From Here to There

From Here to

There!

 the transition to university

SHAWNIGAN LAKE SCHOOL – CLASS OF 2017

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Introduction The graduating class of 2017 has started on new adventures; ones that will propel each student forward to higher education, career paths, and meaningful life experiences. Some of the stats we acquired during the university application process last year include: Total number of applications: 452 Average number of applications per student: 3.48 Number of acceptances: 317 Number of students who are taking a gap year (deferring their admission): 9

Early in November, we connected with 2017 graduates and asked them to share their experiences. We asked: What was the easiest and/or hardest part of your first two months at university? What have you been involved in that has made the transition work for you? What advice do you have for current Grade 11 and 12 students?

The sampling of their responses, and insight into “life after Shawnigan,” rings true compared to what we have heard from past alumni. These stories represent the highlights and some of the challenges faced by our new graduates.

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Meet the Guidance Office Craig Brown is in his second year as Director of Guidance. He moved to Shawnigan after working at the International School of Brussels. He has worked for more than 15 years in the Canadian post-secondary sector and is a graduate of both Simon Fraser University and the University of Calgary.

Hannah Gottfried is in her second year at Shawnigan. Previously at the University of Victoria, she worked in recruitment and admissions for seven years. Hannah studied at the University of Victoria and is currently working on her Masters in Education Administration and Leadership.

Amanda Dalke is now in her third year with the Guidance Office. She is a Shawnigan alumna from the class of 2010 who graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Amanda completed part of her education at the University of Melbourne.

Alison Dewis is in her seventh year of university guidance at Shawnigan Lake School after numerous years in admissions.

Previously she taught elementary school in Saudi Arabia. She is a University of Ottawa and Northern College of Education (Dundee, Scotland) graduate and received her Masters in Educational Psychology from the University of Victoria.

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Declan P., University of Calgary (Business) I’ve genuinely missed how friendly the staff at Shawnigan are compared to at university, where I don’t think a single professor knows my name. It makes it very hard for me to banter with them. Alright, let’s get to it.

What was the easiest and/or hardest part of your first two months at university?

I think the easiest part was probably the adjustment to being away from family as I already experienced this at Shawnigan. The hardest part was definitely not having so many people you know and are close with. That feeling is pretty unique to Shawnigan, and after being there for so long, you kind of just get used to so many people looking out for you. I didn’t realize until now how nice it is to know everyone on campus enough to at least smile at them when walking by.

What have you been involved in that has made your transition work for you?

This one is kind of funny. A pastor came through my till at Sobeys and we hit it off, even though I have no religious affiliation. He now invites me to his house every Sunday for a nice home cooked meal. We also meet once a month for wings, and he provides a care package of gift cards and food to all the university students in the community. He’s probably my favourite person ever.

What advice do you have for current Grade 11 and 12 students?

Honestly, my biggest tip would be to grind out the AP courses and give it 100% on your exams because getting AP credits gives you so many opportunities.

In my case it has allowed me to take the winter semester off to do an 8-month co-op articling at an accounting firm. Because of the credits I received from my AP courses, I was able to take some 2nd and 3rd year courses in my first year.

This made me eligible for this co-op, which usually is only available for students in 2nd year or above. Also, since I got the credits I will still graduate on time regardless of the fact that I’m taking a whole semester off. The University of Calgary wouldn’t let me join the co-op program, so that’s why I have to take the semester off . Even if you’re not keen to do co-op it can make your schedule super chill and make it easier to work part-time or play competitive sports.

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Max B., Carleton (Journalism) (“To be read with gusto,” writes Max.) Hey, innocent younglings and hardened ancients of Shawnigan. I’m at Carleton and doing just fine. Thought I’d make some old timer comments for those of you brave enough to venture university. Good luck to you, by the way.

Meeting so many strangers on my floor and around my classes was by far the easiest transition I had in my first two months of university. Everyone is equally weird here, which can be a huge comfort. During Frosh Week, I found myself everywhere with everyone, don’t fret. Sure, it’s not the same family unit energy you get at Shawnigan, but I imagine none of you would struggle given our boarding histories.

The most difficult transition would definitely be all the readings. I did this to myself, I love it, but there’s nothing fun about reading about the complexities of defining myth for three chapters. What I’d recommend to those going into a reading intensive course is to relax. Just chill. I got all excited with my highlighter and margin notes the first week or so but by the end of the month I found myself falling behind. If you’re a highlighter-wielding superhero, go nuts; but I’d suggest doing what you can first, and get all your work done before you start finessing your notes.

