{"id":33507,"date":"2018-02-12T10:36:31","date_gmt":"2018-02-12T15:36:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/?p=33507"},"modified":"2018-02-12T10:36:31","modified_gmt":"2018-02-12T15:36:31","slug":"wakatshennonni-i-am-happy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/2018\/02\/12\/wakatshennonni-i-am-happy\/","title":{"rendered":"Wakatshenn\u00f3n:ni (I am happy)"},"content":{"rendered":"It\u2019s the time of the year where the snow keeps falling and spring\u2019s warmth seems far away, where midterms are almost here, yet the end is months away. It can turn you into a bit of a hermit and an Eeyore. Well, that ends now! The crew at Student Life is here to help chase your bleakness, blahs and blues away with #JoyAtUofT. All week, we\u2019ll be posting things that bring us cheer, ways to find your own happiness and events and contests to get your serotonin pulsing.<\/span>\r\n\r\nSo, what brings me joy on campus? When I first attended university as a mature student, I figured clubs and social events were for newcomers to Toronto and students much younger than me. I\u2019ve lived here long before I attended U of T and have a healthy social circle and life outside of school. I had that sort of clock-in, clock-out mentality, so other than chatting with some people in my classes, I really didn\u2019t connect with anyone in my first semester.<\/span>\r\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\r\nHowever, I started doing some volunteer work with First Nations House and joined their listserv for upcoming events and opportunities. I realized by second semester that by only focusing on my studies and grades, I was missing out on the parts of university that can\u2019t be taught in classroom, things like networking, making new friends that share your interests and being part of a community. In a massive school like U of T, it\u2019s comforting to go somewhere where people know your name and vice-versa, where you can stop and have a chat, some cedar tea and coffee, not to mention there is ALWAYS food (another thing that makes me happy).<\/span>\r\n\r\nThere have been bountiful opportunities for lectures, socials, volunteer work, financial and other assistance, not to mention the space itself is beautiful and comfortable. Here are just a few things that have brought me joy at First Nations House:<\/span>\r\n