on what I could do to create change. You know that paralyzed feeling you get when you realize just how much more you need to get done?   Well, those moments came fewer and further between. And, the more I did. I started taking a bit of time to draw and paint again. I started to take a few minutes to close my eyes and breathe in silence in the morning. Bit by bit, I started on a journey of renewal and change.

I have always been focused on next steps. When is the next paper due? What am I making for dinner that will last me a few days? How can I best plan my day/week/month/year? The act of writing these words makes me feel rushed. It is no secret that the life of an undergraduate or graduate student can often be stressful, scattered and difficult. So it was a beautiful gift to learn to be grateful for what just is.

Being grateful for even the smallest things (It’s sunny! I can feel my fingers! My taste buds can still taste this ghastly coffee!) helped me get through was must be the longest winter I can remember. Expressing gratitude is a form of doing. It is giving positivity back to a world which throws a lot of positivity my way too.

You have all written exams, handed in papers, and completed final labs over the last few weeks. Some of you have four months of Summer. Others of you are closing your chapter at U of T, and heading onto other wondrous things. Good Luck. Take a moment to create renewal for yourself (it feels great!).

In the spirit of Spring Cleaning, Happiness and Mental Health Awareness, check out MindFest at Hart House next Monday, May 6th. Activities include exhibit booths, an art crawl, film screenings, workshops, guest speakers (Steve Paiken!), free food, stand-up comedy, and prizes.

- Aziza

An Artsy Afternoon

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Contemporary art and I have an interesting relationship. Sometimes we get along, like two dancers weaving to a rhythmic beat, and other times we tip-toe in each others’ spaces, like hesitant friends at an awkward dinner party.

So it was with a bit of a sense of the unknown that I made my way to the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery to check out the current exhibition, I Thought There Were Limits. As I stepped into the gallery, I reacted as I usually do when it comes to contemporary art exhibits. I wondered: where is the art, and why is there so much space? I like creating art, but my paintings and drawings are a mish-mash of colours and shapes, words and half-finished poems, swirls, strikes, dots, random pairings of patterns and symbols…absolutely nothing like the art that stood staring back at me, daring me to take a leap.

And so, I leapt.

According to the colourful program that I picked up, the exhibit brings together five artists who “engage with both the material and conceptual dimensions of space”. Ah, Space, that most elusive of things. The exhibit spans two rooms, with one room hosting most of the art pieces, and the other engulfed by Kika Thorne’s piece titled Singularity (pictured below). I won’t go into detail about each work of art. I want you, my friend, to go and take a look!

Singularity by Kika Thorne

However, one piece caught my eye. It took the shape of a giant shiny silver blanket of sorts, slightly crumpled and lying on the floor. Not surprisingly, the piece was called Space Blanket, by Josh Thorpe. Yet it was the sound recording that formed the backdrop for the blanket which got me thinking. At first I thought I was hearing noise from the subway cars (if you’re ever in a lecture at OISE, you know what I’m talking about). Then, as I listened more closely, I realized that what I was hearing was a succession of footsteps that got increasingly louder, and then simply fell away. Intertwined with the sound of footsteps was the sound of classical music.

It could have been my imagination (that afternoon sunlight can play tricks sometimes). but every time the footsteps grew louder, the silver blanket moved ever so slightly – just enough to make me believe that perhaps it was moving on its own.

All of which got me thinking about Space. I was the gallery’s only visitor. I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds around me. It seemed as though time had stopped, and I was carried by whatever note the music played next. I opened my eyes and found myself in rather empty space filled with sound and a few works of art. I realized that the title for the exhibit – I Thought There Were Limits – fit really well. There are no limits, until you create them. The art that did have physical limits in that open space did not have limits in my mind. Now that, my friend, is profound.

Since I had thought all the deep thoughts I had inside me, it was time to go. I really enjoyed Josh Thorpe’s work, but I could only reflect for so long on potential interpretations. So, off I went, only to be bowled over in Hart House’s next corridor by the Hart House Camera Club’s annual exhibit.

