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University of Oxford

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Here is one of my favorite blogs on the net. There are a lot of must reads on Thomas’s page.

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University and Stress Management

           University will be full of stressful moments, from the time you move out. There will be the challenges of independence. The classes and homework associated with them. On top of all that, making friends and staying fit play a role as well. If I was to sum this all up in one word it would be stressful.

           Managing stress in university is important to every student. It will allow you to keep your life in control. In this post several methods of stress control will be discussed from basic, to advanced methods, and finally positive thinking.

           Basic techniques in stress control are simple, but effective if practiced regularly. The first is taking a deep breath. I know this may sound typical, but consider how often you actually do it. Stop...think about it for a second, if you are like me you may come to a shocking conclusion. The second way to deal with stress is focusing on the moment. Simply pay attention to your senses for a minute or two. For example, if you are walking, focus on the sensation of the ground on your shoes. The final tactic is reframing the situation. Take a step away from your work or given problem for a while. This will allow your mind to refocus.

           The next two tips are more advanced than those discussed earlier. When you desire to reduce you stress levels seek social support. Friends and family can play a big role in reducing your stress. Another method is to do something that is physically exerting. Not only does physical activity reduce stress, it has the ability to “kill two birds with one stone” by keeping you fit in the process.

           The final part of managing stress is managing the way you think. Before positive thinking habits are discussed, it is important to understand negative thinking in order to identify it.

           Negative thinking could be a multitude of things such as: poor filtering, personalizing, exaggerating and polarizing.  An example of poor filtering is; if you wrote an extremely good test or gave a good speech, you will focus on any small errors you made, although they don’t affect the overall success. Second is personalizing, this assuming everything is your fault. Next is exaggerating, which is when a small mishap has the ability to ruin your entire day. For example, if you spilled a cup of coffee during breakfast, the rest of your day would be worthless. Finally is polarizing; this is when you see things as either good or bad. There is absolutely no middle ground.

           Positive thinking is a method used to combat negative thinking. However, positive thinking is not a happy-go-luck attitude. You can’t ignore life’s problem, perspective is still required.  

          Positive thinking is approaching tasks with control and optimism. The following are methods in positive thinking; as well as an explanation of how to practice. The first step in positive thinking is using part of a Lou Holtz quote which is “Treat others as you want to be treated.” Adapt this slightly to “only say things to yourself you would say to others.” I know this may sound like a cliché, but consider some of the things you say to yourself and how hurtful they may be. Next is evaluating your surroundings. If you constantly spend time around people who put you down and make you feel bad, maybe spending all your time with them is not the best idea. The final part in positive thinking is practice. To do this, identify an area of change in your life. As an example, you want to be more patient in traffic. Approach this area with control and optimism. Make a conscious effort to think positively. The results will surprise you.

           University will be filled with stress; there are no two ways about it. Practicing techniques such as deep breathing, reframing the situation, seeking social support or addressing yourself with positive reinforcement are sure ways to disarm stress. I hope that by reading this blog you learned something about stress management and were able to put some of these tips into practice in your life.

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In this blog post you will find some advice when it comes to purchasing a laptop. I think the things you touched are important. Having a long lasting battery would definitely be crucial. Also, I completely side with you when it comes to weight. I used to have a heavy laptop and didn’t think to much of it. Now I am using an ultra-book style of computer and all I can say is wow. It truly does make a big difference. 

For myself cost plays a big role in what I am buying (ie. can you afford it). I always find my best purchases come from lots of research and purchasing the best I can afford, rather than a top of the line product. 

Another thing I would be interested in knowing about is hard drive space. How much more work is saved on your computer in university? Do I need a 1 TB hard drive like some computers offer, or am I fine with a 128 GB hard drive? I am also questioning how crucial a mouse would be (personally I find track pads slow and annoying)?

I appreciate your post and would love it if you could answer my questions.

I’m just going to do a short little post here about what you want in a laptop, from experience.

The main two things you want to focus on are:

Light-weight

Long Battery Life

I feel like these two are pretty self-explanatory but I can’t stress the importance of them enough. Most laptops are...

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Tutorial-How to Keep your Assignments and Course Work Organized in 4 Simple Steps.

In this tutorial I will be taking you through the four steps I complete on a consistent basis to keep my course work under control.  This is the method I have been using to stay organized throughout high school up to this point.

