After a full year of first-year biology and chemistry labs (major ptsd right now) and a semester in second-year biology labs , I’ve learned a couple of tips about how to be successful in these labs and general tricks to…
Three Tips for Last Minute Studying
In a dream world, we would all be studying weeks before exams, feeling fully prepared for the big day. But what if this doesn’t happen? I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit, and sometimes, you’ve just got…
3 Hacks on Surviving 9 am Classes
It’s no surprise that 9:00 am classes are my least favourite. The commute is slower, the weather is gloomy and cold, and everyone is drained of energy. To make matters worse, my commute to campus is around an hour and…
Being Restful and Productive During Reading Week
Congratulations everyone! We have finally made it to Reading Week! These last two weeks have been extremely stressful, and I found myself in an endless cycle of waking up, attending lectures, and then going home and immediately start studying. Last…
Affirmations for those with Anxiety
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…
Movement breaks for managing the madness of midterm season
For most of us, the days leading up to an exam are very much like those of a ship caught in a tempest: All hands on deck! Trim the mast! Check that the vessel hasn’t sprung a leak! (Alright, so…
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…
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…
Finding the Balance Between my School Life and Social Life
As we put an emphasis on mental health this month, I decided to write about my struggles in trying to find a balance between my social/family life and school life. Last Sunday, my dad had a rare day off of work…
3 Ways to De-Stress During Midterm Season
Halloween isn’t the only scary thing in October… what scares university students the most: midterms. In the midst of midterms, it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed. What feels like endless readings and review questions, I sometimes feel like no there’s…