Mom and Dad dropped you off after a nice shopping spree at Ikea where you bought a laundry basket and a “cool” lamp. Going into your residence you noticed groups of frolicking young people who were loud, obnoxious and apparently wearing matching t-shirts. You even noticed an entirely new race of purple humans. Oh, the famous101-Week: a week where you became one of those kids your parents warned you about.
101-Week was amixture of new friends, ample amounts of partying and a continuous blur. It’s only natural for you to feel a bit of an aftershock once it’s all over. Everyone experiences this aftershock differently. There will probably be “that person” on your floor that thinks 101-Week behavior is acceptable all year long (aka drinking every night of the week). You will most likely have that awkward encounter on campus with someone you drunkenly made out with on one of the many legendary 101-Week boat cruises. You will most definitely have pictures from 101-Week pop up on Facebook that you will rapidly untag yourself from, hoping no one else has seen them. Even though 101-Week has created a string of cringe-worthy moments, it has also been an epic start to your University life. Now that it’s over, how can one possibly fill the void?
1. Volunteer: The crazy older students that were your guides during 101-Week also happen to be very involved on campus. 101-Week wouldn’t have been possible without its numerous volunteers, and the same goes for every other upcoming event this year on campus! Get involved as a volunteer for your student association; it’s a great way to meet more people in your program. If volunteering isn’t your thing, mark the campus events on your calendar and hit them up with a few friends!
2. Intramural Sports:Another way to maximize your time on campus is by joining the U of O intramural program. Whether you’ve always dreamt of playing inner-tube water polo or playing dodge ball at a competitive level, Sports Services has just the fit for you. Gather a group of friends together at Montpetit lobby and discover the plethora of different leagues the University’s intramural program has to offer. Not the competitive type? Not to worry, you can choose to enter either in the competitive or the recreational league depending on how intense you want to play. Don’t forget to check in on a couple varsity games: inter-university rivalries are fun and the Geegees need your support!
3. Join a Club: If you’re sick and tired of talking to people in your program, meet new faces by joining one of the many clubs on campus. There are cultural, religious, political and even clubs that promote day drinking available for you to join! Take a glance at the full list available on the University’s website and see if there’s a perfect fit for you and your interests.
Regardless of how you choose to maximize your time on campus, just make sure to take full advantage of the student life. The next few years are precious and will go by way too quickly. Check out the various options and let us know what you’re joining in the comments!
http://www.geegees.uottawa.ca/node/158
Photo credit: Malika Asthana