Tag Archives: summer

On Zen Frogs and Creating Happiness

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It’s 10 minutes to five o’clock on a sunny, beautiful afternoon in May. Just a couple of moments ago, I was sitting in the chapel at Hart House, immersed in a mindful meditation workshop hosted by Cheryl Champagne from Health and Wellness at U of T. I feel calm, happy and, well, a bit surprised.  Who knew that 20 minutes of breathing could transform me from frazzled to zen? I guess I forgot how amazing meditation really is.

In the spirit of wellness and renewal (part two!), today’s post will be all about workshops, events, and resources on campus that can help you keep positive in this journey called Life.

 

 

Dare to Self-Care?

It took me years to figure out that in order to be at my best, I had to care for myself as much as I cared for other people. So I was pretty delighted to discover that U of T’s very own Health and Wellness Centre offers a workshop called Dare to Self-Care. Hosted by Jill Cressy, the workshop explores a variety of self-care practices, including stress management strategies, mind-body techniques, and 10 keys to happier living. Jill usually asks the following questions in her session:

What do you care about?

What are your values related to health and wellness?

How can you best support Happiness in your daily life?

Try your hand at them! I sat down and attempted to, but as usual, when I try to answer questions, I come up with a bunch of them instead: What does it mean to be mindful?  How can we go about creating Happiness?

My quest led me to Sutha Sathananthan, a Masters candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at U of T. Sutha took a Cognitive and Psychological Foundations of Effective Leadership class last fall, and became hooked on the concept of ‘happiness’. The outcome? Sutha founded Engineering Happiness, U of T’s first on-campus Happiness Initiative.

Sutha, founder of Engineering Happiness at U of T

“I started researching a lot about happiness, and I learned that there is a lot of negativity out there” says Sutha. According to her, people don’t start by thinking ‘well, what really makes me happy?’ Instead, they try to find ‘happiness’ when they are faced with depression, anxiety, and other mental health or emotional challenges. Engineering Happiness is all about providing the space and the tools for others to create awareness about the things that bring them balance, contentment, and joy.

Engineering Happiness draws its ethos from the field of Positive Psychology, which seeks to make normal life more fulfilling. Think fostering joy, creativity, and authentic happiness as ultimate goals.

U of T’s Health and Wellness also offers some amazing workshops that explore similar themes. In fact, there is just so much to be explored in the realm of wellness right on campus. Did you know that U of T actually has a Happiness Webinar Series? It’s true!

Not only that, the Multi-Faith Centre is currently offering a class on Mindful Meditation every Wednesday afternoon. Later this summer, you can even participate in a Happiness Challenge, brought to you by Engineering Happiness. You’ll be able to go out in the world an document whatever makes you happy using any medium, then submit your creation for a prize.

My foray into meditation, happiness and self-care kicked off Mental Health Awareness week. Did I get the answers to my questions? Nah…but I did learn a few meditation techniques, and learn a bit more about Happiness. Am I happy? Yes, I can safely say so.

Check out Jill Cressy’s Dare to Self-Care workshop on May 10 from 10-11 am at Charles St. Residence. Engineering Happiness is also hosting a free Laughter Yoga session on Wednesday, May 8th from 7-8 pm at Hart House, 2nd floor Debate Room.

Come out and flourish!

-Aziza

From The Think to The Do

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The first of May is here – finally! And so begins my summer. I can store my school work away and leave my books in my room, instead of letting them carve perma-holes in my backpack. It’s been a whirlwind of a year for me here at U of T – new people, new ideas, new stressors, and an interesting dynamic between sameness and constant change. At times I’ve felt like Kramer, a few (very few) times like Sheldon but mostly like Samwise  – a bit of a wanderer in this strange new space called U of T. Sam always craves potatoes. I always crave tea. We are not so different!

