Anushka Kurian, a first-year student at University College, studying International Relations and Public Policy, talks to us about her experience so far at unviersity, and how getting involved has helped her contribute to and engage with her community.
1. In what ways have you gotten involved at UofT since getting here?
“I’ve gotten involved with several UofT clubs, including the UC Lit, UofT Rotaract, a UofT political party youth club, and UC intramurals, as well as the house executive.”
2. Do you find it’s hard/intimidating for first years to get involved?
“I was lucky to pick a college like UC, where I was encouraged as a first year to get involved. I have never felt like the fact that I’m a first year or don’t always understand the context of the clubs I’m in due to being brand new has ever impeded my ability to get involved.”
3. What motivated you to get involved and join the activities you did?
“I wanted to understand and be a part of my community, but I also wanted to help better it. It’s a rewarding and motivating feeling to be a part of driving forward change, like in the UC Lit, who recently voted to change bathrooms in a UC common space to gender neutral. All of the things I’m involved with speak to a passion of mine- they’re who I am.”
4. Do you think its positively benefited you? If yes, in what ways?
“I do think that being in the extracurriculars I’m in has benefitted me hugely. This year alone so far I’ve learned how to solve controversial problems, balance a budget, communicate with greater efficiency (which is always essential), and ultimately have felt a close, long lasting connection with my school and college community.”
5. What’s your favourite extracurricular activity been so far?
“That’s so hard to pick! The UC Lit is probably my favourite extracurricular. I’ve caught the bug, it’s hard to imagine my life without being on the Lit and I see myself running for positions every year during my time at UofT.”
6. Do you think you’ll continue to work with the same organizations or will you try different things?
” I think I’d like to try out some new clubs intermittently, but I’d like to keep commitments to the ones that are most precious to me. There are so many opportunities to get involved at UofT that it would be a shame not to pop into the odd club’s meeting every now and then to experience different vibes, or to sign up for something you’ve never heard of just for the fun of it. Extracurricular involvements are as meaningful as you make them, so I do see myself trying out new things.”
7. How do you find time to balance extracurriculars with your academics and social life?
“I always say you don’t find time, you make time. When you’re doing things you love, you make the time you have to to get the work done, or to make the meeting, or to send the email. I prioritize my academics, and that’s something that’s universal at UofT- no club ever expects you to give up the reason you’re at university. But when you’re involved in a lot of things it becomes easy to choose to do extracurricular work instead of your readings. I find that making schedules helps me balance my life out. If I didn’t plan and organize, I would be buried under my commitments. But with a reasonable schedule (that includes reasonable breaks), you can always make the time you need.”
8. Any advice for incoming freshman on how to get involved at school without being overwhelmed?
“If you’re taking on a high-commitment role, join the clubs you want to join. Don’t sign up for executive with a friend, because if it turns out you don’t like it, you’re stuck there when you could be in a club that’s more your jive. There are a lot of clubs at UofT, and that can be overwhelming. You might sign up for too many, or too few, but remember that the clubs you choose will build your community, so choose ones that resonate with who you are or what you want to do, and your community will encourage, protect, and guide you through both the struggles of balancing extracurriculars and academics, and navigating through first year.”
9. Do you think the school administration does anything to motivate students to get involved more?
“I think clubs fairs and newsletters on the administration’s part are great ways to provide access to the clubs available at UofT. The creation of the co-curricular record is as well a great motivation on the administration’s part to get students involved.”
10. Do you think there’s anything they could do, to make the process easier?
“I think what could make the process easier is just emailing students about Ulife. It would also be incredibly helpful to provide students with online resources, personally, via email to help them look through clubs on their own at the start of each semester.”