Written by Zoya (she/her), student
Whether you want to get involved on campus, spend time with your friends, or get in some physical activity, you’ll be able to do more than just study during your time at Waterloo.
University is a big change for a lot of students. Between adapting to a different routine to having a busy class schedule, it can feel difficult to make time for other things outside of class. Luckily, that doesn’t have to be the case! Hear from some current students about how they find a balance between academics and their personal lives, and why they make it a priority for themselves.
Getting comfortable on campus
With over 200 clubs at Waterloo, plus a bunch of other activities, getting involved outside of the classroom might feel daunting at first. Taking part in clubs and activities related to your major is a great introduction to getting involved outside of class.
You might be wondering, "Why would I surround myself in academics if I’m looking to have fun?" The short answer is that ‘academic’ clubs don’t need to feel like a chore! While they let you feel immersed in what you learn in class, they also help you feel comfortable going to activities on campus if you haven’t done so before.
Take it from Nicky, a Pure Math student. After getting involved with the Pure Math club, he met other students that became some of his closest friends. Nicky’s involvement didn’t end there, though. By getting involved in the Pure Math club, Nicky felt comfortable enough to branch out into clubs and activities that aren’t directly related to his program, like the cooking club, board game club, and participating in Orientation to welcome new students.
I think that, because of the size of Waterloo, I was able to grow into a more authentic version of myself. I met people who really, genuinely care about the things I care about! People who love math but have interests outside school.
Getting involved on campus can also help you adapt to your new environment. That was the case for Sarah, a Kinesiology student. As an international student from Barbados, she found her home away from home by being part of the Association of Caribbean Students. Finding a sense of familiarity on campus can help you feel prepared to take on newer experiences.
Participating in these activities made my transition into Waterloo so comfortable and helped me feel at home while away at school.
With so much variety at Waterloo, you’re guaranteed to find something to do that aligns with your interests. Plus, meeting other people on campus, whether they’re in your program or not, lets you bond over shared experiences and learn about something new too!
Figuring out how to plan your time
Spending time with other people is a great way to destress. But if you and your friends have different schedules, it might take a bit of effort to find time to see each other.
Tham, a Psychology student, says that the best way to counter this is to find a balance between planning ahead and being spontaneous. Last minute plans might work in some cases, but sometimes you might underestimate what you have to do.
Making plans a week or more in advance gives you and your friends time to complete any tasks you have before hanging out. On the other hand, she thinks spontaneous plans have a time and place as well. Something like a quick lunch or coffee with your friends after class lets you take advantage of the time you know you have.
Whether it’s getting together for a meal or spending a night playing board games, making these plans gives Tham a chance to step away from school and spend much needed time with the people she cares about.
Staying active
How you choose to spend your free time will be different for everyone. If you’re someone that loves being active, then you might not be sure where or how to keep up with that once you’re in university.
Jonathan, a Mechatronics Engineering student, has found multiple ways to stay active on campus. One of his favourite parts of his university journey so far has been joining intramural teams for hockey and volleyball.
If you played sports in high school, then intramural teams are a great way to continue! On an intramural team, you’ll usually play one game a week. With most games being an hour at most, they’re easy to fit into your schedule and get some exercise (and socializing) in!
If you don’t want to play sports, you also have access to gym facilities across campus. If you have some time in between classes, you might be able to get a quick workout in. Taking care of your health at university is important, whether it’s your mental or physical health. Making time for exercise is possible, and there are endless ways to do so!
Prioritizing yourself
You might be wondering why balancing your academics and student life is even important. While it is nice to just do fun things for the sake of it, spending all your time studying and doing schoolwork can do more harm than good. By doing things outside of class, you’re making sure that you prioritize yourself, especially during stressful times of the year!
Julia, an Honours Science student, can attest to that.
The most important thing I've learned at Waterloo is that balance is key.
After experiencing burnout in her first year, she quickly realized that being involved and doing things aside from studying and assignments would help her be even more successful in school. As she gets more involved with extracurricular activities, like the zoology club she started, she also makes sure to balance that with her academics.
At the end of the day, university is a time to learn something new inside and outside of the classroom. Finding a balance between fun and school might seem tough, but it is doable (and necessary)!
I am a person first and a student second. Achieving balance between extracurriculars and your studies is realizing you need to take care of your needs before anything else.
It may take some time for you to find your balance, but once you do, you’ll be able to thrive!