According to their website, the exhibit ended on April 21. I managed to catch it, and you may have a chance as well in the next couple of days. I must have spent a good 20 minutes immersing myself in all of the photographs, and creating stories as I went along. The photographs are fantastic!

Aaron Tan’s Tension is a compelling piece:

Tension, by Aaron Tan

Art Chow’s work is also wonderful:

Observer, by Art Chow

I was pleasantly surprised by both Justina M. Barnicke’s current exhibit, and my spontaneous discovery of the Camera Club’s eye-opening exhibit (its 91st edition, I might add). Have a spare hour or so? Treat yourself to an afternoon of art at Hart House. You may just be inspired to create spaces and stories of your own!

-Aziza

For more information about Hart House’s Camera Club, check out their website.

The Best of Life @ U of T (according to me)

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Well I’m sad to say that this will be my last post for the Life @ U of T blog. What a crazily-awesome year it was and I honestly have no idea where the last 25 weeks went. I’ve had a blast being your Faculty of Arts & Science Student Blogger and I hope you guys got as much enjoyment in reading my posts as I had in writing them.

For my last post I want to do a “Best Of” the blog over the past year — featuring a favourite post of mine from each of our lovely bloggers. If you have never read Life @ U of T before these posts are a great way to start!

Abdullah — “oppression, equity and politics” — In this post Abdullah tackles the sensitive subject of equity — or lack thereof — that sometimes has a tendency to surface in the student sphere. While we can all be proud to claim that U of T is a highly diverse and multicultural school, we also have to be cognizant of the fact that sometimes situations of inequity arise and Abdullah does an excellent job in addressing an instance in which he experienced it firsthand.

Ishita — “The Art of Forgiving Yourself” — In this post Ishita discusses the pressures many students experience — especially in their first year — to do well at the U of T and the feelings of failure many of us inevitably face when we fall short of the goals we have established for ourselves. Ishita reminds us that mistakes and missteps will happen and that’s OK, so long as we learn from our experience and leverage it for the better.

Lesia — “Hey U of T, it’s time to get moving!” — As the Physical Activity Blogger I find all of Lesia’s posts highly important and relevant to me personally (as someone who tends to neglect the gym…and every other form of physical activity). The tendency to simply hunker down at your desk and neglect exercise, indulging in less-than-optimal eating habits as a coercive mechanism to get you through your readings or that big assignment is very strong for many of us. Lesia reminds us of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and many of her posts feature the free services and activities available to students in pursuit of it.

Lori — “Raise your hand!” — In this post Lori discusses strategies you can use to try and make yourself a bit more engaged in class discussions — in an attempt to get those ever-tricky participation marks. Her advice is highly relevant, especially for upper-year seminar courses where large chunks of your grade require you to do something many of us dread: public speaking.

Sarah — “Post-Grad Blues” — In this post Sarah does an exceptional job encapsulating how many of our fellow graduating students may be currently feeling. Come May 1, many graduating students will be — for the first time in their lives — completely without the life-structuring mechanism school provides. In addition to this, many students may also feel torn about what exactly the want to do post-undergrad, with different forces pulling them in different directions.

Shak — “TTC? Why man why????” — In this post Shak discusses (or perhaps rants would be a more optimal phrase) about the one transportation service we all love to hate: the TTC. As a commuter myself, I found Shak’s post highly relatable and funny — well worth a read for all those who have, at one point or another, felt slighted by the Toronto Transit Commission.

Vahini — “College Governance 101” — Vahini offers a great introduction to all the various student councils that govern each of U of T’s disparate colleges. In a school as large as U of T, it’s important to know what governing structures are relevant for you! This post is actually part one in a three-part series and her posts about Councils and Unions and Student Societies are worth checking out as well!

Vivian — “The Breakfast Club” — In this post Vivian discusses all the benefits of having a healthy breakfast before going about your day. As someone who tends to neglect this important meal, I found the post very insightful. We are all told how breakfast is ‘the most important meal of the day’ and Vivian demonstrates this!

Of all the posts I’ve written this year I would have to say that my post “Surviving the Winter: Tips for Commuters” is one of my favourites as commuting to school in the winter can be a tedious and downright awful experience for many of us — especially when you consider the fact that winter in Toronto last from November to April (apparently).

