For me, a lot of my symptoms revolve around unnecessary fear and discomfort. As an example, I randomly and suddenly feel incredibly on-edge when there are sudden loud noises in places, or if I feel trapped when I am on…
PMS as a student
It's a common experience, but it's also a taboo: pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) and it is important to talk about it. PMS symptoms and degree differ between girls. For myself, I become irritable and stressed. I also experience insomnia, loneliness, an…
Slowing Down and Self Care, Part Two
As everyone bustles by, I sit and will the room to stop spinning- to stop filling my brain with useless fog, and to stop the sleep from stealing my days away from me. Time is what everyone wants, but I…
YOU’VE GOT TO LISTEN TO THIS!
Aaniin! As a student in a program that requires always having your nose in a book, I’ve found it personally challenging to make time for leisure reading. Don’t get me wrong—I love reading, but it almost feels like a chore.…
Talking to Professors: They’re There for you!
As you’re probably experiencing by now, university brings many new experiences and challenges! To me, one of the biggest challenges was simply talking to professors. In high school, it was easy to create a connection with teachers mainly because classes…
Bouncing Back from Midterms
As a university student, I’m sure everyone has gotten a grade back and wasn’t exactly happy about it. I’ve been there before, and it can be really hard to take in… especially in first year. In my experience, dwelling on…
Sharing is Caring
Aaniin! As a Nishnaabe who grew up separate from my nation, I’ve come to understand the importance of community. We have so much that we can learn from one another—having these connections with one another allows us to support each…
The Power of a Growth Mindset
Things you might hear after a first year midterm: “That didn't go as planned.” “I failed.” “How will this impact by GPA?” "I'm not cut out for this." U of T grading rubrics can be unforgiving. After the first tests…
Taking Care of Yourself During Midterms
It’s that time of year where it seems as if I am catching up with my classes right before a midterm, while falling behind in others. This constant loop of work can be stressful and draining. Whether you have midterms,…
Balancing school, family, and friends: Family visits from far
Whenever my family asks me if I want to hang out with them, I immediately say yes. When my family visits me all the way from South America, and only stays for a week, I have to be careful when…