Category Archives: Connections

On Zen Frogs and Creating Happiness

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It’s 10 minutes to five o’clock on a sunny, beautiful afternoon in May. Just a couple of moments ago, I was sitting in the chapel at Hart House, immersed in a mindful meditation workshop hosted by Cheryl Champagne from Health and Wellness at U of T. I feel calm, happy and, well, a bit surprised.  Who knew that 20 minutes of breathing could transform me from frazzled to zen? I guess I forgot how amazing meditation really is.

In the spirit of wellness and renewal (part two!), today’s post will be all about workshops, events, and resources on campus that can help you keep positive in this journey called Life.

 

 

Dare to Self-Care?

It took me years to figure out that in order to be at my best, I had to care for myself as much as I cared for other people. So I was pretty delighted to discover that U of T’s very own Health and Wellness Centre offers a workshop called Dare to Self-Care. Hosted by Jill Cressy, the workshop explores a variety of self-care practices, including stress management strategies, mind-body techniques, and 10 keys to happier living. Jill usually asks the following questions in her session:

What do you care about?

What are your values related to health and wellness?

How can you best support Happiness in your daily life?

Try your hand at them! I sat down and attempted to, but as usual, when I try to answer questions, I come up with a bunch of them instead: What does it mean to be mindful?  How can we go about creating Happiness?

My quest led me to Sutha Sathananthan, a Masters candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at U of T. Sutha took a Cognitive and Psychological Foundations of Effective Leadership class last fall, and became hooked on the concept of ‘happiness’. The outcome? Sutha founded Engineering Happiness, U of T’s first on-campus Happiness Initiative.

Sutha, founder of Engineering Happiness at U of T

“I started researching a lot about happiness, and I learned that there is a lot of negativity out there” says Sutha. According to her, people don’t start by thinking ‘well, what really makes me happy?’ Instead, they try to find ‘happiness’ when they are faced with depression, anxiety, and other mental health or emotional challenges. Engineering Happiness is all about providing the space and the tools for others to create awareness about the things that bring them balance, contentment, and joy.

Engineering Happiness draws its ethos from the field of Positive Psychology, which seeks to make normal life more fulfilling. Think fostering joy, creativity, and authentic happiness as ultimate goals.

U of T’s Health and Wellness also offers some amazing workshops that explore similar themes. In fact, there is just so much to be explored in the realm of wellness right on campus. Did you know that U of T actually has a Happiness Webinar Series? It’s true!

Not only that, the Multi-Faith Centre is currently offering a class on Mindful Meditation every Wednesday afternoon. Later this summer, you can even participate in a Happiness Challenge, brought to you by Engineering Happiness. You’ll be able to go out in the world an document whatever makes you happy using any medium, then submit your creation for a prize.

My foray into meditation, happiness and self-care kicked off Mental Health Awareness week. Did I get the answers to my questions? Nah…but I did learn a few meditation techniques, and learn a bit more about Happiness. Am I happy? Yes, I can safely say so.

Check out Jill Cressy’s Dare to Self-Care workshop on May 10 from 10-11 am at Charles St. Residence. Engineering Happiness is also hosting a free Laughter Yoga session on Wednesday, May 8th from 7-8 pm at Hart House, 2nd floor Debate Room.

Come out and flourish!

-Aziza

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

oh the places you’ll go.

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“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” – Oh The Places You’ll Go, by Dr. Seuss.

Surprisingly, that quote and that video are related. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with a grand conspiracy involving John Lennon, Dr. Seuss and an impostor who acted as Paul McCartney after the real Paul died.  It has to do with my days in elementary school. One grade, I forget when, my teacher opened up class by reading the Seuss book. And then later, we celebrated the retirement of a Beatles-crazy teacher by singing “Hello, Goodbye” in an assembly fit for Sergeant Pepper himself. One event marked the beginning of something, the other was part of a fitting end to a career. Here was the beginning and now, my friends, this marks the end of our blogging journey together.

When I started blogging this year, I had just finished my first year and now all of a sudden, I’m heading into my third year. I’m sure many of you are asking the same question. “Oh my! I’m graduating!” “I’m going into second year!” “I’m going into my LAST year! OMG.” “OMG YAY UNIVERSITY HERE I COME.” Chances are you are saying one of those things right now. I’d like to think that I’ve grown over this past year, and chances are I have — but it’s gone by so quickly, that it’s really hard to tell. This year, I had the chance to do so many things, from joining ASSU to stuffing myself at a barbeque to engaging in weekly religious discussions about life, to volunteering at a soup kitchen. And I discovered Diabolos and took out a book from stacks for the first time! I realized that we all fill the void in each other’s lives with our stories, that we shouldn’t necessarily define ourselves by our prospective careers and that we should carry out our discussions in an atmosphere of respect. I hope you had just as a good time reading about my journey this year as I did living it.

