The first semester has come and gone, so fast that it just seems like a blur. For a first year student, it is surprising how far I’ve come since the end of August. In terms of my academic, social, and…
reflection
Why is My Circle of Friends Smaller in University?- Dealing with the Transition from High School
Friends. Whether you consider yourself to be an introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in between, friends act as a major support system here at university. They’re the ones who you grab coffee with before a 9 am class, the ones who…
I Challenged Myself to Rephrase Everyday Terms
Now that midterm/essay season is in full swing, I’ve been thinking a lot about my experiences at U of T during this time. It can be incredibly overwhelming- there’s so much talk of GPAs, and everybody seems to be either…
Self-Care and Understanding My Role in Decision-Making
This past week I had a bit of a funky experience. For starters, my email updated and my brain has yet to adjust to the new layout. I think we all know the disoriented feeling I’m referring to right now.…
Checking In With Yourself
Whenever there’s a change in seasons, I tend to get introspective. To me, autumn in particular always feels like one chapter ending and another beginning. Maybe it has something to do with the change in sunlight, the temperature fluctuating, or…
Learning to Lead
Now, when I think about the idea, I imagine Oprah hyping up a crowd, announcing it like a giveaway, “You’re a leader! And you’re a leader! Everyone’s a leader!!!” And you know what? I feel pretty special hearing it from Oprah.
Strength Series – Part 4: Lead
At the end of the workshop, we each shared one word to reflect on the past four workshops. I shared the first word that came to me, strong. It may be quite an obvious choice, but it still captures what I’ve come to feel by the end of the series.
Strength Series – Part 3: Academic Success
I may not have graduated and received my degree yet, but that doesn’t mean I can’t celebrate along the way. It’s been a long three years, and as I go into my fourth, I’ve learned that celebrating even the little things, like finishing an assignment and starting another semester, makes the journey more enjoyable. Maybe I don’t need an entire cake to celebrate finishing an exam, but acknowledging my hard work and perhaps, even a cupcake, will suffice.
Strength Series – Part 2: Career
Exploring careers is like finding the right pair of jeans (I still have yet to accomplish the latter). Basically, I need to keep searching for the right fit, discovering what I like and what I don’t like. It has to feel good in all the right places and I should feel confident in it. I’ll probably have to try a bunch, and even get some tailoring done.
Strength Series – Part 1: Explore
“Explore your strengths” is an introductory workshop that focuses on getting to know your top 5 strengths. Before attending the workshop, you complete the online assessment, Clifton Strengths Finder by Strengths Quest, in which you’ll receive a customized report of your top 5 strengths and other useful resources on how to develop them.