A friend of mine recently wrote a blog about spring and renewal, which got me thinking about my own life. One of my goals for this year and beyond is to focus on Doing and Being, instead of just Thinking. Hmmm. A tricky thing for someone like me, who gets lost in thought. Correction, lost in Many Thoughts. I’m pretty sure that my mind is a leafy labyrinth filled with comfy chairs, cozy throws and west-facing sunny rooms designed for Great Thinks.

I took an Aboriginal Worldviews class with Professor Jean-Paul Restoule at OISE this semester, which was rather life-changing. It moved me from the Think to the Do. Each class began with a Smudging ceremony, which is all about using the Sage plant to cleanse a space of negative energy. I usually entered class a bit frazzled, my mind jumping between to-dos and must-haves and what-nots. And yet, by the time each of us had drawn the smoke from the Sage over our hands, hearts and faces, I always felt grounded and calm. Professor Restoule would end the ceremony by giving thanks for the grass, for the trees, for winter, for the opportunity we had to gather together again, and so on. We were all brought to the present moment. That’s a beautiful way to start, well, anything, isn’t it?

I decided to start be a bit more grateful for regular things every day. It’s a curious thing: the more I gave thanks, the more content I was with who I was and how my life was taking shape. The less I looked at how others around me were doing and the more I focused on what I could do to create change. You know that paralyzed feeling you get when you realize just how much more you need to get done?   Well, those moments came fewer and further between. And, the more I did. I started taking a bit of time to draw and paint again. I started to take a few minutes to close my eyes and breathe in silence in the morning. Bit by bit, I started on a journey of renewal and change.

I have always been focused on next steps. When is the next paper due? What am I making for dinner that will last me a few days? How can I best plan my day/week/month/year? The act of writing these words makes me feel rushed. It is no secret that the life of an undergraduate or graduate student can often be stressful, scattered and difficult. So it was a beautiful gift to learn to be grateful for what just is.

Being grateful for even the smallest things (It’s sunny! I can feel my fingers! My taste buds can still taste this ghastly coffee!) helped me get through was must be the longest winter I can remember. Expressing gratitude is a form of doing. It is giving positivity back to a world which throws a lot of positivity my way too.

You have all written exams, handed in papers, and completed final labs over the last few weeks. Some of you have four months of Summer. Others of you are closing your chapter at U of T, and heading onto other wondrous things. Good Luck. Take a moment to create renewal for yourself (it feels great!).

In the spirit of Spring Cleaning, Happiness and Mental Health Awareness, check out MindFest at Hart House next Monday, May 6th. Activities include exhibit booths, an art crawl, film screenings, workshops, guest speakers (Steve Paiken!), free food, stand-up comedy, and prizes.

- Aziza

An Artsy Afternoon

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Contemporary art and I have an interesting relationship. Sometimes we get along, like two dancers weaving to a rhythmic beat, and other times we tip-toe in each others’ spaces, like hesitant friends at an awkward dinner party.

So it was with a bit of a sense of the unknown that I made my way to the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery to check out the current exhibition, I Thought There Were Limits. As I stepped into the gallery, I reacted as I usually do when it comes to contemporary art exhibits. I wondered: where is the art, and why is there so much space? I like creating art, but my paintings and drawings are a mish-mash of colours and shapes, words and half-finished poems, swirls, strikes, dots, random pairings of patterns and symbols…absolutely nothing like the art that stood staring back at me, daring me to take a leap.

And so, I leapt.

According to the colourful program that I picked up, the exhibit brings together five artists who “engage with both the material and conceptual dimensions of space”. Ah, Space, that most elusive of things. The exhibit spans two rooms, with one room hosting most of the art pieces, and the other engulfed by Kika Thorne’s piece titled Singularity (pictured below). I won’t go into detail about each work of art. I want you, my friend, to go and take a look!