So here we are. No matter what stage you are at in your university career, we will still all be going somewhere. Either you will be stepping on this campus for the first time come September and remark that everything looks like Hogwarts.

Or you’ll strut across the stage at Convocation Hall in June making 35325235235 hours spent in Robarts worth it.

Or maybe you’re like me, at the middle of your university career. Wondering whats next.

And well, in my case, I don’t know whats next. But I know that opportunities are lurking around each corner on this campus, and it is up to me to go and seek them out. Up to me to ultimately get the university experience I want both inside and outside the classroom. You may be wondering whether you are doing things right, or whether you are involved enough, or whether you are too anti-social, or if you should change majors because you aren’t interested in the material. These are questions we all have to deal with during our undergraduate career. But, despite being unsure of the future, I do know what I have learned.

At U of T, there are a lot of opportunities waiting for you. This is the most accessible research university in the country, top notch professors and wide variety of courses await you. Our campus is steeped in history and breathtaking architecture. You can have coffee in the JCR, study Drosophila at the Earth Sciences Centre and have some Zumba fun at Hart House all in one day. Now, life at U of T, I admit, isn’t always a paradise. It’s hard and I’m struggling to adapt as well, still in my second year. What I’ve learned is, we should be confident in our own abilities and not fret over the accomplishments of others. This is our undergraduate career and we should take it at our own pace. Do what you can handle, there’s no need to experience all of U of T. We all have different niches on campus after all. But don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone once in a while to try something new.

And if you ever feel stressed sometimes, like I do, stop and take a breather. Focus on the little things. Your coffee from Diabolos, small concepts in your lectures, the beauty of the downtown campus on a spring day. In the hustle and bustle of student life, sometimes its just helpful to stop and take note of our surroundings.

It’s been fun blogging for you, U of T. Go out and do big things. I’ll see you later.

- Abdullah

TTC? Why man why????

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So earlier this month I (along with many of you other U of T students) dished out a whopping $106 for my monthly TTC Metropass. As I sadly saw that money drift away never to be seen again, I had a thought: “If I went to school in another city would I be paying the same amount of money as I do here in Toronto?”. I know we all love to hate on the TTC (I think they charge far too much and provide a fairly poor standard of service), but when we actually take the time to compare the TTC rates to other cities does Toronto still suck all our money from us?

Obviously as the result of the economy most cities have to increase prices from time to time. Cities such as Dallas, and Boston saw fare increases range from 15% to 23% from 2010-2012, which is pretty high if you think of it. So where does that put the TTC in comparison to other cities here at the beginning of 2013? Well even with our somewhat more stable economy , Toronto still has the highest trip index among most North American cities.

Yep We WIN!

“Now what is a Trip Index Shak, you may say!” Well I shall tell you dear random reader. It’s basically the amount of trips one needs to take in order to make up for the $106 you paid at the beginning of the month. Shockingly it takes one 48 trips in order to pay for itself, this basically evens out to having to travel there and back, from either school or work, 22 days out of the month, plus a few more times on the weekends. No other city has such a high index, not even New York’s (47). (Just check out the graph above)

Also what is with this business on transfers….. I mean what the heck is up with those things. I’ve been taking the TTC for years and years and I still am not entirely clear on how exactly I am supposed to use one. Is it useable in most places? Generally not, only in certain designated stops is one allowed to use a transfer to go from a subway to bus, or streetcar to subway, etc. I mean just look at how some of the other Canadian cities deal with transfers/stopovers. Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver use a 90-120 minute time allotment for stopovers in either direction on their lines. So for instance if you are running an errand you have the ability to use one fare there and back, provided that you simply don’t go over your time limit. GENIUS I SAY!

Look we can't even afford maintenance!

Toronto residents could also greatly benefit from having “downtown” fares much like Calgary does. Downtown fares in these cities provide lower rates due to the higher density population base in certain parts of the city; but of course we don’t have that either.

