Edited by Avleen Grewal
1. Community is important
I think that the biggest takeaway of my first-year is realizing how important it is to have a good community. UofT is a huge school and it can get lonely if you don’t integrate yourself into a community. Figure out what you’re passionate about and join some clubs or groups that have to do with it. There, you’ll meet people that are similar to you who you can connect with. I found my community at C3 Church and I met so many amazing students there. We support each other every week and without it, my first-year would’ve definitely not have gone as well as it did. And keep in mind, it may take you a couple of times of attending that group or club until you finally feel at home – but don’t give up!
2. Balance is super important too
Although university might be much tougher for you than high school, remember that balance is important! Our brains need rest from all that studying so make sure to always take breaks when you’re studying. For me, I like to schedule at least an hour before bed to rest. During this hour, I can do whatever I want, whether it’s watching YouTube or reading a good book. But make sure you always make time for it each day because if you don’t rest up, you’ll get burned out quickly. You’ll feel so exhausted and tired even before the semester has ended, so save your energy! I like to think of the school year as a marathon. In order to reach the finish line, runners take breaks and drink water. No one sprints the whole way through. Pace yourself and take a break when you need to because that’s how you preserve your energy for the rest of the run.
3. Quality > Quantity friends
What I learned this year is that the quality of your friends is more important than the quantity. Don’t be worried or disappointed if you have fewer friends in university compared to high school. But make sure that you’re friends with the right people. Friends can determine your habits and your lifestyle. If you’re always hanging out with people that are putting you down and are narcissistic, you might fall into the trap of becoming like that. Surround yourself with people that build you up and support you, rather than tearing you down. I’ve made a few really close friends this year and I learn every day from them. Be with people that will help you grow, become a better person, and bring out the best version of yourself. And don’t put pressure on yourself because it’s only your first-year! You still have a long way to go and so many opportunities to make more close friends!
4. Make small goals every day
At the start of every month, I like to set a goal for myself. This goal is usually directed towards a specific quality that I’d like to work on. For example, I’ll make a goal of being positive in difficult situations or being grateful every day. I also like to set daily goals for myself. Every morning, I make a to-do list of everything I want to accomplish that day. The most satisfying thing is when you get to check off parts of that list throughout the day. It makes you feel so productive and motivates you to keep going. The idea of having small goals each day goes back to the marathon analogy. I once learned that the secret of the most successful marathon runners is to set many small goals throughout the race. Don’t think about reaching 40 km because it’ll seem overwhelming. Break it down into smaller pieces. Focus on the first 5 km. Then on the 10 km, and so on. Celebrate every time you reach your goal, and this will motivate you to continue on. So, don’t think about all your essays or exams at once. Each day, plan on writing a specific portion of the essay or studying a specific chapter of the textbook. This will make your bigger tasks seem much less daunting and doable.
5. Don’t underestimate yourself
Just because you’re in first-year doesn’t mean that you’re not qualified to take on bigger positions. Apply to research positions and internships. There are so many opportunities at UofT so take advantage of them. Do your research and just apply because you’ll never know the outcome unless you do. If you want to start a club or run for president of a club, do it. What’s important is your skill, not your year, and a good employer knows this. And if you do end up getting that position, the two best things you get out of it is experience and motivation. You gain experience that you wouldn’t have gained otherwise and this will attract future employers. This experience will develop your skills, and who doesn’t want that? And if you do get that job, internship, or position that you’ve been longing for, it motivates you to do more! It’ll be proven to you that you can do more than you think, pushing you to pursue other things that you once thought was out of your realm of possibilities.