I hope you have all found value in reading this blog — I know I have — and if this is your first time on the site be sure to check out all the posts I mentioned above! I’d like to thank the Faculty of Arts & Science for giving me the opportunity to write for all of you as well as the Office of Student Life and the entire Student Life Community Crew for being such a wonderful and awesome group of people!

- Matteo

Mobile games for mobile students

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Phones and other mobile devices these days can do a lot of amazing things (it’s like we’re living in the future or something) and one result of the proliferation of these ‘smart’ phones/tablets/other doohickeys and doodads has been the emergence of mobile gaming as a popular form of entertainment.

As a commuter student I find that gaming on my iPhone is a perfect way to make my trips to and from school a little bit more bearable. With this post, I want to recommend a few mobile games I am currently into. These mobile games also offer a great opportunity for you to rest your mind in between classes or kill some time as you wait for a friend at Starbucks. Each of the below games can be found on most ‘smart’ platforms (sorry BlackBerry owners) and are priced within the range that is acceptable on a student’s budget (most of the below games can be bought for under a dollar, if not free).

Angry Birds Star Wars - Rovio Entertainment

This game combines the mechanics and gameplay of the mega-popular Angry Birds franchise with the iconography and aesthetic of some indie film series called Star Wars. The game is simple, highly addictive, and is probably already familiar to most of you reading this post. For the BlackBerry owners out there, Angry Birds is a physics-based game in which you slingshot a bird (who is angry) at piggies in an attempt to rid their vile presence from this God-Given Earth. Being a Star Wars iteration, each of the birds you use in this version of Angry Birds has a specific power, from Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber swing to Han Solo’s laser blaster. If you have not played an Angry Birds game before, now is the time to get in on the fun as this iteration in the series is the best one yet!

Available on iOS ($0.99), Android ($0.99), and Windows Phone ($0.99)

Battle Cats - Ponos

I love this game. Battle Cats is a tower defense game in which you employ a variety of cats to do battle with enemies ranging from dogs to hippos. The premise is simple enough: you compete with the computer opponent to develop and deploy units to be the first to destroy the other’s base. While this is fairly straightforward, the game adds a layer of depth as you must unlock and upgrade units with a limited amount of points (which you gain by playing) in order to progress and compete with the game’s steadily increasing difficulty. The game’s rough English translation in everything from its opening story to in-game descriptions of units only adds to its quirky charm. Download it.

Available on: iOS ($0.00) and Android ($0.00)

Punch Quest - Rocketcat Games

In this fast paced arcade-style fighting game you pummel hordes of enemies with the touch of your fingertips! You’re able to customize your character in a variety of ways – from determining which special attacks you want him to have, to his style of facial hair. Punch Quest is regarded as one of the best mobile games to have come out last year and it is definitely worth checking out!

Available on: iOS ($0.00) and coming soon to Android

Peggle - PopCap Games

I am not kidding when I say that Peggle is one of my favourite games of all time. In this puzzle game, the player is tasked with shooting a limited supply of balls at a field of coloured pegs. Your goal is to clear out specifically marked pegs while trying to rack-up a high score. You are aided in your efforts by in-game ‘Peggle Masters’ who each bring a special power you can utilize into the mix (my personal favourite is the rabbit-Magician Warren, his ‘Lucky Spin’ ability is essential when trying to achieve high scores). As with most puzzle games, the satisfaction you receive when playing Peggle is gained through competition with yourself — constantly trying to best your previous high score on any given level. If you download one game I recommended in this post, please let it be this one. Catch the Peggle Fever!

Available on: iOS ($0.99)

Notable Mentions

The above is in no way a complete list, just the best that I have played which you should too. The following are a few other mobile games I definitely recommend you check out: Super Hexagon (iOS and Android), Drop 7 (iOS and Android), Draw Something (iOS and Android), Tetris (iOS and Android), Plants vs Zombies (iOS, Android, and Windows Phone), Zombie Highway (iOS and Android), Fruit Ninja (iOS, Android, and Windows Phone), and Jetpack Joyride (iOS and Android).