Seriously Toronto get your stuff together, our wallets are getting sucked dry here and our system isn’t all that great! I think I’ll give the TTC a call……. oh wait nvermind.

Those sneaky devils

- Shak

Reflections on First Year at U of T

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Seeing as how the school year is rapidly coming to an end, I thought it might be apt to share the experiences had this year by one of the university’s newest members — a first year student. In pursuit of this I approached student life rising star Jelena Djuric (pictured below) to get her take on her first-year experience at Canada’s leading academic institution. My questions are in bold with Ms. Djuric’s response following subsequently.

I would like to thank Jelena for agreeing to being featured in this week’s post.

What classes did you take in your first year? Any in particular that you enjoyed? What Program of Study do you hope to pursue going forward?

This year I took five full-year courses, allowing me to have a more spread out workload. I took POL101 (Democracy, Dictatorship, War and Peace), HIS103 (Statecraft and Strategy: An Introduction to the History of International Relations), ECO105 (Introduction to Economics for Non-Majors), DTS200 (Diaspora and Transnational Studies), and a first year seminar titled “The Embarrassment of Scripture”. So far, my political science and history course have been most engaging. I intend to pursue an International Relations Specialist degree, or a double major in International Relations and Political Science. However, a Peace and Conflict Studies major/minor is still an option following second year.

What, in your opinion, was the hardest part about your first year as an undergrad? How did you cope? Would you offer any advice to incoming students who may face a similar issue?

As a residence student, I experienced many distractions on a daily basis. I dealt with this by being in the library and ensuring I was being productive while I was off residence. With the constant urge to socialize with new friends, I understand this may seem easier said than done. I would recommend incoming students facing a similar barrier to getting their work done to motivate their peers to do the same. That way, when productivity is achieved, everyone gets to reward themselves!

What extracurricular activities did you get involved with this year?

This year I had the pleasure of serving as an elected member-at-large on my college’s student council! Being on VUSAC (Victoria University Student Administrative Council) was definitely one of the most rewarding experiences I have had so far. It allowed me to form multiple relationships with many like minded students across campus. As a member-at-large I helped to organize UofT’s annual Winterfest, the Victoria College annual formal Highball, in addition to being a member of the Budget Steering Committee. Additionally, I had the opportunity to debate at Yale University and McGill University with the Hart House Debate Club. I am also a policy analyst for the G20 research group, analyzing the commitments made by G20 member states in the area of climate change.

What motivated you to get involved?

Before going in to university, I was already immensely passionate about governance, political debate and so on. I knew that in order to engage in these passions I could not solely rely on the ‘lecture experience’. I also knew that constantly doing readings and essays would not give me the best university experience. I knew I wanted to share my passions with students and I knew I could find that by getting involved at UofT.

Where did you first hear about the extracurricular activities you are currently involved with?

I heard about VUSAC during frosh week, and I knew I could positively contribute to the council. As for debate, I was already a member of my high school debate team. In terms of the G20 research group, I accidentally stumbled across it while reading John Ralston Saul’s book “The Collapse of Globalism and the Reinvention of the World”. For no particular reason, I looked up a footnote and realized he cited his information from the G20 research group based at the university. When I realized I too could contribute to the report, I immediately applied to be a policy analyst!

What’s your favourite thing you did this year outside of the classroom?

This year I signed up for two sessions that are a part of a Vic initiative titled “Ideas for the World”. Every week, students get together with a professor over lunch for 2 hours to discuss various, often controversial and thought provoking topics. In the fall, I was in “Environment and Economics”, and I am currently in “Culture and Conflict in the Media”. The unique part of this program, is there are no marks or assignments. You simply show up, watch a video, and have an intellectually stimulating discussion. This was a great way to voice my opinions on various issues without fear of getting a bad grade!

What was your favourite thing you did inside the classroom?

I believe my favourite thing has been the freedom to research a wide array of topics that are of interest to me. For example, I am currently in the process of researching the Serbian diaspora situated in North America in the post-communist order and the impact the breakup of Yugoslavia has had on the creation of the Serb identity. And this is for my diaspora and transnational studies class! It is very exciting to be able to delve in to a topic that deeply resonates with me.

What extracurricular activities do you hope to purse next year?

I plan to continue to pursue all the activities I am currently involved in. I am also hoping to get involved with the International Relations Society, or with the Association of Political Science Students.

Would you say your extracurricular experiences enhanced the quality of your first year at the University of Toronto?

