Habitat for community

Well! You are approaching your third and fourth weeks of classes. That is very exciting, I hope that many of you are adjusting to the seminar and lecture settings at Trent. I know for myself personally, my favourite courses in first year were History 150 (1500): Ten days that shook the world, Women's Studies 100 (1000): Introduction to Women's Studies, and of course, Canadian Studies 100 (1000): Introduction to Canadian Studies. I loved these courses because of the small class settings, and the fact that my T.A's and even some Professors knew my name. All of this would have never been possible without our community. According to my trusty Oxford Dictionary, "community" is defined as a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

My mother always explained community through one of her favourite songs, Joan Szymko's "It takes a whole village".
The opening line is: "It takes a whole village to raise our children, it takes a whole village to raise one child." For my mother, it takes a community of people to help raise our children. That is one example of what community could mean to one specific person. There are several personal meanings to community. For my classmates and I, we were apart of a learning community at the University of Ottawa. Champlain is another community. I lived in C/D, thus making me apart of the C/D tower community.

Now as I study education in preparation of becoming a teacher, I also have learned the importance of community from an educator's perspective. In all of my classes we discuss the importance of community. It allows people to have a sense of belonging, but most importantly, it gives people the opportunity to belong in a safe community. It should be a place where you can go and feel and especially be yourself. Whether your community is in a classroom, a club or sports team, a religious group, your tower and "pod" (floor-mates), or even the entire college, it's a place where you can feel at home and share your commonalities with others.

So the next time you are walking around that beautiful college, ask yourself: what makes this place my community? If you feel you can't find the answer, ask yourself this: HOW can I make this MY community? As students who have now begun the new journey, you need to make it your own. One of the most unique qualities of Trent are the colleges. Each college has its own personality and... their own COMMUNITIES. That is what makes it so different from everywhere else.

So I leave you with the words of Mark Twain (those of you in English 1000 will meet him soon I am sure), " The universal brotherhood of man is our most precious possession." Good luck with your studies! Today is Saturday, what a perfect opportunity to go out and belong to the community!

It's only 23 sleeps away...

I am not sure how the rest of you readers feel but it feels as though the summer has just flown right by. Many of you will be starting a new school year at Trent. Whether it's your first year, or it's your fourth, you are about to start a new year of challenges, laughs and memories at an amazing university. I am currently arriving back to my home in Ajax and for the first time in 4 years, it feels very different because I know I will not be returning to Trent and to my home Champlain College this fall.

This fall I will be starting at a new school, in a new city, with only a few friends. So many of the newcomers to the university I am sure can appreciate some of these feelings. We all embark on new beginnings but these beginnings are marked by epic endings. I had the best 4 years of my life at Trent and especially in the college that is home of the wild. What I now know is that Trent University prepared me to open the next chapter in my life, just as many of your high schools have done for you. Even though my time at Trent has come to a close, I know that it will always be a part of where I come from. As many of you are packing up your rooms at home, and are looking for memories to bring with you, don't forget about the new memories that you will create as soon as you get to Trent.

Some of my best memories at Trent University come from Introductory Seminar Week (ISW). This is the first time in 4 years that I am not gearing up for ISW, nor will I have the privilege to participate in it. ISW is the time when you meet some of your closest friends and people who could become your lifelong friends. My message to the newcomers is make sure you participate in at least one activity. Whether you go to the Great Race, High Table Dinner, you go to every cheer off, or you are the first one up and last one in bed each day, try to make it out to ISW because it could be the place that marks your first and best memories of Trent.

I hope you all will enjoy your last 23 days at home. I know that my summer before I started my Undergrad was the best summer of my life because it was the closing of an epic chapter and the marking of a magnificent beginning. As I write this towards the end of my summer of my Undergrad, I am experiencing many of the same emotions because it means I am closing another epic chapter and I am about to embark on a brand new and exciting beginning in Ottawa. Good Luck to everyone in their first few weeks of school, I hope you all will fall in love with Champlain as many of us have!

Welcome to YOUR next Milestone

Exactly four years ago today, I was sitting in a hot and crowed gymnasium awaiting and anticipating the excitement of receiving my High School Diploma. I thought that once I received that piece of paper, my life was over. No more friends, no more ISUs, no more memories to last me a life time. But what I hadn't realized was that it was only the beginning.

By the end of August 2006, I was feeling more excited about moving to school. I remember the feelings of excitement and uncertainty with what would come. After I had settled into my residence room and said goodbye to my parents, I went down into the Quad. Outside there were a large group of excited and energetic students greeting all the new students...just like me! They wanted to know everything about all the new students. They also encouraged me to come out to various activities hosted by the college and university over the week.

Introductory Seminar Week (ISW) was a huge part of my university career at Trent. ISW in my first year, was especially important as a new student.It allowed me to check out all the classes I was signed up for, the classes I wanted to take, and last but not least, how to have fun! It was through ISW that I met some of the people whom I have been friends to this day.

In my second year, I wanted to help new students just like the staff members helped me in my first year. It was through my involvement with ISW as a staff member, I was able to continue to branch out in supporting the college that I will always love dearly through my extra-curriculars.

As my 4 years have come to an end at Trent, and more so in Champlain, one thing I will always hold and offer as advice to any student coming to Trent is take part in ISW, and more importantly find something you love to do and don't give up on it; it will lead you to new opportunities and perhaps allow you try something out of your regular comfort zone.

"Reach for the moon and if you miss you'll land among the stars"---Les Brown