Take a ’90s break

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When it came time to sit down and write this post, I have to admit I was at a loss for words. With the semester coming to a close and everyone hunkering down for the long slog of finishing those last assignments before we all begin studying for our finals tests, I didn’t know what I could do or say that could ease this academic pain — a pain I am much aware of myself.

I have, however, found an area of respite as of late and it is this which I wish to share with you today. What keeps me going through those long essay sessions until the wee hours of the morning? ’90s music videos.

I find myself becoming more and more nostalgic these days and perhaps my recent infatuation with this era in music (of which I only spent 10 years in) is purely a reflection of this. Needless to say, there is something comforting in ’90s popular music as the tunes from that time just seem so much more “fun” than popular music today (granted, my exposure to today’s “popular” music is relatively minimal). It’s just less obsessed over branding, image, and style, and more concerned with having a good time to a catchy beat (but this isn’t a music culture blog, so I digress…).

’90s music offers a nice break to your gloomy studies and for those of you who are too young to even recollect what ’90s music sounded like — I’m looking at you First Years — this will be a fun exercise in analyzing popular culture in an era long since passed. (There’s the academic hook — this post is now relevant to this U of T blog! Take that, editors!).

So please, take a gander at some of my favourite tunes/music videos from the ’90s. Most of the songs below are from the late’90s (when I was 8/9 years old and have a more solidified recollection of them) but I threw in a couple earlier songs as well (this is in no way an exhaustive list). If YOU have any ’90s-era music recommendations, though, feel free to share in the comments!

Enjoy!

Len – “Steal My Sunshine” (1999)

New Radicals – “You Get What You Give” (1998)

Fatboy Slim – “Praise You” (1999)

No Doubt – “Just A Girl” (1995)

Barenaked Ladies – “One Week” (1998)

Jay Z – “Hard Knock Life” (1998)

S Club 7 – “S Club Party” (1999)

Janet Jackson – “Together Again” (1997)

Crazy Town – “Butterfly” (1999)

The Cranberries – “Linger” (1993)

Blink-182 – “What’s My Age Again” (1999)

Spice Girls – “Stop” (1997)

Sixpence None the Richer – “Kiss Me” (1997)

Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)

Smash Mouth – “All Star” (1999)

Beastie Boys – “Sabotage” (1994)

Bloodhoung Gang – “The Bad Touch” (1999)

Cher – “Believe” (1998)

Lou Bega – “Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of…)” (1999)

Moby – “Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad” (1999)

The Offspring – “Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)” (1998)

Brandy & Monica – “This Boy Is Mine” (1998)

Aaron Carter – “Crush On You” (1997)

Green Day – “Longview” (1994)

Will Smith – “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit’ It” (1997)

Hanson – “MMMBop” (1997)

Sugar Ray – “Someday” (1999)

The Verve – “Bitter Sweet Symphony” (1998)

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- Matteo

Campus Media

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Oh media, how I love you. Not in like a high-school-luv kind of way where your initials would be inscribed on every desk and notebook, but in a truly madly deeply kind of way. While I’m not quite majoring in you, I know this thing between us is forever, in almost every sense of the word. From pop culture, to the gems television has to offer, to your more social platforms, you’ve also been kind enough to come with me to university.

CIUT, you had me at “mic check”. Not only is this homebase incredibly trendy –as I previously mentioned, it used to be the Hart House Warden’s apartment- but it includes the many records lining the walls of HQ to the warm people that help CIUT deliver seriously cool community radio waves for our listening. Not to mention, the door to opportunity is always open here, especially for students who love or want to get to know more about the radio. I personally know a girl who likes to host every Monday!

Then again, how could I forget about TV? That video of what we all seem to say on campus more than often was kind of funny, but that’s not all there is to UTTV, which once again is another media resource on campus, for campus, by students from campus. Besides all of the nifty contests they’ve got up their sleeves, UTTV definitely helps add to the overall media spectrum on campus, because who doesn’t love TV?

