Life as a U of T student is an exciting journey filled with endless opportunities to explore diverse study, work, and rest spaces across the campus. In the first of a three-part series, Maribeth reflects on some of their favourite UTSG campus locations as a graduate student living far away from home.
Written by Maribeth Manalaysay Tabanera, Blog Writer and Content Writer, Master of Education in Social Justice Education
From serene libraries to vibrant student hubs, U of T offers a variety of spots that cater to different needs and preferences, making it easy for students to find their niche and build a sense of community. As a grad student whose courses have all been online, finding places at the UTSG campus to meet people, create community, participate in on-campus activities, and get schoolwork done has been very important to me.
The U of T campuses are massive spaces with over 60,000 students. So where do people find community and places to focus on work? Here are some of my favourite places as a U of T graduate student.
Maribeth’s Reflections: Online Grad Student Life
In early August 2023, I moved away from Winnipeg, the place I was born and raised in for 35 years of my life. I was excited to start my Master of Education in Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). I was also scared, anxious, and worried about living in such a large city without my close family and friends. To my surprise, when I registered for my courses, most of them were offered online. As an extrovert who values deep and meaningful relationships, how would I develop new friendships in this new city if I had to be in my dorm room studying and working online?
Luckily for me, Toronto is a city I am very familiar with. I have visited this city many times over the past decade to connect with family and friends, train and battle in dance competitions, and attend concerts. Whenever I wasn’t at home working from my computer, I decided I would spend time exploring the St. George Campus, the neighbourhoods adjacent to it, and meeting up with old and new friends for coffee or study dates in hopes of finding U of T spaces that made me feel at home.
Thinking about the last year, some of my favourite spaces to hang out include First Nations House, Hart House, Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, and Philosophers Walk. I found out about First Nations House during the OISE Orientation and spent many days studying in their library. I also enjoyed joining their Full Moon Ceremonial Fires in the Department of Earth Science courtyard every month, as this was a time for me to slow down and meet people in the community. Hart House and Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport were spaces where I was able to exercise, participate in dance classes, and take part in interesting group fitness activities like High Intensity Interval Training and 2SLGBTQIA+ Boxing. Lastly, Philosophers Walk is a beautiful walking path that runs from Bloor Street West to Hoskin Avenue between Devonshire Place and Queens Park, where I would sit on the benches, people-watch, and meditate as a part of my wellness routine.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a new or current student, staff, or alumni, we encourage you to dive into the rich campus life at U of T. Get involved with on-campus activities, discover hidden gems, and connect with fellow students to make the most of your university experience. Your perfect study, work, or rest spot is just waiting to be found!
Stay tuned for Part 2 where we discuss campus spots for student parents.
Resources
U of T’s First Nations House
First Nations House provides culturally relevant services to Indigenous students to support academic success, personal growth and leadership development. We offer learning opportunities for all students to engage with Indigenous communities at U of T and beyond.
U of T’s Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport
The Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport has been designed to welcome everyone from the university and local community who is interested in physical activity and sport – from students, faculty, and staff looking for a great place to work out, to intercollegiate, intramural and international-level student-athletes coming to train, practice and compete.
U of T’s Hart House
Hart House offers a wide range of services to both students and community members through a social enterprise model that generates revenue to support its student-focused programming on all three of the University of Toronto’s campuses.
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