Buy every single book you can ‘used’ and do it fast! Hunt down those upper year students and get the worn, torn, coffee-stained, mangled messes of text books. I cry every time I look at my bank account now because of what I lost on textbooks, plus some of them have free notes! Not that you should use them, or that I have... I’m just saying they’re there.

Meet people in your program. The people on your floor are great for dragging you from your desk and taking you on civilized adventures, but don’t underestimate the value of having someone who’s suffering just as much as you are.

Go get some study groups forming, even if you’re astoundingly unproductive it beats doing the exact same thing alone in your room at 2 am.

Lastly for those of you thinking of leaving the province, even the country, do it.

I’m in Ottawa now, land of the cold and the bilingual. Although I’m using more of Mr. Linn’s French than I’d like, I’m loving spending time outside of the province and taking walks downtown, hopping the fence with the Quebecers. The food is great, there is less rain, we haven’t got snow yet, hah, and at some point I’m going to be able to skate to downtown. So Canadian, but eh. Sometimes I’ll find myself at a loss with their confusing accents and abstract takes on regular words. Anyway, don’t be afraid to ditch your parents at home and go live life somewhere new.

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Jade A., Western (Business and Ivey) In Grade 12, I heard people saying that after going from Shawnigan to university they “have so much time” that they “don’t know what to do with it.” I couldn’t disagree more; every second of free time I am studying, maybe going for a quick run to clear my mind, and then studying again.

The reality is that I have had a major, hard midterm every week since before Thanksgiving, and then it is on to finals. Residence is fun and kind of like Shawnigan without rules, but you really have to buckle down and study right away. Also, be prepared for a major mark drop - I got 84% on my Econ exam and cried in excitement as if it were a 100%.

If I’m going to be completely honest, at ‘party universities’, it takes a lot of willpower to stay and study because every night of the week people around you are drinking, ready to get crazy, and you need to say no just to do your work. Also, you really have to do your readings, even if it seems easy to skip class.

Monty M., Arizona State University (Business) My best part of university so far has definitely been all the new people I met.

It truly makes the experience as great as it is. Along with that, all the different opportunities I’ve found makes it feel like someone is presenting something new every day. Also joining a fraternity has definitely been one of the best things I’ve done so far. It makes me feel like I’m back at Shawnigan. The best advice I can give is learn to stay ahead because it’s much easier to fall behind. Professors are much less kind in university than at Shawnigan, but so far I am loving school; it’s been so much fun and classes are going well.

Olivia N., University of British Columbia (Arts) The easiest part, by far, has been making friends. Living in residence has allowed me to have quite a tight knit group. Of course, I am in Vanier and I have heard that newer residences, like Orchard, can be less social, but it is easy to get involved with things in your house. I have made friends with people on all the floors and am yet to feel like there is nobody to go talk to if I need it. In residence, there are house councils for each house, which are made up of the house president (a second or third year) and then floor reps (first years). We meet every Sunday night for about an hour to discuss activities we are organizing for

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our house and allocate the budget to Residence Advisors’ events as well. It had allowed us to tailor our residence experience to what we would like it to be.

My favourite courses have been ASTU 100 and PSYC 102, both Heather L. and Simon L. are fantastic profs, and have certainly made my first two months an even better experience than it already would have been. The hardest part has been FREN 122. Basically, since I took French 12, I am not eligible for any easier French courses like 101,102, 111, or 112. Although my French 12 grade acted as a grade booster for me to get into university, I should have chosen either to not take French 12, or to not take French here at UBC. It turns out 122 is an immersion class, but they will kick me out of any lower level French course if I try to take one.

As far as advice for current Grade 11 and 12 students, I would say to not worry about UBC being a “big scary school”. Once you know your buildings and your classes, the campus is quite manageable. I enjoy the large campus, and definitely prefer it to a smaller one. Also, Shawnigan prepares you well for university in some very specific ways. Most work is independent, yes, but office hours are very useful and it is rare that profs or TAs will be unwilling to help. Being the more timid person that I am, I know that had I not gone to tutorials at Shawnigan I would not be attending office hours.

Overall, my first two months of university have been amazing, and I wouldn’t change my experience for the world. If any Shawnigan students find themselves at the UBC campus, I would love to meet up with them and discuss the school further.