Singularity by Kika Thorne

However, one piece caught my eye. It took the shape of a giant shiny silver blanket of sorts, slightly crumpled and lying on the floor. Not surprisingly, the piece was called Space Blanket, by Josh Thorpe. Yet it was the sound recording that formed the backdrop for the blanket which got me thinking. At first I thought I was hearing noise from the subway cars (if you’re ever in a lecture at OISE, you know what I’m talking about). Then, as I listened more closely, I realized that what I was hearing was a succession of footsteps that got increasingly louder, and then simply fell away. Intertwined with the sound of footsteps was the sound of classical music.

It could have been my imagination (that afternoon sunlight can play tricks sometimes). but every time the footsteps grew louder, the silver blanket moved ever so slightly – just enough to make me believe that perhaps it was moving on its own.

All of which got me thinking about Space. I was the gallery’s only visitor. I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds around me. It seemed as though time had stopped, and I was carried by whatever note the music played next. I opened my eyes and found myself in rather empty space filled with sound and a few works of art. I realized that the title for the exhibit – I Thought There Were Limits – fit really well. There are no limits, until you create them. The art that did have physical limits in that open space did not have limits in my mind. Now that, my friend, is profound.

Since I had thought all the deep thoughts I had inside me, it was time to go. I really enjoyed Josh Thorpe’s work, but I could only reflect for so long on potential interpretations. So, off I went, only to be bowled over in Hart House’s next corridor by the Hart House Camera Club’s annual exhibit.

According to their website, the exhibit ended on April 21. I managed to catch it, and you may have a chance as well in the next couple of days. I must have spent a good 20 minutes immersing myself in all of the photographs, and creating stories as I went along. The photographs are fantastic!

Aaron Tan’s Tension is a compelling piece:

Tension, by Aaron Tan

Art Chow’s work is also wonderful:

Observer, by Art Chow

I was pleasantly surprised by both Justina M. Barnicke’s current exhibit, and my spontaneous discovery of the Camera Club’s eye-opening exhibit (its 91st edition, I might add). Have a spare hour or so? Treat yourself to an afternoon of art at Hart House. You may just be inspired to create spaces and stories of your own!

-Aziza

For more information about Hart House’s Camera Club, check out their website.

Volunteering Abroad

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After taking on the mighty mission of googling “volunteer abroad”, I was a little taken aback, and realized this was still a world I was unsure of navigating. The question of what you want to do this summer is the best place to start. Do you want a job, internship or volunteer position? Does paid or unpaid matter? Are you willing to look outside of your hometown or Toronto? Where do you want to go, and more importantly why do you want to volunteer? As Abdullah mentioned last week, there’s a lot to keep in mind when it comes to volunteerism, especially if it’s going to be an international placement.

Once you get past these questions, narrowing down the search is a lot easier, but the process can still be really tedious.

The Centre for International Experience and the Career Centre both offer a variety of information of where to get started (or apply). The Canadian Heritage site had many work, volunteer and intern links as well.

I found that asking around really helped, especially from people who’ve personally gone on the kind of trips or jobs you’re looking for, even the community crew had tons of links for me from friends of friends. And so, I’ve provided a few of my findings below to anyone who may be looking into their own international summer volunteer options!

Students for Development
Although it isn’t quite a volunteer opportunity, I had to mention Students for Development. Through our very own university, you can get an internship opportunity with an NGO and a U of T credit through Students for Development. Partners include the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation in South Africa, PRAESA (South Africa) and DECF in Kenya. There are also special places reserved for students from  St. Michael’s College, Trinity College or Victoria College, and the deadline is March 1. Although it is an internship, being able to intern abroad through the university seems like nothing short of a wonderful opportunity.

D.R.E.A.M.S
Another U of T project that offers volunteering abroad is D.R.E.A.M.S (Dominican Republic Education and Medical Support) which aims to offer support to a local region in the Dominican. I know a couple of friends who are currently running this year’s project and from what they’ve told me, it’s definitely a change-your-life kind of trip. It’s also a great chance to work alongside other U of T students for an alternative reading week and if you don’t particularly want to travel, but do want to help out, you can be a part of their executive council which offers an array of positions!

