Finding your voice in university
In a world overflowing with ideas, voices, and choices, how do we stay true to ourselves while remaining open to new possibilities?
Something about fall reminds me of the beginning of a new academic year at university. As the weather shifts, possibilities linger in the air. The changes that happen in fall are like the uncertainties in one’s academic journey.
Surrounded by new people, unfamiliar systems and heightened expectations, freshman year can feel overwhelming. It’s like being put in a forest where everyone else but you has directions. Incredible, passionate and smart people are all around, and it seems like everyone else knows what they are doing. But what you don’t always see, is that most students are also trying to find their own path.
In my very first semester at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), getting bad grades made me feel like I wasn’t cut out for my program or for university. Instead of seeing them as feedback, I started seeing every low mark as proof that I wasn’t good enough. At times, a bad grade could echo louder than any praise. And I would reshape my self-perception based on my grades.
One of the biggest lessons I learned was to treat both positive and negative feedback as a mirror instead of a label. Grades are just a momentary reflection of where you are in terms of knowledge—it does not define who you are. Creating and achieving goals, like finishing a reading or completing practice questions, is a great way to break the cycle of self-doubt.
Another habit that can help is reflecting after each test, class, or assignment. For example, ask yourself questions like: What did I do well? What are a couple of things I can improve on when studying next time, and how can I implement these changes?
Just like fall, university is all about changes. And your self-perception might go through big shifts. Mistakes are unavoidable, but these experiences can also bring us tremendous growth. The key lies in staying confident in your potential, while being open to growth and new perspectives.
One way to keep an open mind is not to be afraid to reach out for help. Talk to others, reach out to classmates, upper year students, professors and academic advisors. You will find that they are often more than happy to help—and a simple conversation might open you up to new insights.
Academic confidence is all about believing in yourself, keeping an open mind to learn and taking action to improve.
Change is a part of the fall season. It is a part of a cycle. As you enter your own fall season, give yourself permission not to have it all figured out. And soon enough, you will find that these confusing experiences have taught you more than you could ever expect.
Friendship
By April Roy
As I enter my second year, I feel both excited and nervous for what lies ahead. Officially becoming a double major of CCIT and PWC under the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information & Technology (ICCIT) has filled me with anticipation.
What drew me to this program is the space it provides to bring forth my creativity, while also having the opportunity to explore new interests and the multiple pathways that the program offers.
Aside from that, being in this program and UTM’s community has allowed me to interact with a wide variety of people. My friendship journey started with me making friends within my program, which has provided comfort. Knowing that I have a shared class with a friend made lectures feel less daunting.
On the other hand, making friends outside the ICCIT community has helped me explore opportunities I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.
For example, during last year’s orientation week, I attended an Undergraduate Research Students’ Association (URSA) event with a friend in the sciences discipline. Though the event didn’t have ICCIT research opportunities, it sparked my interest in research projects.
From that, I learned that friends are not only for companionship, but they can also be our inspiration and motivation. Extending our friendship circle to connect with students from other fields can strengthen our identity at university.
In my first year, the pressure of getting into my desired program led me to constantly compare my work with others in my discipline. But being surrounded by people from different fields helped me break that habit, broadened my perspective, and boosted my confidence.
Through my first year, I’ve learned that the key to making the most out of our university experience is to be open to meeting new people and always stay curious and confident. No matter what year or program you’re in, there is always something new to learn and more people to connect with.