Step 1: Probably the most crucial step in the process. When a teacher hands out an assignment record its due date instantly. Most of our teachers are alright if we pull out our phones to do so. However, if you attend a school where teachers are stricter when it comes to phones, a notepad will do just fine. I can’t stress the importance of this step, if you forget to do it, the entire system will COLLAPSE (ok, not really, but it will run less effectively).

Step 2: This step is also important and makes a big difference in overall organization. Purchase a binder with a built in folder system, or a simple folder to put all your upcoming assignments in. Some folders are more extravagant than others, like accordion folders, and will allow you to organize your work by class. The type you have isn’t crucial, just as long as you have a place to put all your future assignments. In doing this time spent looking for papers will be saved.

Step 3: This may not be a deal breaker for all, but it has helped me considerably. Keep a master list of all the assignments and their due dates on a piece of paper. This paper can be divided by class, by date, or it can have no rhyme or reason to it. Just have a place where all of your assignments are recorded. I usually keep mine on my desk at home.

Helpful Hint: Writing down an estimated time to complete your assignments, beside the assignment, will act as good reference and drastically improve you time management skills.

Step 4: The fourth and final step in this tutorial is a combination of little things that I do. First, I fill in the physical calendar in my room (yes these still exist, amazing right?). Finally, I update the school list I have set up in Wunderlist. Within the app I will set a due date and also a reminder.

This process is fairly simple, however when it comes to organization simple is not necessarily bad. I hope you learned something from reading this tutorial. In conclusion, I want everyone reading to keep in mind the system I just discussed is what works for me. There are several different variations of organizational methods. Finding the one that works for you is the most important.

Relation to University: Professors will not be as forgiving for late assignments compared to some high school teachers. Making sure you have everything recorded, will ensure that all due dates are met. I plan to use the same system when I attend university.

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Along with the lifestyle changes comes money management. Take a look at these 17 tips to aid your financial situation. There are a lot of tips about text books and how you can save money by selling your old ones and buying used. 

Tip 13 is something I feel could be overlooked. Just because you have a car doesn’t mean you should drive everywhere. Fuel is expensive and in college money isn’t exactly pouring itself in your front door step.

Money Tips

Student Discounts - Shop at stores and restaurants that give a student discount w/student ID.

Shop around for textbooks. Buy used or from a cheaper online textbook store.

Consider renting textbooks or buying in digital form to save money.

Check the library for your required books. You may get lucky!

Ride the bus. Some buses let you ride for free as a student.

Sell back your textbooks.

Apply for financial aid early.

Take advantage of things that are already paid for, such as on-campus meals and library services.

Use school resources - Colleges have video equipment, computers, movies, books, etc for your use.

Don’t use a credit card unless you know what you’re getting yourself into.

Don’t be afraid to take out student loans. If you work hard in college you will be able to pay them back.

Learn to survive on a college budget by penny pinching.

Don’t drive. You’ll have pretty much everything you need within walking distance.

If you’re an overachiever, take the maximum allowed credits per quarter and get most out of your tuition.

Take advantage of free stuff, just be careful when it comes to things like signing up for a credit card.

Apply for college scholarships. Many scholarships are fairly easy to obtain and only require a written essay.

File your FAFSA on time.

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Any questions? Do you feel I missed something? Comments?

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How to Choose a University? With my School’s Guidance Counsellor

Q. How big of a factor is cost when choosing a University?

A. Cost plays a big role when it comes to selecting a university. I have had lots of students who were interested in programs that were 5 years long. However, they only had funds for 1 or 2 years. In these cases it is necessary to redirect these people and have them look at different options. For example, if a person came to me and told me they wanted to be a doctor, but money was an issue, we would explore alternate routes. There are plenty of scholarships and financial aids, but those don’t always cover the cost of living and other expenses.

Q. If a student had their heart set on an career path that required expensive education, would you recommend student loans?

A. Yes, I absolutely would. Unfortunately student loans don’t always cover every single cost. This leads to students working part time jobs during university to pay for everything. Having to work while balancing a course load would be difficult, especially for a person enrolled in something like med-school. I am not saying it is impossible, but before embarking on that path the student should weigh all their options.

Q. When you are choosing a university is cost the first thing discussed, or is it the second or third topic?

A. It would be the second or third topic. The first would be the student’s interests.

Q. How important is location?

A. That is a tricky one. On the topic of cost, location will definitely affect this aspect. For example if the university is out of province or state it will cost more. Out of country tuition is also considerably more.