Operation Groundswell
Operation Groundswell was suggested by Community Crew member Crystal, who explained that the organization had more of a backpacking-, and less of staying-at -the-Hilton-for-a-week vibe. Not only do they offer summer opportunities, but they also offer alternative reading weeks, a great backup if you find yourself needing to take summer classes or a job for your four months.

Operation Groundswell’s costs were also very low (in comparison to a lot of the other organizations I had come across) and they base a lot of this on the premise that students should be able to experience the opportunity, and not have to worry about a huge payment in doing so. What sets Operation Groundswell apart is the amount of backpacking and local experience that’s offered, which they like to call their “backpacktivist manifesto”, something a lot of organizations that offer the volunteer/tour opportunities don’t always provide.

Students Without Borders
My co-host Leah Getchell from Beyond the Classroom suggested both Students Without Borders and Uniterra to me, from her involvement with WUSC. It offers experiences to volunteer abroad to Canadian students, and offer a number of placements ranging from Africa, Asia and Latin America. WUSC is the World University Service of Canada and CECI, the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation offer a number of opportunities as well. Also, as a partner of WUSC, it definitely is student-friendly. What I really liked about this organization amongst my google frenzy/32 tabs open kind of research was its emphasis on a needs driven approach, and how you’d get involved with a local organization in the region you’re in.

Uniterra
Also a program with WUSC-CECI, similar to Students Without Borders, Uniterra offers volunteering opportunities in a variety of places around the world, including Canada. I find the option to work with an international group in your country of residence is a refreshing opportunity that is often a forgotten choice. Volunteering abroad can get costly, and if after some research you realize volunteer-travelling isn’t for you, this is definitely a great alternative. As a joint WUSC-CECI, Uniterra focuses on focuses on five core issues of equality, economic development, health and aid, education and governance, giving you plenty to choose from.

Overall, figuring out what you want to do for your summer is never easy. Whether it’s coming to grips with the options you have (or may not have, as I realize my own breadth requirement has yet to be completed….woops) definitely get started now. Many places have already filled up with applications or will be very soon!

What are some organizations you’ve heard of?

-Vahini

 

A student’s experience studying abroad in Central Europe

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The University of Toronto provides students with a plethora of unique and interesting learning opportunities, many of which can quite literally be considered “once in a lifetime”. One learning opportunity I unfortunately never pursued during my time as an undergraduate student was some international study with one of the U of T’s many study abroad opportunities. (Arts & Science students should also check the International Programs and Partnerships website for more opportunities.)

I am, however, aware of how studying abroad can enhance a student’s overall undergraduate experience and in order to demonstrate this I have endeavoured to conduct two brief interviews with students who have done some study abroad — the second of which I have transcribed for you below.

This interview is with fourth-year student Igor Samardzic who studied abroad in Central and Southeastern Europe. My questions are in bold and his answers follow subsequently. I would like to thank Igor for sharing his international experience with me — and with all of you.

Igor is a 4th year Trinity College student studying Political Science and History. He traveled to Central and Southeastern Europe with the university’s Summer Abroad program.

Why did you endeavour to Study Abroad and why did you pick the location/program that you did?

Studying Abroad was something that always appealed to me as a commuter student. Since I did not live on campus and was finding it difficult to integrate myself into the UofT community, the Summer Abroad program would hopefully be able to help in these respects — and did it ever. The program gave me the opportunity to experience something different than the regular lectures at UofT. It gave me a new perspective on my subject matter, and lifelong friends.

The location I decided to go to was not one I had initially thought I would end up in. When I started researching places to go abroad, Central Europe was not an immediate draw to me at first. Probably because I am originally from the region, and I wanted to explore other countries. However, after talking with my friends and family, I decided that Central Europe would be my choice and boy did I pick right! It turns out that any preconceptions or hesitations that I might have had about picking the wrong country were unfounded. No matter what program you choose to participate in, the results will be the same…an experience that will redefine your academic and personal journey through life. If you doubt me, I dare you to try and see!