Without a doubt! Getting involved at UofT has opened up many future opportunities for me.

Would you recommend first year students get involved in extracurricular activities?

YES! I understand going in to university from high school can be very daunting. However, getting involved will give you a sense of community that you may not necessarily find in the classroom or in residence. The campus seems a lot smaller when you see so many familiar faces!

First year students are not typically the students who are most inclined to get involved in extracurricular activities. Can the university do more in promoting the benefits of extracurricular involvement to first year students? What would you like to be seen done?

A lot of students seem to think getting involved means your GPA will suffer. This is definitely a misconception. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. I think the university should promote extra-curricular in a way that accurately shows students who get involved will not only reap social benefits, but their academic experience will accordingly be enhanced.

Living Leadership at U of T

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A few weeks ago I was approached to do an interview for Living Leadership, a Ulife blog – and cousin to Life @ U of T. For this week’s post I figured I’d transcribe that interview for you below – with the interviewer’s permission, of course. In the interview I discuss what leadership means to me, what the university could do better to promote student involvement, as well as a myriad of other topics. If nothing else this is a good opportunity for you to get to know your favourite blogger a bit better!

The interviewer’s questions are in bold with my response following subsequently.

What year/area of study are you in?

I’m studying Political Science as a major and doing minors in Philosophy and Semiotics & Communication Theory. I’m in my final year of study (also known as a 5th year).

What leadership roles have you taken over the years at UofT?

Most of the leadership roles I have taken have been based at my home college of Victoria. Over the years I have been an Orientation Week Leader, the head and founder of a variety of clubs, including an undergraduate journal for the humanities called HUMANITAS – we are currently accepting submissions for our Spring 2013 issue. Submit today! (please excuse the shameless self-promotion). I was also a Don as a part of a new Commuter Experience program and a Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council elected member. I currently represent Victoria University students on the college’s Board of Regents (its governing council) and I also write for the Life @ U of T student blog for the Faculty of Arts & Science (read my posts! – more shameless self-promotion, sorry).

Have you found a distinct difference between college/faculty involvement, and larger UofT involvement?

I can’t really comment on this one as, again, almost all of my student involvement has been centered at Vic. My brief exposure to the wider university though the Life @ U of T blog has been really neat and has allowed me to meet a lot of interesting people I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.

What prompted you to get involved?

As cliché as it may sound; it was the new opportunities that go along with attending university that was the motivating factor in me deciding to get involved in student life. Despite always wanting to do more in the extracurricular realm in high school I simply felt that I didn’t have the support structure to really pursue leadership-related activities – i.e. none of my friends wanted to do them with me. Once I began my undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto I figured that it was ‘now or never’ for extracurricular involvement and I just decided to start doing things. The first being the founding of a (now defunct) student club in my 2nd year where we would just get together and play video games.

I also largely credit my getting involved to being enrolled at Victoria University. The entirety of the Vic administration (from the President’s Office, to the Dean, to VUSAC, etc.) does an exceptional job at creating an environment at Victoria where students not only have the opportunity to get involved, but feel comfortable in doing so – not to mention that the student community at Vic is very welcoming and receptive to new individuals and ideas. I am very fortunate to be attending Victoria and have no doubt that if I had attended another college – or another university – I would not be involved in things to the extent that I am today.

What’s something rewarding you got out of being involved?

The opportunity to see your ideas and initiatives become actualized in the real world is probably the most rewarding thing about being involved. You realize that your actions and decisions have a real tangible impact on the communities of which you are a part!

People talk a lot about how extracurriculars enhance their academics. Do you find this is true?

I am not too sure about that, to be honest. I would instead argue that getting involved in extracurricular activities makes you more invested in your undergraduate life as a whole – not just your academics. Extracurricular activities makes school more enjoyable and if you are more engaged with university life then perhaps this translates into you enjoying the academic side of things a bit more (or maybe it helps you cope with your studies, in the very least) than if you weren’t involved at all.

It is also true that extracurricular involvement teaches you many skills – time management, organization, social skills, etc. – which could enhance your academic success, I suppose.

What’s your favourite thing about having gotten involved?

The opportunity to be a part of, and have an impact on, the Victoria University community is probably my favourite thing about having gotten involved. Through my involvement at Vic I have been able to work with a number of amazing individuals across all types of offices, councils, teams, committees, and organizations. I also met most of my dearest friends through my extracurricular involvement and I honestly can’t imagine what my life as an undergraduate would be like if I never got involved (again, as cliché as this may sound, it’s true).

