Each Queen’s faculty has their own little quirks and jokes that only students of that specific faculty will ever be able to understand. There are some things that only Nursing students will get and Comp Sci students shouldn’t even bother trying to relate to, and there are those memes that will only have the ArtSci kids or the Engineering kids laughing.
Just like with every other faculty, Commerce has many aspects that you won’t fully understand unless you were a true commie. So, this is for all the commies out there: 9 things only YOU would be able to understand.
Picture by: Cam Berry – Studio Q
1) The Breakout Room Scarcity
I’m sure we all know the feeling of wandering all around Goodes all in the desperate effort of trying to find a breakout room. I’m sure you know the feeling of having to poke your head into each and every room on every floor, only to see it full or occupied by just one person. Then comes the feeling of regret of not having booked a room in advance, and then the walk over to Goodes commons or to Stauff after realizing there really is nowhere to go. While this is so, so relatable for a lot of people, some commies don’t seem to have this problem at all. They just know which breakout rooms to go to and which ones to check depending on the time.
2) The Goodes Headshots and the Goodes Puns
Headshots are almost that mandatory thing each Commerce student needs to have. We all know the standard Commerce headshot, either in front of the Smith flag, right outside the main entrance of Goodes, or outside the Commons. They’re made to be Facebook profile pictures or LinkedIn pictures and each upload comes with a typical commie caption. We’ve all seen and heard them all by now. You have the punny “here for a goodes time not a long time” or “the goodes life” ones, or you can have the simple ones about business, headshot jokes, or mergers and acquisitions. But, at the end of the day, we all know you’re not really in Commerce unless you have one of these up on at least one of your social media accounts. So keep on taking and uploading ‘em.
3) Section Love
Having all the same classes with the same 80 people for first year or second year really makes bonding easy and after you all go through midterm hell together, you end up becoming a family. Section love is definitely something all Commerce students can relate to, especially being in first year and having that pre-formed family right there. You end up clicking with either the whole section or a handful of people in the section and there’s something just so, so special about the Facebook section chats, the section parties, section drinking games, having your own section memes, or complaining about profs and work together. On good days, going to class can feel just like an opportunity to see all your friends together at once.
4) Strategizing Starbucks Line-Ups
This may or may not be relatable for every student in every faculty, considering it’s the only Starbucks on campus. Being in Goodes practically 24/7, every Commerce student practically knows the prime times to get to Starbucks, line-up, pay for your order, and walk away with your daily dose of caffeine, all in less than 5 minutes. You know when the rush is, and what time you have to go to avoid that dreaded rush. You’ve got it down.
5) Meetings that stretch on for eternity
Lots of people bash on Commerce because we’re only in class for about 15 to 20 hours each week (especially the engineers). Then they ask why we’re stressed and so busy. But what they don’t know is that probably an extra 4 to 5 hours each week have to be spent in group meetings for all the group projects we have. We all know the feeling of having those meetings – especially the ones at 9AM – that seem to just drag on for eternity and sometimes, it can seem like you’ve been in that breakout room for a solid month. Not always the best time.
6) Walking across campus in a suit
It’s an early Sunday morning and you’re walking from the end of campus all the way to Goodes in a suit. We’ve all been there, whether it’s for a conference or an interview, and sometimes, it can feel so awkward because you feel way too dressed up. You get stares from people walking around in a hoodie and sweats and you wonder what they must be thinking. Definitely just a Commerce thing.
7) Goodes Commons Coffee Chats
The number one go-to place in Goodes to meet people for a coffee. Pretty much every meeting goes something like “Meet at the Commons?” But, considering coffee is right there and you get a great view of outside, I’m sure we’re all not complaining.
8) The excitement you get when your year song is played
You’re at a party with a ton of other commies, your year song comes on, and suddenly everybody’s moshing together. Everybody’s jumping around together, belting the lyrics, and everybody is exuding energy. It’s such a good time and so, so much fun. Each year’s “year song” brings back memories of frosh week, each time it was played when the year was there, and by the end of the four years, you’re sure to form some sort of emotional connection with it – one that will not disappear for the rest of your life.
9) Pride of Commerce
Picture taken by Cam Berry – Studio Q
Seeing a Queen’s Commerce jacket on an alumnus, hearing the name Smith, wearing a Smith quarter-zip or simply just getting to walk to Goodes everyday – there’s a pride and love of being in commerce that I’m sure a ton of commies can relate to. You’re proud to be part of such a great faculty and part of such a welcoming family. If you ask me, it’s definitely one of the most relatable things and something that will carry on for the rest of your life, even long after you leave Goodes. After all, just like the song goes, Queen’s Commerce is the best faculty and B. COMM is the best degree.