Paul G., Gap Year In my gap year I am experiencing the “real world” and it has been an eye-opening experience. I have had the opportunity to work in an office, and it has given me a much better idea of what I want to do in the future. If I could give any advice to current grads it would be to take your time deciding on what you want to do with your future, and to really figure out what makes you happy.

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Edouard R., University of Northern British Columbia (Science for Forestry and Ecology) The experience at UNBC is a basket of mixed emotions. The school itself and the academic side of things is really good. My courses are cool and I enjoy what I’m doing. On the life side of things, UNBC lacks a social side. Coming from Shawnigan where you are always with your friends, it’s hard to be alone at times and in a completely new environment. The school is isolating if you do not have a car. There is a bus system but it’s not the best, and takes a while to get places.

Overall, UNBC is a good school but to any student coming from afar (especially if they are used to city life), it may be a shock at how isolating it is if you don’t have a car. UNBC is a place for studying and learning rather than a university like UBC where there is a bigger spectrum of university life. Overall, UNBC is a good school and a cool place to be if you are super into the outdoors.

Olin W., University of British Columbia (Engineering) So far, engineering at UBC has been very challenging but also really rewarding. It has been great to get to know people from around the world with similar interests. I have enjoyed being at a big school because there is always something happening that interests me but it can also feel overwhelming, especially coming from Shawnigan. A lot of the challenges faced in the first months are ones you can not really prepare for, so my advice would be just to be ready for things to go differently than you may have expected and don’t worry if you struggle figuring things out at first. It will be a really big change from high school. I would also encourage you to involve yourself with some kind of group such as intramural sports. It’s a good way to take a break from studying and meet other people. I always look forward to Thursday night hockey games even though they’re at 11:30 pm at night.

Spencer V., The Citadel- Military College of South Carolina Going to a military college, I am constantly asked: What I do here? What’s a military college? Am I going to deploy? And lastly--a question that always makes me laugh--when are we going to declare war on North Korea?

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The Citadel is a military institution that branches students into the Air Force, Marines, Navy, Army, and Coast Guard. It is built upon the fourth class system, meaning, as a freshmen, your life is far from desirable (at least for 9 months).

You do not speak unless spoken to, you do not look upperclassmen in the eyes, everything you say will be sandwiched between sir or ma’am, and failure to maintain perfection results in you being ‘smoked’ by a set of push-ups or other ‘fun’ duties your senior classmen choose. I came to the Citadel to develop discipline, leadership, and knowledge, but most importantly I came here to play my part in serving my country. Upon my graduation from the Citadel, I will be commissioned into the US Army as an active duty second lieutenant in the infantry. Shawnigan not only assisted me to an unprecedented level by simply getting accepted to The Citadel, but taught me how to live with a roommate, how to balance my duties, how to live in a dorm full of testosterone-fueled boys, and how to deal with stress.

What was the easiest and/or hardest part of your first two months at university?

Going to a military academy is certainly a different experience than most universities, so for me some of the hardest parts were seeing my friends have so much fun at a regular school, balancing my academics and military duties, and waking up at 5 am every morning for PT. Having to memorize every sergeant, corporals, and officers name within two minutes of being here, and being yelled at for 10 minutes because one of my eyelashes was too long, meant the transition here

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was a bit rough at first; however, I eventually adapted to it. The easiest was living away from home. While many kids became home sick during the first week, my experience at Shawnigan 100 percent prepared me for the whole ‘living away from home’ experience.

What have you been involved in that has made your transition work for you?

The work ethic I learned at Shawnigan and having the ability to balance my social, athletic, and academic life at all times. During my time at Shawnigan I just viewed it as another school; however, upon my graduation I quickly realized how much the school truly assisted me in my college experience thus far.

What advice do you have for current Grade 11 and 12 students?

Enjoy your time at Shawnigan because it goes by fast. Take advantage of the extracurricular activities Shawnigan provides for you and, most of all, make good memories. Some of the best memories of my life so far were made at Shawnigan with my best friends. Also the education you will receive at Shawnigan is second to none and truly world class. Whether it be running laps around the pond, staying up late to cram for that test, creating memories with my best friends, supporting the house in inter-house competitions, sprinting to breakfast for sign in, or finding out I passed Grade 11 math, Shawnigan was full of experiences I will never forget and honestly made up the best 3.5 years of my life.

