For those of you who’ve endured seven days of coordinated t-shirts, punny cheers and the unfortunate combination of gratis hamburgers and pangs of awkwardness–don’t be scared off. The Varsity is here to tell you that frosh week is not the end and be all to your University experience. In fact, it’s only just begun.
Thinking back to my first days as an incoming student, my concern at the time was strictly anthropological. As I observed fellow frosh effortlessly forming cliques, teaming up to tie each other’s limbs for sack races and donning sparkly tank tops for the annual Engineers party, it only made me feel more alone. Who are these people who ostensibly enjoy either commanding authority (by way of a cheap plastic megaphone and cotton triblend soiled with magic marker) or following it? Despondent, I worried if University was going to be a costly version of my suburban high school, my knowledge of Sonic Youth reissues and vintage sneakers a once-again liability. But as I found out, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
A time when campus should be opening up to you like a flower, orientation only closes doors. It pits us against each other (“You cant spell SUCK without UC!”), narrows our focus and at the worst of times, forces us to go to the Guverment. Our skin is dyed purple by smirking sophomores and we arise at 8 AM to the sounds of Sean Paul remixes. Oh the humanity!
This is not to belittle the hard work of orientation coordinators who spend their summer making sure that your adjustment process goes smoothly. But for every person who thinks that a trip to the Hart House farm to do trust falls with strangers and a scavenger hunt ‘round campus is the cat’s meow-there are others who feel alienated and just plain scared. Truth be told, any orientation is going to be hella uncomfortable. There will be that initial house meeting that leaves you cold (I have to share a bathroom with these freaks?), the new roommate that listens to Tool 24/7 and the lack of familiarity with your surroundings. But in this confusion, true excitement is wrought. It’s you who gets to make all of your decisions now. You are the one who is truly in charge of your own future. And this emancipation, even in the midst of collective chaos, is incredibly invigorating.
University kicks way more ass than high school, for many reasons. For starters, you will meet so many cool, new people that your head will spin. You will learn so much about yourself that by Thanksgiving break, nothing will ever seem the same. And if you want to wake up at 4 PM and spend the day eating Captain Crunch in your underwear–that’s perfectly acceptable. (Just clear it with the roommate first.) This giant institution that you’re paying big bucks for may seem a little cold and unfriendly at first, but keep in mind that it’s only going to give you what you put in. Take a walk around your new city and explore. Get involved with your surroundings, whether your interests lie in student politics, fencing or the Ayn Rand Objectivist Club. And don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to new people. We’re all in this together folks.
It’s your first year! So make the most of it, take good care of yourself, and remember to always wear flip-flops in the shower. (You don’t wanna know where that floor has been.) And if you ever need anything along the way, don’t be afraid to put it in writing and pass along to a little newspaper that could, also known as The Varsity. On behalf of everyone on staff, we’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on making it here, making it through and hopefully making out. (Go to the UC quad.)
Yours truly, The Varsity
