The Life of a First-Year Student - Residence
The first year of university is a first that has many firsts jammed within it.
First Night in Residence
For most, moving into residence is the first time living without the strain, yet comfort of parents. As an Innis student living in the 89 Chestnut residence, I pulled up with a truck full of clothes to an ex-hotel in the heart of Toronto. With the hundreds of other students, my family and I struggled up the elevator to my room. Arriving before my mysterious roommate, we had just enough time to move the best furniture to my side of the room. The roommate arrives; the family leaves and the hours of unpacking begin. One of the most awkward experiences is trying to fall asleep with a stranger sleeping parallel to you, two feet away. After a few tears, realizing that even at night Toronto never darkens, I fell asleep with the anticipation (and fear) of the coming year.
First Frosh Week
My roommate and eventually campus companion for the past three years headed off to our first day of Innis frosh. The entire week is a blur of screaming at engineers, scavenger hunting and getting lost every day on our way back to residence. While there are very few people that I remained friends with that week, the Chestnut residence offered a second round of friends to make. I found that the people on my floor turned out to be the people I spent most of my time with. We ate meals together, studied together and explored the city together.
First Class
Leaving an extra hour before class in preparation of getting lost. Then getting lost and still being late for class.
First Financial Scare/Realizing There is a Registrar
As someone who plans out their finances at the beginning of the school year, the difference in the prices of Innis Residence and Chestnut Residence came to quite a scare. With over a $5000 difference in prices, it seemed an impossible task to fund the difference. Just when I began to give up, I realized that in that Innis office where I picked up my OSAP was the opportunity to speak to a financial counselor. Here, the financial advisor, Tom went over every aspect of my finances down to the funds used to wash my clothes and figured how much I would need for the year. Factoring my various financial situations, my case was presented to a bursary board. I went into the office a blubbering mess and left with the assurance that the university was not out to get me, but actually assist me when extenuating circumstances arose.
First Toronto Winter
The simple 20 minute walk from Chestnut to campus turns into a treacherous 40 minute one in the snow burden months in Toronto. I quickly realized that University Ave turns into a wind tunnel in the winter, that cowboy boots have no grip on ice and that the warmest (and most likely ugliest) jacket is necessary for the winter. Numerous times I wiped out on ice, had soaking wet feet and didn’t leave my room out of fear of the cold, which leads to my next first …
First Dropped Class
I can’t fully remember the specific reason why I dropped my first (and second) course in my first year. I’m sure it had to do with not leaving my room in the winter months, taking courses that I have no interest in and thought of wondering what I got myself into with four more years of school. With being able to drop your courses online through ROSI and not having to face a counselor to do, I didn’t think there were any downfalls. Until you later realize, that you are extending your stay at university by dropping courses.
First Contemplating Dropping Out
After dropping a couple courses, getting marks that were nowhere nears the grades I received in high school and generally seeing a foggy future I considered my ‘alternate options’. I was one of those students that knew they wanted to go to university, but just didn’t know what for. So in my first year when I took a wide range of courses to determine my interests, I ultimately got frustrated with my lack of direction. While dropping out never really seemed like an option, the annoyance of not having a clear path or academic game plan seemed to be the hardest part of first year.
First Realizing Where you Fit in
While some experience the stress of being away from their parents, or making friends, mine was with not having a distinct academic plan. I took many courses that confirmed that I did not want to take mythology, astronomy or environmental science. While I originally planned to be in environmental policy and practice, I realized that while a stable career path, it wasn’t what I was interested in. While struggling through many courses, I realized that there was one course that I looked forward to attending, a first year English. It combined my interests, strengths and challenged me. All the stress I put myself seemed ridiculous when everything ultimately worked out on its own.
First Reflection
I feel like I learnt more in my first year of university than all of my high school days. I realized that 3 awesome friends is better than 20 alright friends; that getting good grades had a lot to do with being interested in the material rather than forcing yourself to do well. And finally, that proper winter boots can actually save your academics, along with your feet.
The firsts are the most intimidating, awkward and ultimately the greatest part of university.
- Third-year Humanities student
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First semester was not easy for me and probably not for any first-year student. I was immensely overwhelmed by the huge academic workload and by learning to cook my daily meals for myself in Innis Residence. Exams were relatively challenging too, and socially, I had little connection to friends.
However, I eventually rejuvenated after learning some strategies to overcome those problems. I got involved in Innis intramural sports, playing volleyball, soccer and Ultimate frisbee. I met a bunch of friends here and my "newness" is gone. The Innis College Student Society widened the circle of my social life through a number of events and workshops. The events bring together all Innis students and are arranged to make sure that students interact and get connected. It was at these events that I learned just how different University is from high school.
Daily trips to my Registrar's Office cleared all my academic and financial worries. I personally think that the Registrar's Office is the best resource out of the many resources for students at UofT.
I also registered with the Blueprint program where I get weekly emails for workshops held across campus. In these workshops I learned how to write a research paper, improve my study skills and leadership skills, and also improved a number of other personal skills through the exploration of life off-campus and learning about career information.
- First-year Life Science student, home country: Sudan
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At first, I was a little reluctant to live in residence and make my own food but I'm glad I chose Innis Residence. There are so many caring and helpful people here that it doesn't feel like a residence but a family. I can walk down the hallways knowing that everyone here will be kind enough to lend a helping hand. The only advice I can give is to go to all the suite events and house Olympics - attending all the residence events made living in residence worthwhile. I made friends going to the events. The best part about Innis Residence is that if I see a resident out on the street, they will always smile and say hi whether or not I have said more than two words to them. Innis is my home away from home.
- First-year Humanities student
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