Gemma B., University of British Columbia (Business) The easiest part of university is already having strong homework habits and being aware of the strictness about plagiarism. The hardest part is the fact you can do absolutely anything you want, and trying to find a balance. It is easy to be extremely overwhelmed.

What has helped me was going to the orientation day. “Imagine UBC” was SO worth it because I met lots of people I am still friends with!

For SLS students - TAKE AP’s!!!! At Shawnigan no one really understood how important it is and just viewed it as a challenge or for fun. But even if you take one unrelated to your course and get the credits, you can use it as elective credits and save yourself a TON of time and stress. Especially AP Calc and Lang/Lit as university math and English are very content heavy. Also connect with the Shawnigan people who are already at your school, especially if they are in your faculty, as they will be happy to answer any questions!

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Eammon R., Gap Year So far my gap year has been great. I have spent the last three weeks whitewater kayaking in Nepal. The Wi-Fi is really poor here, but if you search paddle365 on Facebook, a ton of professional photos will come up of my trip.

Kieran F., Gap Year I am playing hockey in Virgina, and so far it has been amazing. I’ve finally been able to get my body and mind back to 100% after being able to get the right amounts of sleep and down time. Also it has given me more time to think and learn about myself and give myself a better outlook as to what I may enjoy and or be good at.

And thirdly, I’ve been able to reflect on growing up, and this has given me an even greater appreciation for my parents and those who have helped me mature into who I am today.

To the grads I would say firstly to stay true to what they believe in and not let others change who they are as people. And secondly there is no rush. University will always be there and if you have a plan after leaving shawnigan to go to university there is nothing wrong with going out and experiencing something new.

Thomas F., University of Victoria (Commerce) The three best things about University and UVic are that you get to choose when you do your work, but after Shawnigan you have learned how to work and study which is extremely important in order to manage your time. Having a specific program is also a big benefit because I know if I am struggling with something school related, I can always rely on friends that are in the same program as me.

And third is that I am playing rugby at UVic and it is honestly one of the best

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and easiest ways to make friends. Within the first few weeks you really don’t know anyone but being on a team makes all of that go away because the guys welcome you in and you make bonds right away.

Two pieces of advice for grads would be to do all your supplements and essays early, I started strong but then faded off and ended losing track of deadlines and it stressed me out, so definitely finish those essays early so that you have time to edit and perfect them. The second piece of advice is that when you’re in university, some days you feel like you don’t have any work to do. These days you have to force yourself to find something school related and not be lazy. I made this mistake in the first months of university and already that led to me falling behind a bit in my classes. Always stay in top of your courses and do work early.

Byron W., University of Southern California (Architecture) Going from Shawnigan to USC was quite a change. The hardest part to adapt to was the academic expectation, as the professors are not like teachers at Shawnigan who would use their free time to help students. It was difficult to adjust to the different approach to teaching. The easiest part of my transition to university is living in a dorm and self-management. Being exposed to Shawnigan’s ever busy lifestyle helped as I’m better at handling multiple projects and assignments or other external stresses than my friends. One of the best things to happen so far is the confirmation that I chose the right major. Architecture is hard but I’m really enjoying myself. My advice to current grads is to expose yourselves to as many different things or opportunities you have while at Shawnigan. Although university offers a lot of freedom, there isn’t as much time to explore possible interests as you might think. In addition, I would suggest the current grads read more. There are a lot of dense materials to read for university courses and it would definitely help if you get into a habit of reading and understanding texts.

Cassia N., McGill (Arts) Without a doubt, I could not have chosen a better university. McGill, in many regards, is exactly what I had hoped a post-secondary education would be – international, cultured, and engaging. The transition from high school to university was a relatively easy adaption. Shawnigan certainly prepared me for the “no guardian watching over you” living situation. Despite being at a university with over forty-thousand students, I have found my group of people. For the first two months, I was back in the boat coxing for the McGill Varsity Rowing team,

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which was a fun way to start the year.

I was also fortunate enough to make the McGill Model UN team, and I just participated at my first university Model UN conference in Philadelphia where I was competing against students from Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, NYU, West Point, and the like! Having already made friends from around the world (many of whom attended Brentwood) I want to reaffirm to all Shawnigan students that the “real world” is not the scary place we make it seem. As for guidance, if anything, my three biggest pieces of advice for those selecting their university would be this: tour the university - and by extension, the town/city - do not attend a school just to please someone else, and remember that you get what you pay for.

Quality comes with a cost, and if tuition price is a factor for you (or the bank of mom and dad) when finalizing a university, remember that your happiness and education is more valuable than saving a few thousand dollars.