Central Europe had a lot to offer besides a great teacher, wonderful host staff and an interesting course. My favourite part of the trip, and the main reason I chose to attend this specific program, was the many excursions! Every year the Central Europe program takes students to three different countries besides your host country. Every weekend students get to experience another city/country for three days and two nights. Therefore, although you have a base city where your main accommodation and classes take place, you also get the added bonus of travelling and learning about your subject material in real time.

What has your international experience meant to you?

The Summer Abroad experience has in all honesty been the most incredible experience of my life to date. It has impacted me in ways that I would not have thought possible. When I first applied, I knew that it would be pretty amazing just from everything you find out before hand. However, the satisfaction and awesomeness that came out of this experience was not even on my radar until I had time to reflect after.

This experience has opened me up to the world, challenged me, created friendships, laughs, jokes, memories, and contributed to my academic education in extraordinary ways. So much so that I went on another Summer Abroad the following year!

Would you recommend other students pursue the opportunity to study abroad?

In three letters — YES! I would definitely recommend it to everyone, and if you know me personally, I have. As I said before, this is an amazing opportunity, and there really is no excuse not to try to apply. Another aspect of the Summer Abroad program, which I always stress when talking to potential students, is that our courses give you the opportunity to get a FULL year UofT credit in as little as 3 weeks and up to 6 weeks and are taught by a UofT professor in the English language (except language courses). The Summer Abroad program also gives students the opportunity to travel by themselves or with others before or after the program starts, which proves very beneficial for students that have family abroad.

What advice would you give students who are considering the study abroad program?

There are several points I would suggest.

  1. Apply early: The Summer Abroad program registration process opens in January of every year, and the applications go online in a staggered fashion throughout January, depending on the program (be sure to check the Summer Abroad website.) Although the registration process does not close until March, you should apply ASAP to be sure that you get your placement. The Summer Abroad program works on a first come first serve basis for most programs and therefore, they fill up quite fast. So Apply Right Away….. like NOW!
  2. Do your Research: Do not worry, this does not mean essay research! However, looking through possible courses and matching them up with your academic requirements is a great place to start — although many students, including myself, take courses as a breadth requirement.
  3. Not getting your first Choice: If you happen to not get your first choice of program do not be discouraged. The overall experience is similar no matter where you go! Every program has its own unique qualities, so be sure to give every program a chance when choosing.
  4. Financial Aid: The Summer Abroad Program offers countless bursaries and awards. I would strongly suggest students to check that part of their website out and to inquire with the office if they have any questions or issues. The award and bursary amounts are quite generous and make the trips themselves much more affordable.
  5. For Everyone: No matter what your program of study is, the Summer Abroad Program has something for everyone. Science Abroad — introduced just recently — focuses on the sciences with particular emphasis on research. These courses offer students an experience from 6 to 16 weeks in length!
  6. Have Fun!!: Be sure to enjoy yourself, although the academic portion of the program is central to the course, be sure to let yourself experience your surroundings. Travel as much as you can, talk to locals, meet new people, and push your boundaries!
  7. If you are interested and would like to get a perspective of other past participants of our program, check out our Facebook page and post your questions on our wall. Or you can check out our website or office for further information.

It is time… Registration Time

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It’s July. You know what that means? It’s Registration Time.

Registration Time is arguably the most stressful time of the year for U of T students, after Exam Week(s). We spend weeks or days (or hours, for the adrenaline junkies) figuring out our course timetable, praying to the benevolent ROSI spirits to not crash the system once we log on.