But with radio and TV, how could I forget dear print media? You kind of started a few revolutions back in the day, and at St. George in the form of The Varsity, you aren’t to be missed. No seriously, there is no way you could spend more than a year on campus and not know about the student publication that’s been running since 1880. Besides having a long history of student-involved press, the Varsity offers all kinds of resources and topics for discussion, from student politics to professor profiles. Everytime I read it, I kind of feel like I’m in UofTville and not Toronto – it’s weird but I know many can relate to this sense of citizenship that plagues me so. Not to mention dear print media, you are present at every college too!

Now, I must dedicate a special place to the internet, as it’s allowed anything and everything U of T to exist in my smartphone and laptop… while you’re not quite a student group or club, you’re on Twitter and Facebook. I remember the glorious day when I discovered that there was even a compiled list of twitter accounts to follow – although I knew it didn’t cover all of them- it was enough for me. I didn’t really realize the sheer depth that could come out of student engagement on Twitter, but it’s kind of incredible when ROSI starts trending in Toronto on course selection day.

So thank you media, I’ve been able to realize how you in all of your glorious forms are able to directly relate to what I experience on campus. You’ve definitely showed me that this commitment to one another is going to be until convocation does us part.

-Vahini

Indigenous Weekend, Hurray!

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This week I’m writing more on a personal note in regards to an event that I attended over this past weekend. Being a First Nations student here at U of T I like to be involved with the First Nations community and what they  provide in regards to events and opportunities throughout the school year. For this reason I spend a good amount of my time at First Nations House trying my best to engage in some of the events that they provide exposure to, and  the ones that they put on themselves.

This weekend I attended the Native Child and Family Services 15th annual pow wow at Dufferin Grove Park. For those of you who are unfamiliar with what a pow wow is; it is basically a Native American celebration of life and community, and giving back to the earth/creator what we have taken from it for our own existence.

This weekends event was a bit of an exception for myself due to the fact that I would have been going with my family regardless, because my younger brother also danced in it; this was also his first traditional pow wow in which he participated, so it was especially exciting. It turned out to be, not only a beautiful day, but also a special day for me and my family. Having been to many types of pow wows myself in the past, it is always great to see pow wows which occur a in a very urban environment, there was such a diverse crowd there last saturday all engaging in the dancing, food, and selling and buying of traditional items and regalia that it was heartwarming to see.

The little Bro and I

On a larger note though I don’t want to merely finish this post rambling on about my own life, but rather I’d like to to share with all the readers the importance in getting off campus and easing your mind from all that work with some great events such as these, they truly can not only give you inspiration, but in many cases allow you to spend some quality time with family and friends. Do it up.

 

Shadrak (Shak)

H(e)art House

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While I’ve previously talked about finding myself, what I’m studying and how my college has helped me come to terms with who I am and what I hope to do, one of the places on campus that had an important role in all of that was Hart House. We’ve talked about how first impressions aren’t everything, and this one-stop-shop seriously helped me come to terms with that.

If you’ve been to Hart House, then one-stop-shop – or as I prefer: half-Hogwarts-half-funhouse – will make perfect sense. This is the place on campus that offers everything from the arts, to recreation, sports and debate in one place. They call it the living laboratory, and it is exactly that.  I don’t know of any other place where you could see a play, proceed to a Ukulele lesson and then embark on an exciting game of squash. Oh, and when the screeching wails of your neglected readings finally reach your stubborn ears, there’s a library there too! Did I mention the free cookies and tea Craft Thursdays, free massages and free documentaries? I know, I’m throwing a lot at you, but it’s all in one place.

Beyond everything that Hart House has to offer, it personally helped me get so much more involved with campus. I first started blogging with Hart House, and it was my first time blogging with a professional platform. By professional I mean, you know, beyond an emotional teen tumblr full of Carrie Bradshaw quotes & pictures of cupcakes.  The blogging became a healthy outlet for when my anxiety, and the times I felt like I was on a one-way trip towards a world of all work and no fun. Eventually, I became an an ambassador. From there, I discovered the lovely studios of CIUT FM - fun fact: it used to be the Warden’s apartment – and it’s been cloud 9 ever since.  I’d like to think of it as one of my more rewarding campus courtships.

