Lifestyle in Toronto as a student at York University
Reflecting on the first day at York School of Continuing Studies, I realised how tough my journey had been throughout as we packed two suitcases leaving our families and friends, flew to another nation leaving behind all the memories. That was the very first hurdle I had faced. This experience has given me unforgettable experiences. For example, the value of getting things easily. In the midst of this overwhelming process, I learned some useful lessons and developed abilities that will serve me well in the future. In this blog, I hope to share my experiences and tale, highlight highs and lows, and offer advice to prospective students who may resonate.
Having Faith in my decision
From Mumbai to York University School of Continuing Studies My adventure at York University School of Continuing Studies began about a year ago when I received an offer letter. I recall working a 9-5 in Mumbai when my phone notified me of an acceptance at this prestigious university. The thrill and feelings I felt at the time were surreal. I always looked forward to my daily tea, which my mother prepared. Yet here I am 10,000 miles away from home, making my own coffee (unfortunately) and savouring every sip! Prior to accepting the offer, I had many questions about whether I was making the correct decision to study abroad in Canada, but then I remembered, there was a verse in the Bible where parable “
But there are some things that you cannot be sure of. You must take a chance. If you wait for perfect weather, you will never plant your seeds. If you are afraid that every cloud will bring rain, you will never harvest your crops. - Ecclesiastes 11:4
which is exactly what I did! I accepted the offer and began prepping for my first year of university. A few months into the school of continuing studies, I had felt I made the right decision in choosing Digital and Content Marketing Course at York University School of Continuing Studies.
- Flexible Learning Options- Balancing work life, student life and personal commitments can be daunting at the same time. But York university made it manageable. The option of flexible timings to tailor my schedule around my busy life. This meant I could be working and perusing my dreams at the same time was such a relief to me.
- Networking and Guest Lectures - York University provides various networking opportunities, such as guest speakers Luki Danukarjanto who share insights, as well as sharing their experiences. These conversations have helped me expand my professional network while also encouraging us to work harder and push ourselves outside of our comfort zones. One of the highlights of my experience was the ability to interact with Their real-world ideas and success stories inspired me, renewing my conviction in the power of in the power of tenacity and dedication.
- Support Services - York School of Continuing Studies has been a huge assistance to me because we are so far away from home and financially. While I was suffering financially to manage with my rent and tuition expenses, York has provided me an alternate means to pay my fees in part, which relieved a burden off my shoulder at the same time, their mental health faculty has been an enormous benefit and talk to someone.
- Challenging experiences - Intensive workload
There's no sugar coating it, the task can be taxing. Juggling multiple responsibilities and keeping up with assignments and projects required efficient time management. There were times when I felt overwhelmed, but I learnt to keep organized and prioritize my work, which helped significantly. Apart from that the it would really great if there was a student federation like Seneca @ York. The experience there was worth, the culture of multiculturalism and diversity was something I was hoping for at York.
Advice for Future Students
- Manage your time- what I have noticed here you have ample of opportunities that goes along your way the key here is how you manage your time while committing to the task given to you like submitting your assignments and most importantly, showing up to class while managing your work schedule at the same time. I would recommend setting up a timetable and using calendar planers to keep up with the schedule. Apart from calendar planner there are various tools you can use like google calendar, for budget there are various free apps to keep track of your expenses, for splitting bills there is a popular app called split wise.
- Encourage active participation While having a good time away from work and school, I would also encourage you to get out and have fun occasionally. This way, you can meet new people and network. Participating in class activities is Certainly of my favorite experiences at York University was discovering that I was no longer afraid to present in front of the class, which was one of my biggest accomplishments.
- Network- Create a network by networking with classmates, teachers, and guest speakers. The experience they share will be beneficial in the future. Attending events and seminars is an excellent way to meet people. What helped me while building a network was the fact that I spoke with a lot of people on LinkedIn who work for real-time companies. For example, I spoke to my manager at work and suggested that they make some changes to their website. Although I did not get a job in that field because I am still a student and working on myself, they did appreciate my efforts and complimented me on using my skills from school in the right place. This is how you expand your skills and network yourself.
Conclusion
My experiences at the York School of Continuing Studies have been nothing but remarkable. Despite the hurdles, the experiences and skills I've gained have helped me prepare for future success. I hope that this article gives useful insights and guidance to prospective students starting their own experiences at York. If you're thinking about joining the York University, accept the journey at every step is worthwhile.