I just got my start time. As of 11:05am, July 10, I will be making my fourth – and (hopefully) final – U of T schedule. Getting my starting time reminds me of all the previous years I’ve registered for my classes. I’ve had early start times (6am), late start times (6pm). I’ve built my schedule in Edmonton and Hong Kong, but never in Toronto. There have been Eureka! moments, where I find a course that fits just so, and moments where I break into tears because trying to meet program requirements sucked.

My desk buddy Jen and I came up with a list of tips and things to look out for. Hopefully, these tips will help make registration period smoother and less stressful.

  • Plan ahead – Make different versions of your timetable, and always have back up courses in case the course you want to be in is full.
  • Pick up your Faculty’s Calendar and Timetable – They will become your bible. The calendar gives you course descriptions as well as program information. The timetable tells you when the courses are offered. If you can’t pick up a physical copy, it can be found online. I don’t know where to find the links to other faculties (sorry!), but here’s a link to Arts & Sci’s Calendar and Timetable.
  • Artscis, pick up the ASSU Anti-Calendar. Remember the course evaluations that you filled out at the end of each term? They are compiled into this handy anti-calendar. Take a look at what other students have to say about the course before you take it.
  • For upper year students (2+), check with your program department ahead of time and make sure you’re on the right track. All you have to do is talk to your department’s undergraduate coordinator. This is especially important for students preparing to graduate!
  • Visit your registrar’s office to check whether you have all other requirements. Another important office for graduating students to visit! They can tell you how many credits you have left to complete, whether you have met your breadth or distribution requirements, etc.
  • Waitlisting is okay. Say you got a late start time, like I did in my first year. By the time you log on at 4pm EST all the courses you were hoping to get are full. What do you do? Take a deep breath, and put yourself on the waitlist. Remember what I said about having a back up timetable? Make that in the meantime. Even if you don’t get into that course, at least you have a timetable to fall back on.
  • Don’t. Panic. A lot of things can happen during registration, which means you have to mentally prepare yourself.  The one most common is your computer, your internet connection or ROSI not working. Something that happened to me was that I had to register for classes in a middle of a busy restaurant in Hong Kong. Again, take a deep breath. Close all other windows and programs on your computer, and make sure you’re in a place with good internet access (I have an uncle with a nifty portable internet router while in Hong Kong) to minimize scream-at-the-screen time. Jen said she would log off of all other programs and find a quiet place, maybe even do finger exercises, to get ready.
  • FOR GRADUATING STUDENTS – The worst possible feeling I can imagine is not being able to get into a course that you need to graduate with. Do not fret, for there is the Dean’s Promise! Contact your registrar’s office by August 20 if there is a course you need but can’t take.
  • If my memory serves me, you can change your classes up until the day waitlists are dropped. That means you could – and should – keep checking course availablities up until then.

That’s all I have for now. Any other students care to share some tips? Getting the schedule together is stressful, that’s true, but once you have it done… Oh man. Best. Feeling. Ever.

- Crystal

P.S. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about registration for other faculties. Here’s a list of websites to undergrad programs in other academic and professional faculties that might help those of you who aren’t in Arts & Science!

Here are some faculties that also have undergraduate programs  (with the exception of the School of Graduate Studies). They are second entry programs, meaning you don’t get into those faculties until doing some sort of undergrad studies. Their registration may be different, so take note!

If I’m missing any faculty or department, let me know!

Who’s out? We’re out! School’s out!

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I must admit, I was trying to go for the “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!” thing, but I guess that didn’t work out too well.

That’s okay though, because the sentiment is there. Congratulations, U of T! We have completed yet another year of school. How did it go? Did anything amazing and mind-blowing happen to you? I think it’s good to just take the time to look back, and just think about the most interesting things you’ve done in the past year.