What makes someone a leader, in your opinion?

To me a leader is someone who makes an impact on the communities of which they are apart. It takes creativity, drive, and a willingness to do something for its own sake – not for the sake of something else. True leaders do what they do because they believe in it, not in order to attain some other end.

What do you wish UofT did more of, as far as student involvement goes?

Again, my involvement has remained relatively Vic-centric so I cannot really comment on how the wider U of T goes about doing things. However, if there was one thing I wish that the U of T did more of with regards to student involvement it would be better communication about what student involvement entails. There are plenty of opportunities for student involvement at U of T, there just needs to be better communication about them, what they entail, and how one goes about pursuing them. Students need help with those initial steps, leaving their ‘comfort zone,’ so to speak. I’m not sure most students know how easy it really is to get involved in something and how doing so isn’t an all-or-nothing game. The sheer amount of opportunities available at the U of T allows students to tailor their involvement to suit their personal needs. You don’t have to take a 5th year, live on campus, or accept a low GPA to be involved in student life!

Love At U of T

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Lately, with everything going on in my life, I’ve been thinking a lot about love and how it is the only reason why we’re here at all. I don’t mean just romantic love; I mean all kinds of love (familial, platonic, eros, self etc). I’m talking about the genuine care to preserve and take care of our existence. We all want to love and we all want to be loved. Mumford and Sons put it best with: in these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die, where you invest your love, you invest your life. How we show others we love them, how we actualize our feelings into the concrete and how we make others feel transcends our immediate existence—it transcends even the moment itself. You touch another person’s soul in a way that remains as an imprint on humanity. You play a role in facilitating the recognition and self-realization of an Other—which is Hegel-speak for we need an other person through which we can further our own development. Soo romantic. I didn’t really know or understand what love was until I read section 158 of Hegel’s Outline of Philosophy of Right in POL320. Hegel was my first love. To count for something in the other and having an other count for something in me is just all kinds of wicked. I’m starting to think that political theory is my sexuality. It’s not normal how much conversations about the good life excite me. And I am attracted to minds more than I am to people. And U of T is littered with a lot of brilliant minds. So the mindblowing conversations I have had make up for my lack of a “love life.”

For the first three years of my undergrad, I refused to let myself be loved because I understood love as defeat or surrender. I hate how vulnerable you have to be and I could not allow someone to make me feel more powerless. All of first year, I felt so gross; my self esteem was blah and I refused to believe that someone out there would want to love me. I spent all of second year getting out of that darkness because I knew that it would not be healthy to start a relationship with so much internal chaos. And then spent all of third year as a coward, afraid of rejection who felt even more unworthy of love. There were nice guys here and there but I blocked out a lot of love because I just wasn’t ready and hated being weak. Throughout my time at U of T, most crushes used me for lecture notes or to edit their papers etc., then there were those who just never had the guts to be honest with me, there was one who ended up liking a friend, and there was one who had no idea I existed. But those were all little crushes I didn’t really care about.

But then life happened, and I realized I really need to be more open and brave. So I tried out the whole dating thing in January and it was, well, whatever. Some dates were great and some were disastrous. I learned that it is a very alienating feeling to be stared at like you’re an alien – every time I tried to explain my situation or talk about Hegel, I was met with blank stares. I once quoted Nietzsche on a date…..never again…so awkward. I don’t think there is someone for me at this time and maybe in this location. So I am going to put off my quest for now. I think right now I’m at stage one and have realized that a life completely independent would be incomplete and defective – which is a huge step considering I used to be very dismissive on all matters of love. My understanding of love has definitely flourished while at U of T but I’m still a cynic. However, I assure you there is progress!

Every time I come THIS close to losing someone I love forever I ask myself, “this time, did you show him or her how much you care? Was it enough that if they were to leave the world or your life in the next few seconds, you would be content with the way you showed them how special they are?”  No, I don’t think I have shown the people in my life how much I love them—especially in terms of romantic love. At least I didn’t before, I am trying to now.

My goal for my last semester at U of T is not to find Mr. Right and read Hegel with him all day errday. My goal is to try to be honest with myself and with others and try to care for the existence of others as well as my own. I can love and be loved without a romantic interest in my life. I’m also going to give up on dating; it’s too robotic. Some things are meant to be not orchestrated by humans. However, if I do find myself crushing I am going to make the first move! Honestly, I’ve experienced much heavier things than rejection. I think I can handle a boy turning me down. ON TO THE NEXT. Clarity is a beautiful thing.