Q. Would location depend on the person, in terms of staying close to home?

A. Yes, for sure. The further you travel from home, the less parental support you have. Now with that being said, parental support is a big factor for some, and not for others. This aspect of location truly comes down to the person.

Q. Does big name, necessarily mean better? Is the quality of education superior at big name universities?

A. Great question! This is only my opinion, but I think that a lot of big name universities are going to have larger class sizes. It is also going to cost more. If the education quality is better, I can’t say that one way or another. However, attending a small a small university first might not be a bad idea. Sometimes you may be closer to home, which could be important to students for the above reasons. Although, if you are interested in a big name university I would say pursue it. I just want you to keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with starting your education at a smaller university.

Q. Why do big name universities attract so many people?

A. To be truthful, most of the time it is their name. I personally don’t have experience with students who attended big name universities like Queens or Harvard. Sometimes employers are interested in students educated from certain universities. For the most part though, any university in Canada is a credible one.

Q. Are some universities harder than others? Do they all teach the same difficulty of information?

A. All universities teach similar information. Small universities will have smaller class sizes though; this will provide more attention to students. For example in my masters courses, there were only 5 or 6 of us. If I was at a larger school, I may have been in a class of fifty people or more. Smaller universities will have a better student to professor ratio.

Q. What is the best method for finding out about student life at a given university?

A. You can actually go and spend a day at a university. Also, if you have the opportunity to take part in enrichment programs like yourself, seize those. Not every student has that chance, but if you do make the most of it.

Q. How important is student life?

A. I would say that student life is very important. Not all universities offer the same types of student life. However some do, for example a couple in Canada have aboriginal sectors. Most of the time there is an entire building where people can receive extra tutoring, and gather with one another in cultural peace. If this is something a student was looking for I would consider it a big factor. Culture can be a big part of a person’s decision. Another part could be the social aspect; the goal is to find a setting with like minded people for a student to be part of.

Q. What are the three main steps you take a student through when choosing a university?

A. First of all we review their interests. This is fairly self explanatory because as a person you should be interested in what you are going to pursue education wise. Next, we will look at their learning style. If a person was a hands-on learner and they were selecting a profession that wasn’t hands-on, we may reconsider their choices. Then we would look at what draws them to the job and other available options. Finally, we will look at their abilities. Say a student was looking into pharmacy, but they weren’t strong in chemistry, physics or math. Then we would talk about how their interested lined up with their abilities. Another question that would be brought up is the amount of time a student is looking to attend school. If a person told me they only wanted to go into 1 or 2 more years of school, I would help them narrow their possible options. ________________________________________________________________

Reflection: I would first like to thank my guidance counsellor for taking the time to answer these questions. I have a couple things I took out of this interview. 

The fact that smaller class sizes at smaller universities would yield a better professor to student ratio stuck out the most. It made me consider why I desire to attend a big name university and because of that I will give smaller universities more consideration.

The other thing that stuck out to me is the importance of student life. I will have the opportunity to meet people who think very similarly to me. This is a factor that eases my worry and actually excites me instead. 

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Wunderlist (Free Version) Review

Sick of pen and paper? Forgetful? Looking for an upgrade on your current to-do app? Give Wunderlist a try, it is the to-do app I have been using for over a year and has met every task I have thrown at it. I have experimented with Google Keep and my phones stock to-do app, but I still return to Wunderlist.

What makes Wunderlist so good?

Personally, I believe the best thing about Wunderlist is the apps ability to sync with a multitude of devices over many platforms. The app is available for Apple products, Android devices, and Windows. This factor of compatibility will have a large impact on those who have devices of different makes. For example, it will help a person whose school or work uses Apple, while they use Android and PC at home. The app also boasts an add-on for chrome too.

Another factor that makes Wunderlist exceptional is the simplicity of the app. When I first began using it I never questioned how the app functioned. On the current version there is a plus sign at the bottom that is used for creating new tasks. By tapping on it one can create a new list or to-do item (seen below). Within each list, all the tasks will be compiled with a box on the left side of the tasks name. Simply check off the box when a task is complete.

Wunderlist is simple, however that doesn’t mean it lacks “advanced features.” If you click on a specific task, the app will automatically bring up a sub-menu. From there the inner workings of a task can be defined. There are both due date and reminder options and within this menu sub tasks can be filled out. Since most tasks (or projects) consist of many sub tasks this feature helps. The ability to add notes is also provided too, if further detail on a task is required.