For example, this last year I:

  • Built a tent inside the Great Hall of Hart House.
  • Met a lot of people through twitter and social media, and learned the power of the Internet.
  • Tried to pull an all-nighter at Robarts but chickened out at the last minute. I love you guys and all, but you’re all nuts during exam season.
  • Successfully pulled 5 consecutive all-nighters (at home) and handed in one of the best papers I’ve ever written.
  • Was president of a campus group, which is not as easy as I had initially thought.
  • Discovered an all-you-can-eat sushi place 10 minutes from campus.
  • Finally got to blog about hot dogs. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for a chance to do that.
  • Did my own op-ed coverage of the UTSU elections  on blogUT (which is another amazing U of T blog, by the way!).
  • Figured out (ish) what I want to do after undergrad.

I know a whole bunch of you are going to tell me all about the woes of summer school. Look, I’m going to be in summer school too. It’s just like U of T students to be downers when there’s a lot to be up-y about. How about we not be pessimistic and be happy about what we’ve done through a year?

So yeah. That’s my year. How about yours?

- Crystal

Get ready for summer!

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I know. It’s cold and there’s a little bit of snow out there, and we are only a couple of weeks into this new semester, but, it is really time to start thinking about, if not planning, what you are going to do this spring/summer.

The reason I bring this up is because opportunities are already available, and your chance to partake may be limited the longer you wait to make a decision. My post this week will go over different opportunities I am pondering, as well as some (hopefully) useful links to get your mind-juices flowing.

Summer Abroad

According to the Summer Abroad Website, “The Summer Abroad programs are designed to enrich students’ academic lives by providing an exciting and educational international experience. Students complete full-year University of Toronto undergraduate degree credit courses from the Faculty of Arts & Science that are relevant to each location.”

Summer Abroad

Where else can you travel and live in a foreign country for 4-6 weeks while earning a U of T credit?

This year, Summer Abroad is offering courses in countries and regions such as:

  • Central Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and Poland)
  • Hong Kong, China
  • Shanghai, China
  • Ecuador
  • England
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Southeastern Europe (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia)
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Taiwan
  • India
  • Switzerland

The cost for the programs range from $3154 for India to $7953 for Kenya, with the figures including airfare, accommodations, meals, and course fees. Those numbers may seem daunting, but there are financial aid opportunities for each destination.

The programs, which can include classes in subjects as varied as Shakespeare and Astrophysics, vary in start time from early May to August, and end from early June right up until September 2.  If this is what you want to do, there is a timeframe that will fit your busy summer schedule.

Explore

If the thought of getting away is appealing, but you want to stay closer to home, or cannot afford the price tag associated with the Summer Abroad, then maybe check out the Explore summer language learning program.

Explore

The program is five weeks long and takes place in universities across the country. Over the summer, you will learn and enhance your French-language skills in this intensive program, the costs of which are almost entirely covered by a lottery-awarded bursary program!

To be eligible for the program, you must meet these requirements;

  • Be a Canadian citizen (those studying on visas are not eligible
  • Be in at least grade 11 during the preceding school year or be enrolled in a post-secondary institution
  • Have been full time at least one term during the current school year

For the majority of you out there, you will qualify, and you may be able to transfer the credits earned towards your U of T degree (the site recommends you check with your institution).

Internship Program (ACT FAST!)

Internship

The Ontario Internship Program offers a two-year paid position in a wide array of roles within the Ontario ministries. The program is open to people who are graduating, or have done so within the previous two years. But, if this is what you want to do, you must act VERY VERY FAST! The deadline for application is January 25th. That’s TOMORROW. Check out more information at the Ontario Internship Site.

Summer Job

Finding that perfect summer job can enhance your summer by providing you with some good, honest work experience to bolster your resume. It may even lead to something part-time for during the school year!

With the extra money you are bringing in you can go crazy wild over the summer partying, or, more practically, save the money for the next school semester.

The easiest way to start looking for summer jobs is on the U of T Career Centre site. You can specify your job search to list summer positions. Alternately, you can search for student jobs at the Canada Job Bank.

Summer Classes at U of T

Summer is a great time to get ahead in your program, or pick up an elective credit that you may not have the time for during the fall or winter semesters.

