'Tis the season, if you're a parent like me, to deal with what can only be called holiday spazziness! My kids are already wound up about the upcoming school break, and the holidays. My classes are done, and my exams…
Dances of hope and healing
I'm surrounded by strangers and TV cameras and bright lights as far as the eye can see. Somewhat unlike a typical lecture, there’s a certain energy about the people in the rows and rows of wooden chairs. The excited buzz of…
Work/play balance lowest in the country?
In a Globe & Mail article, “University Report Card 2012 Rankings”, the University of Toronto received a D for work/play balance, making it the lowest ranked university in the country. I, to be honest, do not get this at all.…
It’s your turn to learn
If you're an international student, whether you're a thousand miles away from home or ten, Toronto is probably a big change of scenery for you. And now that you've been here for a few months (or years depending on which…
Cyber-security, Facebook, and why there’s no such thing as a free lunch
Sometimes, school and the hyperactive “Type faster! Why are you wasting time on sleep!” rhythm of student life (particularly in the final weeks of term) overwhelm me and it’s easy to lose sight of why I’m here, in a haze…
I remember…
When I was in my late teens, I visited a friend in Belgium. Her father, knowing I was Canadian, took me on an impromptu full day driving tour of the war graves of Flanders. There was a language barrier between…
Laugh it up!
I bit the bullet last week, gave 12 whole dollars to a student in my faculty and signed away my Tuesday night. For what you ask?! Why a trip down to Blue Jays Way of course, all the way to…
The Value of Sheep
An interesting thing happened to me this weekend, something that doesn't typically happen to a student within the parentheses of Friday and Monday: I learned something! And no, it wasn't how many beers I could chug in five minutes. I…
Check yourself before you wreck yourself!
I suffered a particularly nasty blow to the ego last Tuesday. A shocking midterm experience led me to “check myself, before I wrecked myself.” Thank you Ice Cube! This midterm season sure felt bad for my health – less…
What would you do if you had the courage?
After walking into a cozy, hidden room full of strangers at the top of Hart House yesterday afternoon, the first question I was met with did not ask my name, or why I was there, but: “What would you…