Making Connections to Make Your Life Easier

Making connections is the key between a lame or awesome university experience. What am I talking about?

It is very important to build strong relationships that will make your life easier and more enjoyable. Life is a lot easier when you can call your friends for anything and you know that they have your back.  Here's some example from my experience at York:

1. I met a bunch of friends during Frosh Week in my first year. Unfortunately, I used to have to travel from Scarborough to York three days a week. A few times I had to drop off essays last minute but instead of coming all the way to York and then going back home, I would email it to one of my friends that lived on campus and asked her to hand it in for me. It would save me three hours of commuting! So awesome!

2. When I was a frosh boss for Atkinson in my second year, I worked my butt off to ensure that it was a fun week. I was privileged to have an amazing bunch of student leaders to work with. Later on in the year, one of the other bosses asked me if I wanted a job on campus. He offered it to me because he knew I had a strong work ethic during frosh week and knew that I was someone who would "get er done". My buddy hooked me up with a promoting job at the Student Centre. It was great to make a little extra money on the side. Networking is key my friends!

3. Friends from class could aid your academics and even save your life! Many times throughout my university career, I had to rely on friends for academic help. What do I mean? I'm talking about missing class and needing the notes to study for an upcoming exam. Your friends in class could hook you up with them. But what about needing a study buddy? Last year, I had a bunch of student leader friends in the same class. We would get together the night before our exams and would review, study, and test each other. We all got really good grades, had fun, and supported each other through the stressful experience.

4. Getting involved and getting to know people will allow you to stay informed in all the amazing events and deals on campus. I met a few people in my classes who weren't really involved with campus events or aware of trips like Montreal. I would inform them in class and once they heard, they would be calling me all the time about the deals going on.

Morale of the story, make things easier on yourself and make some connections. Networking is key!

- Mike

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WORK, WORK, WORK....STOP, ITS HAMMER TIME!

Stressed? All you do is work right? Work on essays, work on assignments, work on relationships, work on council/club activities, work on house choirs, etc. Your living in the moment which is great but sometimes you just need a break. Especially while your still young and don't have kids. But you cant stop, you have too much work to do. That's true but guess what? YOUR ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE TOO MUCH WORK TO DO or too many email to reply to, it never ends. So you might as well just take a break.  

Its very important to take breaks and vacations during university. For example, I just came back from Niagara Falls which was a great little getta way from my busy schedule. I got to sleep, relax, and enjoy the sights. I was still very busy with two courses, work, family obligations and more but it was the only chance I had to go and I took it. The rest was well needed and it allowed me to refresh before another very busy period. 

Last year, I was President of McLaughlin College Council and was super busy. I was attending meetings, organizing events, managing a team and very busy. I still made time to go to Mexico for a week. Sometimes you just gotta stop and relax or you might have a melt down. You have to put someone else in charge and trust that they will do a good job. At the end of the day, you cant do everything yourself, you need others to assist you. 

So if your stuck at home and you don't have a vacation set up for another few months, there are other people at York that can help you get through stressful periods. York has Counseling and Disability Services If you need someone to talk to but don't know who (THEY ARE FREE). We also have Health Education with S.C.L.D. that can give you some tips for staying physically and mentally fit. Take full advantage of the resources around you!

- Mike

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My Biggest University Regret - Not Living on Residence!

My Biggest University Regret - Not Living on Residence!

I really don't have many regrets. I'm of those people who tries to accept the beauty or the usefulness of every situation regardless of how bad it becomes. I do this normally because i feel like I wouldn't be the person I am today without all of the positive and negative experiences that I've had in my life. I also really try my best to live life to the fullest so that I don't have too many regrets. That being said, the biggest regret of my university experience is...not living in residence.

I've met a bunch of people who live on res and they all had a great time. That's not to say that i didn't have a great time when I was commuting. I've have had a blast at York. I've pretty much done it all from College Council President, frosh boss, wild parties, made a million friends, and munch more.

From absolutely everyone that I've met at university that has lived in residence, they all tell me that they've had a great time. They would study together, chill together, party together, and had the strongest bonds I've ever seen. Quite often, many third and fourth year students would move out of residence and live together somewhere close to school. They would build friendships, long lasting memories, and always knew that their roommates had their back when they were sick or needed help editing essays at 4:00am.

Don't get me wrong, I still had many benefits and met many friends by commuting but I honestly think the process would have been a lot easier if I wasn't commuting 1.5 hours from Scarborough three times a week.  

So that is my one regret. I will admit that I still had a great time and I saved a lot of money by not living in Res but if I could turn back and do it again...the only change I'd make...would be living in residence for at least one year!

- Mike 

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York's Red Zone! Best Job on Campus!

Why I have the best job on campus:

1. Staff. I most definitely work with the coolest people on campus. Hands down! Catherine, Director of Student Community and Leadership Development, and I often debate about who has the best job on campus but shes definitely wrong. I get to work with Red Zone Ambassadors, YorkisU Ambassadors, crazy Orientation Chairs, College Council Presidents, Jair, and SCLD students/staff. I have the most interesting and creative coworkers in Canada and most likely the world. They are hilarious!! My co-workers make this job special and fun everyday. 

 2. Atmosphere. Some jobs have a very poisonous atmosphere and make you dread going into work. But not York's Red Zone! This place is amazing and fun! We play games during work such as randomly dancing behind people or incorporating the most random words into our daily vocabulary. We also make Youtube videos such as the YorkU Call Me Maybe video and a Red Zone bootcamp video. We have WAY TOO MUCH FUN EVERYDAY! Everyone is also very open minded and willing to learn new things which is very comforting. My boss appreciates my thoughts and opinions which doesn't always happen in most jobs. 

3. Pay and Flexibility. All students at York get paid more than minimum wage and during the summer I'm working 30 hours/week. My job is also very flexible around booking days off and leaving a bit early for summer school. My bosses (Lindsey and Monika) are the nicest, coolest, fun, people ever! They are very helpful and understanding. 

4. Better than any other job that I've had. I used to flip burgers for my first job and clean dishes. For my second job, I had to load couches, fridges, and mattresses into cars/vans (thats right, I said cars). For my last job, I had to push buggies and load bricks, concrete, doors, appliances, wood, and steel into cars/vans. I'd have to do this in the middle of the freezing winter and during the boiling summer. Thats why I appreciate working in the Red Zone the most. 

- Mike   

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