 Image Source

More than anything however, Hart House was the sole catalyst in getting me involved at U of T. I wasn’t very involved in anything at the beginning of first year, classes felt like a complete blur, and I just felt like I was swimming in a small pond amongst very many big fishes. To say in the least, post-high school me was feeling pretty burnt out and incredibly sorry for myself.

I took that walk over during the second semester of my first year feeing absolutely hopeless about everything that had come my way in first semester,  and Hart House really turned things around for me. The way in which it got me involved ultimately led towards a greater road of opportunity, meeting all kinds of people on campus, and helped show me where I had left the the old me again, except this time she was a little older and and the teeniest bit wiser.

-Vahini

 

These are the things we’ll miss the most after graduation

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Yesterday I received an email from the Office of Convocation. It’s almost time. So, with the threat and/or promise of graduation becoming a clearer and more prominent figure on the horizon, I’ve compiled a list of essential U of T experiences to have before graduation*.

* many of which are inspired by a true story ;) … can you guess which ones?

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#1: Go to a toga party and wear the same toga to a classics lecture the morning after. Feel appropriately dressed.

#2: Witness the Lady Godiva Memorial “Bnad” invade one of your first year lectures and march through, banging drums and drowning out your professor’s lecture with the same ungodly, hilarious 8 bars of music over and over until they exit through another door.

#3: High five an academic idol. Feel nerdy.

#4: Make pies on Pi Day (March 14th!) and share them with mathies. Feel nerdier.

#5: Order pizza to your second-floor balcony seat during a lecture in Con Hall.

#6: Wander through the halls of the Faculty of Music at night and listen to them practice. Let chills run down your spine for all of the particularly beautiful parts.

#7: Find a physicist and have them show you around all of the contraptions in the basement of McLennan Physical Laboratories.

#8: Find an engineer and have them show you around the roof of McLennan Physical Laboratories.

#9: While you’re at it, spend some time on a roof garden. Maybe even check out the urban agriculture projects.

#10: Take a field course. Preferably one that involves going into the sea in rubber-boot-pants.

#11: Write controversial articles in your college newspaper and/or the Varsity. Just for fun.

#12: Sing in your college/course union’s talent show. Especially if you have no vocal or theatrical talent, because in all honesty, this is probably your last chance.

#13: Dance on the front lawn of University College at night, in the rain. Get muddy shoes. Regret nothing.

#14: Have an “Iron Chef” during a late night at your residence. Make something gross, like chocolate-covered carrots.

#15: Study abroad and go on as many unplanned train rides with new friends as you can possibly fit into a semester or two.

#16: Make something cool. Robots. Solar car. Concrete canoe.

#17: Put your name in the hat for everything, even if you feel underqualified. You’re going to be given a chance far more often than you think you are.

#18: Take a course as far outside of your major as you can possibly get. Push your boundaries and grow into the space you’ve created.

#19: When the upper years in your college try to drag you out of your room in the middle of the night and make you sing outside of other college’s residences during frosh week, let them. Laugh. Sing the loudest.

#20: Start putting your hand up in class when you really want to know something. Stop putting your hand up in class when you really want to show everyone that you know something.

#21: Go on as many organized weekend trips with strangers as possible. Not a skiier? You are, now!

#22: Ask as many professors as you can to tell you the most important thing that they know. Write it down.

#23: Give up on the hope that ROSI will ever let you get through course registration without crashing. Accept fate.

#24: Learn about all of the forms that sex and God and gender can take. Try some on for size.

#25: Go to Trinity College High Table dinners and wear an academic gown and pretend you’re Harry Potter. Act nonchalant. Know that half of the other people in the room are doing the exact same thing.

#26: Learn all of the things you want to carry with you after you graduate: how to give a speech, organize a protest, perform a scientific experiment, write convincingly, talk to strangers, use math and statistics, cook a signature dish, stand up for yourself, interview for a job, start a company, evaluate information, respect people you don’t agree with, publish findings, create meaningful relationships, say “thank you” and have it understood, and decide what you think defines a life well-lived. We’ll never have more time for it than now.

Jennifer

PS: Feel free to share your “essential U of T experiences” in the comments! Let me know what I’ve been missing!