I just have to show people how much I care about them NOW because we can’t control when people leave our life. Sometimes they move to another country, sometimes they leave this world, sometimes they let you go, sometimes they just disappear.  People come and leave; you can’t make homes out of human beings. All we can do is to show them what they mean to us in all of the moments between point A and B. Whenever you are in presence of someone you admire, treat them in a way that is in harmony with all that you feel in the Here and Now. Leave it all on the table. Be authentic. Or bear the risk of point B screwing you over and condemning you to living life in the space of What Ifs. A growing dissonance between how you feel on the inside and how you choose to represent yourself in the space of appearances can really inflict damage to your sense of self. Note to self: DONT BE SO CRYPTIC.

I think that maintaining a relationship at U of T is totally possible. I just can’t give you any advice on how to do so because well I suck at this whole dating and relationship thing. So I asked my friends from social media land for help and here’s what they had to say:

http://storify.com/sarahuoft/love-at-uoft

And many people have found LEGIT love at UofT! So there is hope !!! Have you found love at U of T? What are your thoughts on maintaining a relationship and dating in university?

-Sarah

oh, and Happy Valentines Day!!! Go be brave and tell someone you love them!

A student’s experience studying abroad in Central Europe

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The University of Toronto provides students with a plethora of unique and interesting learning opportunities, many of which can quite literally be considered “once in a lifetime”. One learning opportunity I unfortunately never pursued during my time as an undergraduate student was some international study with one of the U of T’s many study abroad opportunities. (Arts & Science students should also check the International Programs and Partnerships website for more opportunities.)

I am, however, aware of how studying abroad can enhance a student’s overall undergraduate experience and in order to demonstrate this I have endeavoured to conduct two brief interviews with students who have done some study abroad — the second of which I have transcribed for you below.

This interview is with fourth-year student Igor Samardzic who studied abroad in Central and Southeastern Europe. My questions are in bold and his answers follow subsequently. I would like to thank Igor for sharing his international experience with me — and with all of you.

Igor is a 4th year Trinity College student studying Political Science and History. He traveled to Central and Southeastern Europe with the university’s Summer Abroad program.

Why did you endeavour to Study Abroad and why did you pick the location/program that you did?

Studying Abroad was something that always appealed to me as a commuter student. Since I did not live on campus and was finding it difficult to integrate myself into the UofT community, the Summer Abroad program would hopefully be able to help in these respects — and did it ever. The program gave me the opportunity to experience something different than the regular lectures at UofT. It gave me a new perspective on my subject matter, and lifelong friends.

The location I decided to go to was not one I had initially thought I would end up in. When I started researching places to go abroad, Central Europe was not an immediate draw to me at first. Probably because I am originally from the region, and I wanted to explore other countries. However, after talking with my friends and family, I decided that Central Europe would be my choice and boy did I pick right! It turns out that any preconceptions or hesitations that I might have had about picking the wrong country were unfounded. No matter what program you choose to participate in, the results will be the same…an experience that will redefine your academic and personal journey through life. If you doubt me, I dare you to try and see!

Central Europe had a lot to offer besides a great teacher, wonderful host staff and an interesting course. My favourite part of the trip, and the main reason I chose to attend this specific program, was the many excursions! Every year the Central Europe program takes students to three different countries besides your host country. Every weekend students get to experience another city/country for three days and two nights. Therefore, although you have a base city where your main accommodation and classes take place, you also get the added bonus of travelling and learning about your subject material in real time.

What has your international experience meant to you?

The Summer Abroad experience has in all honesty been the most incredible experience of my life to date. It has impacted me in ways that I would not have thought possible. When I first applied, I knew that it would be pretty amazing just from everything you find out before hand. However, the satisfaction and awesomeness that came out of this experience was not even on my radar until I had time to reflect after.

This experience has opened me up to the world, challenged me, created friendships, laughs, jokes, memories, and contributed to my academic education in extraordinary ways. So much so that I went on another Summer Abroad the following year!

Would you recommend other students pursue the opportunity to study abroad?

