First Year Comes To A Close

In what seems like a blink of the eye, nearly ten months have passed since I graduated from Masuk High School. It's been nearly nine months since I first traveled to Vancouver, eight months since the start of my first year at the University of British Columbia, and now, there are only eighteen days left in the Winter semester.

And what a year it has been!

Starting in September, my first year experience has been a roller coaster ride of incredible opportunities, understanding new realities and facing tougher challenges. I became a staff writer and the Investigative Team Coordinator for The Ubyssey, the student newspaper at UBC, organized and led a three-month long residence LipDub project, I've had my first self-doubting moment of university after a failed midterm, I've explored Vancouver, hiked mountains, swam in the Pacific, got lost in the city at 2AM, dealt with 3AM fire alarms, had many a all-nighters fueled by midnight McDonald's runs, made friends, lost friends, gone to a lecture just for the free food, ran an unsuccessful campaign to be residence hall President, made a successful bid to sit on a high-level student society commission, mingled with UBC's brightest (and UBC's biggest partiers), and have met some of the most influential people I've ever come across at the oddest hours and in the strangest of places. 

And I can say without a doubt in my mind that this has been the most incredible and rewarding period of my life. To think one year ago, I was still a Senior merely dreaming of being here. 

For current seniors, April is a busy month. AP exams are coming up soon, graduation is nearly within grasp, and those acceptance (and rejection) letters are still trickling into mailboxes. April is the month when Seniors just want to move on to college and leave high school in the rear view mirror and when it finally sinks in that this is it; say goodbye to the world you thought you lived in. 

I've been lucky that in-between April of my Senior year and now, I've had some wise and experienced impart words of wisdom that has kept me above water this term. I'd like to pass that knowledge along to those about to take the journey: 

1) "Toto, We're Not in Kansas Anymore." There is absolutely a sense of new found freedom being in university; away from home without your parents, in a new environment with thousands of students your age, and being completely responsible for yourself. It's liberating, it's exciting and it's a lot of fun. That feeling will always linger, but eventually, it's met with the realities of being responsible for yourself and your studies. You won't be at Masuk anymore. No one is there to hold your hand and make sure you go to lecture or tutorial, no one is there to say you can't spend your evening at a club instead of at the library, and no one is there to tell you that you can't eat chicken strips and curly fries every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's now in your hands. Be responsible. 

2) "All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy." - Balance and time management are two major players in being successful. Too much school work is not healthy without some time to decompress and enjoy yourself. Likewise, taking an entire semester to decompress and ignoring your course load won't help you either. You'll teeter totter in between the two extremes, and eventually, you'll find a sweet spot. Invest in a good system of organization, whether on your computer, mobile device, or using an old fashioned agenda. Moderation will keep your stress levels down and ensure you get the most out of your university experience. 

3) "Do or Do Not; There Is No Try" In October, you'll probably tackle your first university paper. There's a good chance your grade might not be passing, or might be very low. As one of my professors told me after receiving my first (and second) F, this is completely normal. Realize, you aren't in high school anymore. Course work is harder and will be graded with more scrutiny than ever. Don't be discouraged, and in the words of Usnavi from "In The Heights", always remember "¡No pare, sigue, sigue!", which means "Don't stop, keep going!" There will always be more opportunities for redemption, but the key is to improve and always give it your all! Invest more time in studying, go to your professor's office hours, talk to your TA, and most importantly, go to class. Trust me, it helps. 

4) "Help Will Always Be Given To Those Who Ask For It" - Hang ups and bang ups can happen to you, according to Dr. Seuss. You may run into some issues during first year and you might find yourself overwhelmed, trapped and with what may seem like no avenue of escape or support to rely on. Remember that you aren't ever alone and that there is always someone, whether a professor, roommate, RA or even a random stranger there to offer support and guidance. Don't be ashamed to seek it, either. If you need guidance, contact your school's counseling services and allow them to help, or just talk to someone. The journey may have it's rough spots, but you're never doing it alone. 

5) "Take Chances, Make Mistakes, Get Messy" - In the words of Miss Frizzle, don't be afraid to branch out and try new things. If you don't try, you can't fail, but you can't succeed either. Get involved in your school. Take a class outside of your major. Join an interesting club. Ask that girl or guy you've been staring at across from you in class out for a coffee. University is all about new experiences and trying different things, and in order to do so, you need to take a step outside your comfort zone. Make a list of things that you want to do before you graduate. Add new things as you go along. 

6)" Money Makes the World Go Round" - Tuition isn't cheap. Neither are books. Or housing. Or food. The theme of the next few years is going to be sacrifice. You have to learn to budget, plan your costs accordingly, and look for cheaper options. If you find yourself struggling, talk to your school's financial counseling offices who can help you formulate a budget and keep you on track. The last thing anyone needs is to leave university in debt or flat broke. 

7) "Tuum Est" - Tuum Est is the motto of the University of British Columbia, which translates literally to "It's yours." However, it's more commonly translated to "It's up to you."  What you do over these next few years is up to you in every respect of the word. You will shape the person that you'll leave university as, for better or for worse. You're free to stand on your own two feet and to make your own way, and regardless of whatever happens, you'll need to call on every bit of inner strength to get you through. Make your experience something you'll be proud of and sometime with your time and effort. 

Life in university has drastically changed my outlook on life in such a short span. Chances are, it'll do the same for the next class of incoming first years. Tuum Est, Masuk Class of 2012.