Elise M., University of British Columbia Okanagan (Nursing) UBC Okanagan has been amazing so far! During the first semester, all of my professors have been wonderful. Each has been filled with their own stories, and presents a way of teaching that captivates the audience. Classes have been anything but dull! Additionally, the small campus and classes make it relatively easy to make friends as you are constantly bumping into people. At this point in the year, I find that it can be difficult to get work done as you see too many familiar faces, but that isn’t a bad thing. Lastly, the campus location is beautiful.

The landscape is filled with mountains which all have amazing hiking trails and there is a lovely beach just 20 minutes away from campus.

For advice to current graduates: I would like to attempt to tell you not to stress too much but I know how school is. Many people from different places with a wide range of grades and abilities end up in the exact same place. If you are determined and motivated, you will become successful. Secondly, if you are rejected from a university, do not beat yourself up. Many universities are structured the same way, so chances are that you will love wherever you end up whether or not it was your first choice.

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Sammy L., Emily Carr (Foundation Year) I was so glad to receive your email this morning. I miss you so much and I also miss Shawnigan. Emily Carr is great so far. We have new building and new equipment this year, and the teachers and students are nice.

At Emily Carr, the class size is about twenty people and that is what I thought when I was applying to the school. Teachers here give plenty of space for us to explore our own world, and there are no right or wrong answers which helps me feel free to express myself. Since I am in the first year foundation program we have not yet chosen our major. The classes we are taking every day include Art history, Writing, Creative Process and Medias of Art. The class schedule is not intensive, and we often get to do some drawings for homework. We also went on a field trip last week where it was so much fun to do some drawings on the beach.

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Neil S., Queen’s (Arts and Science) Best things so far: 1. Having lived in res before made the transition easier, and I have become so close with my floor mates! 2. There is a huge sense of school spirit here (cha gheill!!) and the school pride is strong. 3. I get to take classes that I’m really interested in, and all my labs are hands on and focused on my program.

My best piece of advice would be to take risks, apply to things you don’t think you’ll get into, and take every opportunity you can. This is because you never know what will happen until you try, and most of the time you end up with a pleasant surprise.

Sam P., University of Victoria (Commerce) What was the easiest and/or hardest part of your first two months at university?

The hardest part of my first two months was certainly adapting to the lack of structure. At Shawnigan, you have prep to do your work, but at university it is your responsibility to manage your time. Initially, it’s hard to push yourself to get work done because there’s always other stuff going on. All of your time is free time, making it your job to decide when to study.

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What have you been involved in that has made your transition work for you?

I haven’t been involved in something to make my transition easier, but I would say that having friends in the same program as me has help immensely. When your friends have similar courses to you, you will likely have exams at the same times, which means that you have people to study with. Additionally, the people you meet in your program are the ones you will be working with for the next four years, and it’s always nice to have friends in your classes.

What advice do you have for current Grade 11 and 12 students?

Make sure to get good grades in Grade 12, but also enjoy it. Shawnigan doesn’t last forever, and it’s over before you know it. In regards to university, try to meet as many people as you can in the first two weeks--don’t stay in your room all the time.

Victoria S., University of British Columbia (Engineering) Being at university is no doubt a change from being at Shawnigan. Whether it be the lack of structured house meetings, mandatory sports and fine arts, sit down meals or even the class sizes, being at UBC is definitely a change from what I was used to. Primarily, not being constantly busy. Even in engineering, I have way more free time than I ever did at Shawnigan. Most of it is spent studying,

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but I’ll get back to that in a second. As someone who barely had a chance to breathe during Grade 12, having essentially nothing planned most days from 12pm onwards is so great. Nevertheless, it comes with drawbacks. University courses are not meant to have 87 averages like the courses I was taking at Shawnigan, so when there is ample free time, it’s hard not to get hung up on studying for whichever quiz, midterm or final is coming next. Fact is, when you don’t have a combined 3-4 hours of mandatory activities, it’s easy to spend them stressing or studying. I remember last year around AP season having Mr. Mayes tell me “you need to take a break and have fun.” At the time, I didn’t really get it - but looking back it’s the best advice I’ve had coming into university.

That being said, university courses are nothing like what I was used to. In high school, homework is assigned to essentially force you to study. By the time a test hits, you’ve done hours of assigned homework, review packages and preparation. Even then, often the questions on your test will mimic a review package and that test mark will get lost amongst the rest if it goes awry. Not in university.