The final large feature Wunderlist contains is the option to “invite people” to a specified to-do list. This means the manager (or creator) of a certain list can grant access (of the list) to selected people, making group projects and collaboration easier. With the ability to insert comments (found at the bottom of tasks sub-menu) and pictures, communication can take place directly in the app.

Some of the smaller abilities of Wunderlist are such: connect to Facebook and Google, star specific tasks, built in “Today” task list, built in Inbox list for quick to-dos, notification management, different backgrounds, chrome add-on and compatible with android wear.

Reasons for Considering Wunderlist

·       Multitude of useful features, while still remaining comprehensible.

·       If you forget things often, USE THIS APP! (please, we all beg you).

·       Allows you to organize your tasks more effectively and keep track of your             tasks with ease.

·       Pen and paper causes clutter and duplicate lists are normal.

·       Syncs over several different platforms and OS’s.

·       Organize group projects with ease.

Wunderlist vs. Google Keep

Google Keep fulfills a similar purpose to Wunderlist. In my opinion Keep is similar to one large note pad. You can still create lists and notes, but it lacks the sub task option. However, Wunderlist is superior because of its design. I find Google Keep appears cluttered compared to Wunderlist. For a person who is just beginning to use to-do systems on electronic platforms, Keep may be a good place to start. However, Wunderlist is near equal in terms of simplicity, so why not just start with it?

Wunderlist vs. Phone’s Stock Reminder System

When I first began using a reminder system I defaulted to the stock reminder app on my device. At the time I was using an iPod as my makeshift phone. The computer I was using was a Windows based operating system. The biggest trouble I faces was syncing lists because I truthfully couldn't. This is what sparked my search for a new to-do system. If you are currently facing the same issue and can’t sync your lists, or cannot have your phones list on your computer (or vice-versa), Wunderlist will solve this issue

Drawbacks and Wunderlist Pro

Wunderlist doesn’t have many drawbacks. The biggest issue I find is its inability to coordinate directly with Google Calendar. However, this is extremely nit picky, as opening up Wunderlist in a separate tab isn’t hard. The free version of Wunderlist also puts some limitations on sub tasks and assigned to-dos at 25. It also only has 30 available wallpapers. Finally, only 5 mb files can be uploaded. 

I don’t have any experience with Wunderlist pro, but I don’t see the need to. The paid pro version costs  $49.99 per year, or $4.99 per month. It is capable of an unlimited number of sub tasks, unlimited number of assigned to-dos, has 30 backgrounds to choose from and can upload files of unlimited size. In my opinion Wunderlist Pro is more or less a beefed up free version. For people running corporate business the pro version may better suite them. As a student I don’t see any need to upgrade.

Why is this important for university?

University will a busy time with a multitude of tasks to accomplish. Being able to keep track of assignments and due dates will be crucial. Having an app that can keep you organized and sync over all devices is important. Finally, it will make group work go smoothly with the apps ability to share lists between fellow students.

Conclusion

Wunderlist is one of the best to-do apps on the market. Choosing to download the app will allow you to keep track of things with more ease. It syncs over so many different devices and has a Chrome add-on. The app is functional and makes to do lists easy.

Wunderlist is free and can be downloaded at: https://www.wunderlist.com/download/

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College Info Geek Podcast-Mastering Your Money With Matt And Andrew of Listen Money Matters (Ep. 21)

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Posts like these give me a sense of security about university. I know that when I head off I will be able to fend for myself, I just don’t know how effectively. It’s nice to know that if you are going through a tough time you aren’t alone on your endeavour. 

Also free food seems to be a real benefit of joining groups because that has shown up in lots of other posts I have read. 

Finally, I think tip #2 should be stressed upon kids more often. I completely agree with your statement about mental and physical heath being more important that academics, because like you said, if you take care of yourself the academics will fall into place.

College Freshman Advice

Last year, in preparation for my first year at college, I searched and asked everyone for any advice about college. So here we go (a more in depth and serious version): 1. It’s okay to not be okay. Don’t be afraid to admit you’re not okay. Ask for help. It doesn’t matter if you are attending a school across the country or in the same city, college is a whole new experience. It’s normal to feel clueless, overwhelmed, and afraid. You are growing and learning. The tough days will pass and before you know it, it’ll be the end of your first year and you are a slightly different but better person. 2. Take care of yourself. Get enough sleep and eat well. Mental and physical health are more important than academics. If you take care of yourself, everything else will follow along.