Classes are generally smaller. However, they go at twice the pace as classes during the school year. A half-credit class generally meets two to three times per week for six weeks, and full credit classes meet for twelve weeks. OSAP applications can be amended to provide additional funding over the summer.

To help you start planning for the summer, the U of T has released its preliminary timetable for the summer, indicating whether the classes being offered will be during the evening or day.

These are just a few of the ideas that are floating around in my head, and I hope I have gotten you thinking about how you are going to spend your summer.

Do you have something interesting being planned for summer? Share it with us in the comments section!

Best,

Jon

A letter to my First-Year self

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Dear First-Year Me,

So you’ve just finished your first semester at U of T. Congrats! One down, seven more to go! Now while you may think you’ve got it all under control, and I’ll admit that you’re not doing such a bad job, there are some things that we should talk about.

First, don’t be surprised when you get back your grades from your first semester and you didn’t get all A’s. For one, you’re not in high school anymore and let’s face it — you really didn’t do your best. But that’s okay! Your first semester is not going to define your entire undergraduate career. And plus, you’re on your own for the first time in your life, at one of the toughest schools in North America, it’ll take a bit for you to adapt.

So, instead of hanging your head in defeat, reflect on the semester by doing more than just saying that you’ll do better next time. Take a moment to figure out and to understand what you were lacking this semester. Identifying a cause for your poor performance and reacting to it is just as important as committing to do better in the future. It may not even be that you’re not working hard enough. It may just be that you’re setting unrealistic expectations for yourself, or even that the program you’re in isn’t the right one for you (hint, hint).

What I’m trying to say is that you should be proactive. Once you get back your grades, go pay your registrar a visit and see what they think. Vocalize your concerns and get advice. Have a chat with someone at the Academic Success Centre during their drop in hours, or check out one of their workshops to see if there’s anything you can add to your toolset. Trust me, there are lots!

Secondly, I know that you’re leaving for Trinidad in a few days, and you’re excited to see your high school friends and to party the next three weeks away. And that’s all great, you should be having fun during the holidays, but don’t forget, you’re an adult now. You should be using your time — even your time away from school — to try to experience things that will help you to evolve and grow, not just get sloshed on the beach. Now I obviously don’t expect you to study day and night for the entire vacation, but start looking at your down time as an opportunity to get a leg up, and I don’t mean up on the sofa.

See if you can get a part time job or volunteer position and gain some experience in a field that you think you might be interested in. Read a book that may or may not be on your syllabus, but one that’s at least somewhat related to a course for next semester. Take advantage of the time and do things that you wouldn’t be able to during the school year. Future you will thank you; trust me, I would know!

Lastly, start thinking about what you’re going to do next summer, now! I know it seems like eons away, but once second semester starts — and let me warn you, it’s a whole different beast compared to your first — you won’t have the time to think about it again, and before you know it, May is upon you and you have nothing planned.

Think about taking summer courses, they’ll ease up your workload next year. Have a look to see what internships are available, or check out the Externship Program run by the Career Centre for a chance to shadow a professional for a week during the summer. A lot of the deadlines for applying are in January and early February so there’s not a moment to spare.

And if you’re really feeling adventurous, apply for the Summer Abroad Program. If it’s one thing I can’t ask you to do more of, it’s to travel. It’s possibly the most overlooked and underrated aspect of your education, and you will learn as much from traveling as you will from going to class.

The last thing I’ll say is not to be afraid of new things. I know you’re not always the most outgoing or confident person in the world, but so far I haven’t regretted anything that I’ve done, only opportunities that I’ve passed up. Yeah, you’ll have a few mornings where you’ll wake up feeling you could have done things a bit differently, but eventually they’ll become stories you laugh about with your friends. You’re only really going to miss, the things that you missed. Other than that, you’re going to be just fine.

See you in four years!

Your friend, Chad

P.S. Please buy some new clothes, you’re not thirteen anymore. ;-)