In three letters — YES! I would definitely recommend it to everyone, and if you know me personally, I have. As I said before, this is an amazing opportunity, and there really is no excuse not to try to apply. Another aspect of the Summer Abroad program, which I always stress when talking to potential students, is that our courses give you the opportunity to get a FULL year UofT credit in as little as 3 weeks and up to 6 weeks and are taught by a UofT professor in the English language (except language courses). The Summer Abroad program also gives students the opportunity to travel by themselves or with others before or after the program starts, which proves very beneficial for students that have family abroad.

What advice would you give students who are considering the study abroad program?

There are several points I would suggest.

  1. Apply early: The Summer Abroad program registration process opens in January of every year, and the applications go online in a staggered fashion throughout January, depending on the program (be sure to check the Summer Abroad website.) Although the registration process does not close until March, you should apply ASAP to be sure that you get your placement. The Summer Abroad program works on a first come first serve basis for most programs and therefore, they fill up quite fast. So Apply Right Away….. like NOW!
  2. Do your Research: Do not worry, this does not mean essay research! However, looking through possible courses and matching them up with your academic requirements is a great place to start — although many students, including myself, take courses as a breadth requirement.
  3. Not getting your first Choice: If you happen to not get your first choice of program do not be discouraged. The overall experience is similar no matter where you go! Every program has its own unique qualities, so be sure to give every program a chance when choosing.
  4. Financial Aid: The Summer Abroad Program offers countless bursaries and awards. I would strongly suggest students to check that part of their website out and to inquire with the office if they have any questions or issues. The award and bursary amounts are quite generous and make the trips themselves much more affordable.
  5. For Everyone: No matter what your program of study is, the Summer Abroad Program has something for everyone. Science Abroad — introduced just recently — focuses on the sciences with particular emphasis on research. These courses offer students an experience from 6 to 16 weeks in length!
  6. Have Fun!!: Be sure to enjoy yourself, although the academic portion of the program is central to the course, be sure to let yourself experience your surroundings. Travel as much as you can, talk to locals, meet new people, and push your boundaries!
  7. If you are interested and would like to get a perspective of other past participants of our program, check out our Facebook page and post your questions on our wall. Or you can check out our website or office for further information.

Finding the High Road

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Every now and then, you’ll encounter someone that may not be the easiest person in the world to work with.  It can happen anywhere and everywhere, and in our last community crew meeting, we ended up talking about the various situations we’ve been stuck in and how we’ve dealt (or not dealt so well) with it.

Personally, I’m a pretty passive person, I mean besides saying what I really think silently, I seem to have a lot of issue facing difficult people head on.

Sometimes it actualizes into being passive-aggressive, which isn’t really any more of an improvement and which has me retreating back into being passive.

We came with up a few scenarios and solutions:

1) The difficult group member- In every club or group, there’s always a breakdown of which members do what, or an executive council. Difficult situations here can include everything from having absentee members who are impossible, to other members who may overstep their boundaries of responsibility.

The major solution here was to ensure that early on in the club or group dynamic, a structure of constructive feedback is set up. Crystal calls it the red light/green light game, where everyone anonymously submits what they think could be changed or improved (so for example, if you feel like the leader of the group should take on a stronger voice, you green light that). This is probably one of my favourite solutions because of the anonymity and how it can save the group a lot of awkward interactions.

2) The friend or acquaintance who has strong and passionate opinions that causes group tension. The main consensus here was to talk to the person, perhaps with the members of the group, and gently let them know how you feel. While I can see how this works, I’d be nervous about said person feeling ambushed, or (this has happened personally for me before) having it seem like it really only bothers the one friend who is being vocal (when it really affects everyone). I find this to be one of the more tricky situations. What would you do here? More often than not, I’ve resorted to the ducking method of simply trying to skirt around the issue, or being a slightly passive aggressive grumpy cat, which never ends well.

3) The annoying assailant in the library, you’ve all encountered at least one. This is the person whose movie is blasting from their headphones (for everyone else to hear) or who is trying to make sweet music with their potato chip crunchin’ (while avidly avoiding librarians!). The best solution for this person would be to kindly remind them that it’s a library, or let them know that you can hear them. In first year, I’d actually spent minutes on end debating if I should say anything to these noisy neighbours, and finally when push came to shove, it was necessary. This is probably the one situation that I’ve come to master well with a mix of being firm but polite (or hoping for the librarian to see them first, hehe).

I mean at the end of the day, if the world of sitcoms (and celebrity feuds) have taught us anything, it’s that you won’t always encounter the most pleasant of people. What are some of the best ways you deal with difficult encounters?

