By Theresa Lukjaniec

Theresa is finishing up the final year of her undergrad at the Schulich School of Business. Her interests lie in entrepreneurship and the hospitality and tourism industry, but she also has a secret passion for writing. She loves to travel to new places, bake delicious treats, and dance like nobody’s watching.


Myth #1: You will meet all your friends during the first week of school.

It is definitely true that Frosh/Orientation Week nurtures many new friendships, encouraging (and borderline forcing) froshies to mix and mingle with other first-year students. One of the beautiful things about O-week is that students are given the chance to meet people with different backgrounds and interests. However, it is NOT true that you will make all of your friends during this first week. When I was a froshie, I was under the impression that if I didn’t talk to everyone and find my friend group during Frosh my university social life would be lost forever. My introverted self was seriously freaking out. In actuality, I didn’t find “my people” (those who I choose to spend most of my time with while obtaining my degree) until halfway through first year. Even though you will meet many awesome people during Frosh, situations and people change over time, so my advice to you is to go with the flow and always be yourself (as cliché as that sounds). Things will fall into place.

 

Myth #2: Pulling an all-nighter is a good idea.

Staying up all night may seem exhilarating and productive, like something that all the cool and smart kids are doing. What’s so bad about going out on Saturday night when you can make up for lost study time on Sunday night anyway?

In fact, pulling an all-nighter, or not getting 7-9 hours of sleep in general, can cause quite a bit of damage; for example, short-term risks can include lack of alertness, impaired memory, and increased stress, while long-term risks can include high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart problems.

The transition between high school and university can seem overwhelming (at the best of times), and time management is an extremely important skill that must be developed. However, it is not something that can be acquired overnight, and even after 4 years I still find myself questioning my time management abilities.

If an all-nighter cannot be avoided, do not pump your body full of caffeine – drink water or herbal tea instead, take breaks and walk around at least once every hour. Work at a proper desk and chair as far away from your bed as possible.

 

Myth #3: You’re on your own.

Even though you are taking a step closer to the “real world” (as frightening as that may seem), I can’t stress the fact enough that you are truly NOT on your own. There are a variety of programs and services in place at Schulich and York University, ranging from financial aid to career development and everything in between, all with the intention of making your transition from high school to university as smooth as possible.

I urge you to write down your questions, concerns, doubts, and worries, and diligently seek out your answers. All it takes is a little digging on the university website, a short call, or an email to find out the answers to your questions and to put your worries to rest.

Remember to breathe. The world is at your fingertips. Take the first step.

Best of luck,

Theresa