Future students

Before applying for University, we are faced with the important decision of figuring out which schools we want to actually apply for. For me the choice was easy, the University of Waterloo, however, I still wanted to find out more about other schools just in case I found a better fit for me. That is why I attended the OUF (Ontario Universities fair) in Toronto this year.

In my 1A term, people often asked me, “Why biotech/CPA?” My preferred response would have been: “Because wearing both lab coats and suits is really cool.”

But what I usually responded with was, “Because having both science and business backgrounds will allow me to develop and contribute a unique perspective.” Stating this really didn’t help me realize the true meaning.

Now, as a 4B student, I realize that developing a unique perspective means being open-minded, having the courage to follow your curiosity, and connecting seemingly unrelated things.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a SAF hosted professional development conference called Launch Your Career.

I’d summarize Launch Your Career as: “a big ol’ introduction to some really key points of life and not just the business world.” Sure, there were speakers who talked about everything in the context of a “business setting”, but, if I’m being honest, I was surprised at how little the language was focused on something like a corporate setting. I basically just spent hours learning tips and tricks to succeed in life in general, and even got the opportunity to do some networking – which was one of the topics of discussion – with the speakers!

How Do I Decide?

Picking a program is the most important part of applying to University, without a program I can’t apply. The program(s) I choose will depend on what I enjoy doing, what I am capable of doing, and the required high school credits I need. I am interested in potentially applying for AFM and Arts&Bus (arts and business) at the University of Waterloo, however, I am undecided.

Researching University is something I’ve already done, but not as much as I should have. I’ve only looked into the University of Waterloo and their programs while doing my research, when I should be looking into other Universities that offer the program(s) I am interested in.

Preparing for grade 12 is something I hadn’t really thought about as it’s technically just another year of high school, but it’s not. Up until this point, I’ve just been skimming by on everything involving school. I hadn’t done my homework unless I had to for marks. I barely paid attention in class, and I only put in the effort for my final summative in classes I liked.

A solitary figure stands in the middle of the stage as a bright beam of light surrounds her. Suddenly, she takes a deep breath and realizes – it’s show time. Dramatic, I know, but that’s life in the theatre.

The trip to Asia I took between first and second year sparked my interest to see the world and experience different cultures first-hand. I certainly didn’t feel that way when I landed in Hong Kong in error and realized that my luggage was as lost as I was.

Transitioning into first year of AFM studies is similar in many ways:
1) you feel a bit lost,
2) you’re unsure of what the expectations for you are, and
3) you have to level-up your skills in a hurry.