-Vahini

A student’s experience studying abroad in Hong Kong

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The University of Toronto provides students with a plethora of unique and interesting learning opportunities, many of which can quite literally be considered ‘once in a lifetime.’ One learning opportunity I unfortunately never pursued during my time as an undergraduate student was some international study with one of the U of T’s many study abroad opportunities. (Arts & Science students should also check the International Programs and Partnerships website for more opportunities.) I am, however, aware of how studying abroad can enhance a student’s overall undergraduate experience and in order to demonstrate this I have endeavoured to conduct two brief interviews with students who have done some study abroad – the first of which I have transcribed for you below.

The below interview is with second-year student Benjamin Pan who studied abroad in Hong Kong last summer. My questions are in bold and his answers follow subsequently. I would like to thank Benjamin for sharing his international experience with me – and with all of you.

Benjamin is a 2nd Year Trinity College student studying Economics and Political Science. He went to Hong Kong last summer as a part of the university’s Summer Abroad Program.

Why did you endeavour to Study Abroad and why did you pick the location/program that you did?

Studying abroad was a proverbial “no-brainer” — something that was almost an integral part of what I viewed to be the university experience. A few of my friends elected to take one year off between secondary and post-secondary schooling to travel (I did not), and while one measly month abroad is not equivalent to this, the motivation is all the same. I had travelled in the past and hopefully will have the opportunity to in the future as well, and yet it seems there’s something tangibly different about actually studying in a foreign country among a group of one’s peers. It’s a wholly different experience, and this is the one time we can experience it! I had visited Hong Kong previously, albeit only for a few days, and rather quickly decided I quite liked the unique city. Summer abroad was an excellent opportunity to more fully explore it, and to perhaps even glimpse at what living there is like. Of course with such a wide variety of programs and locales available to the prospective student, narrowing it down to just one is no easy task. For myself then, it in the end all boiled down to me being at least somewhat familiar with the location (enough to pique my interest and curiosity), and the fact that a friend decided on Hong Kong as well for roughly the same reasoning.

A night shot of Hong Island Island from across the harbour.

What has your international experience meant to you?

I usually find it difficult to say exactly what impact or meaning singular experiences have had, and this is true for my time in the Summer Abroad program as well. I suspect the usual response to this question would be something along the lines of “seeing new things and meeting new people,” though I have to say this is also undeniably true for me. Socializing is always fun, but socializing while exploring a faraway corner of the world and an entirely different culture is possibly the best way to do so! I haven’t known those I met while in Hong Kong for a particularly long time, and yet because of our shared experiences there, I feel as if I have. And of course, the mere fact of travelling to a faraway destination is something in and of itself. Beyond this though, my time abroad has immensely affected my appreciation and love for travelling and studying abroad. I admit that may sound a tad contrived, but nonetheless it is true.

Would you recommend other students pursue the opportunity to study abroad?

You’ve probably already noticed I am quite the fan of the program. Again, I view it as an opportunity not to be missed, as it is something uniquely special. I get that not everyone might have the opportunity to do so, be it because of scheduling or financial reasons (though I’d be remiss not to mention that there is financial aid available). If the stairs do align and you have the chance to, you should without a doubt seize it.

It only gets trickier if you’ve already done a program abroad (Summer Abroad or perhaps another program). I find myself caught in the same dilemma this year, as a matter of fact – whether to do another or not. As a student of economics, I’d reason that the marginal utility of another trip ought to be less than the first. Despite this though, I feel as if each experience and each trip is something wholly special, and as such I cannot settle until I’ve done them all. Alas this certainly isn’t possible, but nonetheless perhaps I, or anyone else in my situation, should go for at least one more!

What advice would you give students who are considering the study abroad program?

Give careful consideration to the questions of “where” and “who.”

“Where” is straightforward enough – where do you want to visit? In my humble opinion, however, it shouldn’t be considered in the same manner as you deciding where your next vacation will be. One hypothetical thought: perhaps choose a place you otherwise wouldn’t (and may never) visit as a vacation destination! Think about the actual programs and courses themselves, and evaluate what you believe you might gain from each trip. Attending the info sessions is a great way to start this search.

“Who” is simple enough as well — who do you want to go with? There, of course, is nothing wrong with doing a trip alone; as I’ve said the Summer Abroad program is absolutely one of the best ways to meet new people. Yet there is something to be said for having a friend or companion along for what will assuredly be a remarkable ride.

- Matteo