3. It’s okay to pass on a party so you can study. There will always be another party. College is full of distractions (good and bad) and activities. You have to balance those with academics. Have fun, but not so much that your grades don’t look as fun.

4. Kiss up to professors. Sit at the front of class. You’ll be more focused and the profs will take not of it. Attend office hours so you can ask questions and get to know your professors. They’re there to help you.

5. Get involved. Try new things. Doesn’t matter if you’re shy or outgoing. Give things a try. Whether it be Greek life, writing for the school newspaper, or joining student government. Involve yourself. This is a main part of enjoying college. Also, most clubs and orgs give out free food, oh hey.

6. Don’t expect too much socially. Don’t be so distressed when three weeks in and you don’t have a solid group of friends yet. Don’t worry. It can and might take time. You have nine months. Just be positive and friendly towards everyone. BE YOURSELF. You’ll find your people eventually, I promise.

7. Be smart. College is known as the place for experimenting, but don’t force yourself and don’t be pressured. It’s okay to be curious and try things. Just make sure you’re doing it because you want to, but also be aware and conscious of the consequences. Drugs and alcohol are gonna be very much available and they might seem like normal things, but please don’t underestimate them. Abusing them will lead to very grave consequences.

8. Be careful. Because of the higher availability of drugs and alcohol in college, you have to be careful. If you are going to a party, never go there or leave alone. Be aware of what you’re drinking and where it is. DON’T accept drinks from ANYONE. 70% of assailants are people known by the victims. If you see someone hurt or passed out, help them out. They could be drugged or they could be extremely drunk. Nonetheless, help them out before someone takes advantage of them.

8. Don’t forget your family. You might be caught up with college life, but they miss you. Give them call. It’ll make their day. Also, I guarantee you, there will be times of loneliness and confusion. Give your parents a call. They just might have some advice for you.

P.S. The Freshman 15 is very much real unless you do something about it early on.

Feel free to message me if you have any questions.

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Is your willpower not enough to overcome procrastination? Use these powerful techniques to become a productivity master.

In this article there are four main concepts addressed with relevance to procrastination and motivation. They are; using social reinforcement, reversing convenience factors, defining your ideal self and simplifying and clarifying your goals.

I find all of these tips important to being a university student as getting things done is necessary. You will need to find the motivation to due so by your own means.

Each section proposes some interesting methods to completing tasks such as making friendly wagers. There is also some great stem starters for defining your ideal self. These small phrases can also be used to work your way backwards from your ultimate goal to gain motivation and complete tasks by defining why you are doing them. However I don’t want to ruin the article, go ahead and read for yourself.

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Interview with a University of Saskatchewan, Faculty of Agriculture Grad-Choosing Your Faculty, Major and Minor

Q. What field did you choose to go into and why?

A. I chose to attend the college of agriculture at U of S because initially I wanted to get into veterinary medicine. In order to do so, 3 years in a biological science was required and in my opinion agriculture was the easiest way to obtain the 3 years. However, that did not happen, but I don’t regret entering the college of agriculture.

Q. When you were choosing a faculty what factors did you consider in your decision making process?

A. First, I looked at potential employment opportunities. Most of all I knew deep in my heart that agriculture was something that interested me.

Q. You mentioned employment opportunities, when you went to university that was your goal?

A. Yes absolutely.

Q. Your ultimatum wasn’t obtaining an extremely high level of education to parade around, or get a teaching position at U of S?

A. No, absolutely not, I had four years to complete my degree. That was all I had the money for (laughs). I was there to get myself educated, which would lead to a good job.

Q. What did you choose to do your major and minor in?

A. In the faculty of agriculture I chose to pursue applied microbiology and food science. My major is in microbiology and minor is in food science.

Q. Why did you choose those?

A. Initially, I arrived at university and thought I was going to pursue veterinary medicine, but I quickly found out that wasn’t something I wanted to do. This caused me to start my search for other options related to agriculture, which there were many to choose from. Microbiology and food science interested me, but honestly I chose to study those because of the class and the professor. He really opened my eyes in terms of potential jobs relating to microbiology and food science.

Q. What advice can you offer to high school students who want to attend university in terms of choosing their faculty, major and minor?

A. Advice, that’s tricky because I never struggled with choosing. I always had a feeling of what I wanted to do and I would think most people would have a feeling. However, it you have absolutely no idea I suppose the only advice I could give is this. Go and explore, talk to lots of people about their jobs and search out different careers, look into different avenues to see if that is something you really want to do.

