Name: Aviva L.
Hometown: Thornhill, ON
College: University College
Year of Study: 3rd
Major: Book and Media Studies + Music History
Relationship Status: Single
Tell us about a hobby that’s important to you.
I love to cook, eat, play guitar, and sing! I’m still working on being able to do them all at once. I also love to see live music and go dancing.
But I also can’t overlook one of my most important hobbies which is sitting on the couch and watching the Food Network – can I get an amen?
What’s your favorite spot on campus?
Well, I know if I don’t say the Commuter Student Centre at UC I’ll get hate mail so… just kidding, I really do love it there. Very welcoming environment, great people and fun events! Also, Harvest Noon for their cheap, yummy vegan lunches, and the Athletic Centre for my yoga class!
Do you have siblings? How has that affected you?
Yes! I have 3 older sisters who are THE BEST. We’re all very close in age and they are just about the funniest, smartest and kindest people I know. We love to hang out and only fight like 12 times a day!
Recommend a movie for us.
Well I love musical movies and funny movies. So anything that mixes the two is gold. Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny and School of Rock are a couple faves, and I will love Zoolander forever and ever.
I also really like to watch documentaries – the Foo Fighters’ Back and Forth and Pearl Jam Twenty are great, and Forks Over Knives is one about veganism that is super interesting and well done.
What do you look for in a significant other?
I usually hit it off with friendly people and I really like someone I can joke around and laugh with. I really value when someone is genuinely kind and cares about other people. But it really comes to down to who I connect with and enjoy spending time with.
Also it doesn’t hurt if he’s in a band or a doctor, wink wink.
If you had $1000, how would you spend it?
To be honest, I’d probably just go on a shopping spree at the health food store. Wish I had a cooler or more philanthropic answer for you but I could wander those aisles all day and chia seeds and coconut oil can get expensive yo!
What is your happiest memory?
Me and my sisters always laugh about the times when we were younger and would sit around the kitchen table eating yogurt and making up these pretend yogurt commercials. We thought the ones on TV were so dumb with their cheesy acting and exaggerated claims, so we would imitate and make fun of them to make each other laugh.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would really love to go to Spain – I want to eat, dance, and practice my rusty Spanish! The music freak and health nut in me also want to get to California and see San Fran.
Tell us about something that’s inspired you—it can be a person, an event, or an idea.
I usually get very inspired when I’m at a good show. I seem to have lots of revelations and moments of perspective when I’m watching a band in the zone and I’m in a crowd of people who are also loving it.
The aforementioned documentary Forks Over Knives and similar ones are also very inspiring to me – it’s really empowering to think about how much you can positively impact your own health and well-being.
Hmm, my answers seem to have a bit of a theme…
Why did you come to U of T? Is the experience all you expected it to be?
I came to U of T because I love Toronto (minus THE COLD) and didn’t want to leave it. In some ways it is the way I expected, and in other ways it isn’t. The best way I’ve learned to enjoy it though, is to let go of my expectations. There are lots of ups and downs, and so I’m trying my best to just enjoy what I can and not to get too frustrated when things don’t go the way I plan.
I’m also very grateful for all the wonderful opportunities U of T provides (events, clubs, centres, etc.) and have found that as long as I don’t overload myself when I take advantage of them, I enjoy my whole experience a lot more.