As I’m in Engineering, most of my courses are graded almost entirely on tests, based on 1-2 midterms worth 20-30% and a final worth 50-60%. The biggest difference - when the goal average is the mid 60s, what used to be the ‘challenge’ questions are now often the entire exam. In order to succeed, your depth of knowledge must be way greater than anything I did in mirroring AP Courses and though I have many great professors, there are also some with heavy accents and essentially no teaching skills. I’ve managed to dodge that last bullet by finding the good profs and attending their lectures too, but even then, take advantage of all the extra support out there. For me, UBC’s Engineering Undergraduate Society holds review sessions run by upper year students (including Miles Justice) for quizzes and midterms, and they’ve been my saviour.

Realistically, I have no idea how I would be doing at this point if I wasn’t on the UBC rowing team. Being on the rowing team has not only been an opportunity to pursue a passion I had in high school, but also a place to make many incredible friends. Having a support group of people, especially those older than you who understand what you’re going through is very valuable. Regardless of what it is, whether it be a group/club/team, find something you love and continue doing it--the benefits are endless.

So, my advice? Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make yourself known. In a massive lecture hall, it can be easy to feel like everyone around you understands perfectly what’s going on, but it’s likely that if you’re confused, everyone else is too. Secondly, despite the content being AP review, seemingly easy, or simple, force yourself to go beyond the assigned material--this is advice I was given from a 2016 grad, and I’m not sure if I would be alive without it. Most importantly, get involved and take care of yourself. Though I can’t speak for other faculties, in Engineering it’s like they took the three smartest students in

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each high school class and put them all in one room, which can be daunting. Just remember, wherever you end up going, regardless of how it may feel at first, you were accepted because they believe you can succeed there. So, trust them and believe in yourself; university is a lot of fun.

Ashley M., University of Lethbridge (Education) Lethbridge has been good so far! I’m super busy with hockey and school, so it has been flying by, one day into the next! Overall it hasn’t been too bad though, and I have adjusted well.

Easiest and or hardest part of my first two months at university?

Easiest part of my first two months at university would be being used to a very busy schedule. I was not taken by surprise with how busy things are with hockey, workouts, games every weekend, as well as keeping up and doing my best in school. I was used to the busy schedule and having to make good use of my time after spending a year at Shawnigan.

What have I been involved in that has made my transition work?

Being involved in university hockey and being a part of a team has made the transition work. I automatically know 20 or so girls who I will be spending tons of time with, which helped me to make lots of new friends right away! And having hockey helps a lot, keeps me busy and doing what I love.

What advice do I have for current Grade 11 and 12 students: The advice I would give to current Grade 11 and 12 students would be, enjoy it while you’re there because school flies by and you will miss certain things!

Kurtis L., Ryerson (Commerce) Leaving Shawnigan, I wasn’t sure what type of new environment to expect. I was worried about liking my new school and the people it was filled with. It’s safe to say now, deciding on Ryerson’s Business Management program was the best choice for me. Ryerson has a very diverse and accepting culture. The location being downtown Toronto was one of the main draws for me, but now I am seeing the school for so much more than that. I have made some good friends thus far being part of the Pitman Hall residence, and a lot of other Ted Roger’s School of Management groups. Ryerson’s residence actually has a similar structure to Shawinigan’s boarding experience. We have a floor meeting once a week,

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have group activities we are all interested in, and have an upper year student living on our floor with us to make sure things run smoothly. I am part of a “living learning community” here and it happens to be focused on healthy living. Living on a floor with this in mind, I’ve noticed a lot of others I share similar interests.

We actually have a running group which takes place every Thursday to help us discover the whole city together. As for opportunities, you couldn’t ask for a better place to be. One program I am in at the moment is called “Startup Certified.”

It’s an entrepreneurship group where we have lectures once a week put on by multimillion-dollar-net-worth entrepreneurs who speak to us about certain business topics. The benefit for us is the amount we can learn from these successful people; as well we are placed into a pool of students who have the opportunity to be hired by startups or funded by the program to create our own businesses. The program is funded by the “DMZ” which is the number one startup incubator and accelerator in Canada, and number three worldwide. I wish I could say something bad about the school but my experience has been nothing but positive.

Thanks to the endless help I received from Shawnigan’s university guidance center, I can easily say Ryerson University is a place I’m very happy to be.

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University Guidance

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