Speaking Up!

I always considered myself more adept to communicating through written word. The idea of speaking in public always prompts anxious feelings inside of me. It has been found that “public speaking” is the number one fear in America. However, so many professions require proficient oral communication. Even as a pharmacist, although I likely wouldn’t be delivering speeches to the mass, there is an important component of oral communication that is involved; this is commonly seen when we deliver patient counselling on medication. For me, it always felt like the thoughts in my head were racing before I could actually vocalize these thoughts. I would always feel self-conscious if what I was saying could be incoherent to the audience. I figured that oral communication was a skill I needed to improve on. But how does one improve how they talk?

Refuel, Reflect, Sleep, Repeat.

Dear readers, This is my final post of the semester and so I think it's fitting for me to dedicate this one to the life-force, the stronghold, the foundation of my health. Extra firm futon mattress, this one is for you.
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My idea of a good night… REM cycles!
My bed is the location where I recuperate, where my body has a chance to regenerate, and where my mind rejuvenates. I spend 7-9 hours sleeping in my bed each night, and I am not ashamed of it. That’s right, folks. I sleep enough! Often, it seems like in this rigorous academic environment, there is an unspoken competition among classmates to be the most sleep-deprived student. “I slept 4 hours last night.” “Lucky you, I slept 2.” “You think that’s bad? I pulled an all-nighter at Robarts.” So, in this bizarre game, who wins? Sleep-deprivation turns into a weird and unwelcome badge of honour. I think we should work to change that culture as students. I think it’s natural to be well-rested, and its commendable to carve time out of our days to give our bodies and brains rest. If only there was a prompt on LinkedIn that could recommend you for sleeping enough….

Where the Lines Overlap

"Tracing patterns across a personal map And making pictures where the lines overlap" - 'Where the Lines Overlap', by Paramore
A couple of weeks back, a friend told me about an upcoming art exhibition happening over at the University of Toronto Art Centre. I was interested in going to the opening night, but engineering did its thing and I wasn’t able to make it. However, seeing as how I’ve had a sudden uptick in free time lately, I took the time out to appreciate some of the amazing talent we have right here on campus.
I was greeted by a bright, inviting orange door, decorated only by a neat, sans-serif description and thin arrow.
I was greeted by a bright, inviting door, decorated only by a neat sans-serif description and thin arrow.

How U of T can help you find a summer job

We still have a month of exams ahead of us, but summer is just around the corner and I could not be happier about it! Every day, its sunnier a bit longer and just a little bit warmer and it has a really positive impact on my mood and energy. But for me, this summer is going to look a lot like this whole year. Just like during the year, I'll be working part-time and taking classes. At first, I worried that I wouldn't really get a summer break and I'd be totally burnt out by the time the fall semester started. But then I found a part-time summer job on campus; now, I'll be doing really interesting work in my area of study, and I will be able to easily line up my courses with my work schedule so I'm able to have time in the week to relax, get outside, and enjoy the sunny weather. It can be tough to find a summer job, but there a lot of ways that resources at U of T can help you get started.

We’re (Almost) Halfway There

Bon Jovi is my current studybreak JAM.
Bon Jovi is my current studybreak JAM.

Now that we’re almost into April and spring, I’m also almost into the end of my second year here at U of T.

And I can’t help but think about the fact that I am indeed, Halfway There. 

Halfway through my undergraduate degree and a mere two years from graduation.

Time doesn’t just fly- it soars.

Getting Involved!

When applying to a professional school, many applications require an autobiographical sketch of your extra-curriculars or activities that you participate in. It allows the admissions committee to assess those “soft skills” such as interpersonal, leadership, and collaborative skills that are not captured in your GPA or standardized test. Whenever I’ve spoken to undergraduate students, this area seems to be the one that they are the most apprehensive about. What activities are they looking for? How do I stand out? From my experience there appears to be one key aspect to engaging in extra-curriculars, and that is passion.

Searching for Water

Well, hello there! If you’ve even seen me standing outside a classroom looking frantic, its almost definitely not because I have an impending test or other duty to perform in class. Most certainly, it’s the look on my face when I realize I have a two-hour lecture to sit through, my water bottle is empty, and I don’t know where the nearest water bottle fill-up station is. Fortunately, nearing the end of my second year of university this is happening less and less often as I become more familiar with the campus and where the water fountains are located.
Here is one H*** station located at Trinity College's Buttery building
Here is one bottle filler station located at Trinity College's Buttery building
I have intuitively been able to find many of the filler-stations on campus. The gyms all have (at least) one, the large cafeteria spaces all have one, and many lobbies and libraries have one. But there are dozens on campus with more being added all the time (check out the new Bora Laskin Law library!). What that should mean is that no one should have moments of “where can I hydrate?!” anywhere on campus. I’ve dedicated this entire post to where to find water on campus, and (if you’re not already doing so) why you want to carry a water bottle with you all the time.

‘So Long, Winter!’ (or, ‘Later, Midterms!’)

“English summer eating up the atmosphere Day-time bathers sleep in the shade Clouds crawl over dampening our attitudes People run for shelter from the pouring rain” - ‘English Summer’, by The Moons
Well, we did it. Mild or not, our first winter here in Toronto has come to pass, and we're in one piece! With one final flurry of tests, I’ve wrapped up midterm season, too. It’s a peculiar feeling - one on hand, having so many evaluations has made time pass by awfully slowly. On the flip side, it feels like freshman year has passed me by entirely too quickly.