Q. Who is the person who helps you choose your major and minor, or is the choice left totally up to you?

A. In the college of agriculture you are assigned an adviser in your first year, they are also a professor. They act as your mentor. You meet with them quite a few times and they will guide you in the proper direction. This person makes sure the classes you are taking line up with what you want to do. They are somewhat responsible for making sure you are headed in the right direction.

Q. Was your adviser the professor who sparked your interest in microbiology?

A. It was actually, but that’s not always the case for all students. I was very fortunate that it worked out that way.

Q. At the end of the day how big of a difference does your major and minor play in your career, will it impact your chances of getting a job vs. another person who’s education may line up better with the job requirements?

A. Truthfully the major and minor in my field didn’t have a huge impact in getting a job. The factors that got you the job were; experience and that you could learn to do new things. Honestly a lot of people will teach and train you anyway. They are looking for the basic skills and at your background. Employers want someone who is good at what they do, is a team player and can communicate. I have had several jobs that weren’t a carbon copy of what my education said I would do. Mostly in terms of my minor, a lot of my jobs lined up with my major, but not my minor. A big part of being hired comes from previous experience and references. Employers are looking for people, not walking text books. Although I’m not entirely sure, it could depend on your field and what job you are pursuing.  ______________________________________________________________

Reflection: When going into university it is important to know the general area of study that interests you. Choosing your major and minor is aided by professors. What I liked most about this interview, was the answer to my last question. Communication trumps qualification, something I think about a fair amount as I prepare for university. 

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The College Info Geek-This Dude is Winning at College… with Stefano Ganddini (Ep. 44)

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A Day in the Life of a Medical Science Student

The University of Birmingham has made a series of “Day in the Life” videos. I found these helpful to see how busy a university student is and what their life is like outside of school.

There are other videos centered around students taking different degrees. They are listed below.

I included a variety of different faculties in the videos above. If there is a subject you want to see in particular I suggest you check out their channel for more videos. Chances are it will have something you are looking for.

University of Birmingham’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5G3iPIJk_s7El-ck-BL1wA

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University Preparation Experience

           At the end of April, I was granted the opportunity to experience university for one week. Annually, the University of Winnipeg hosts a High School Enrichment Program for students with goals of post-secondary education. Each student chooses one topic which they will learn about for their week of attendance. The goal of this program is to allow future university students to participate in university first hand. In this post I will cover; what program I chose and why, what I learned and did during my class time, my experiences with learning in a university setting, and the challenges of my week.

           The class I chose to attend was about Astronomy (Yes I can hear the, HAH nerd shouts). I have never been overly fascinated with the stars and planets, but the course fell under the realm of physics. At the time I had really been enjoying physics in school (and still am) so I thought this was a good fit. The unfortunate part, that I never realized (until too late) was the class had grade ranges from 9 to 12. This made the social aspect more challenging as I was older than most students.

           During the week multiple different topics were covered relating to astronomy from distance to stars, to cosmology, to black holes. My favourite lectures were on cosmology and black holes. The other topics didn’t interest me as much. Our regular class layout was to review the lab we would be doing until lunch. Most of the labs only required measuring pictures with a ruler, punching numbers into a calculator and recording the data. I found this disappointing, but at the same time if that is what first year university is, it’s not overly challenging. In the afternoon we were given a lecture about a new topic and then shown a video that tied the day together.

           I enjoyed my time learning in class and would like to reflect on it. The first day I took notes like a mad man. I am happy I did because this re-assured me. I have been told by many adults who have attended university that the pace of class is considerably faster. I did notice the lectures were slightly quicker than high school; however they weren’t impossible to keep up with. For this reason I consider this program to be a win. It has given me confidence in my ability to keep up with notes in class and comprehend the material.

           Throughout my week I stayed with relatives who lived in the city. They left me to do my own thing however, and that is something that I am also thankful for. It gave me a sense of independence and also allowed me to meet the challenge. I was responsible for transporting myself to the university and back, my meals and any activities I planned. I already coordinate most of my extracurricular events, but nobody watching over you changes the feel of everything. You are responsible for you.

           I am extremely grateful for the week of High School Enrichment. The program gave me the chance to experience university and the lifestyle changes associated with it. As a person who worries unnecessarily, I will value this experience into my future. It has helped me to fret less about my transition to university.