Salutations Students!
To new and returning students alike, salutations!
As you enter Vanier to start a new semester, you’ll see swarms of students, cascading up and down hallways, perhaps looking for their next class. You’ll witness the long lines at the bookstore, alongside the massive chatter of the cafeteria. As you plod prudently through piles of students during your first days, you may be wondering: “What’s my place amidst all of this?”. Well, the answer to that incredibly specific hypothetical question is simple: CEGEP is a system that allows you to discover what it is you want to do with your future.
There are multitudes of different programs offered under one set of roofs. Conceivably, you could be interested in pursuing careers and making strides in Medicine or Law. You may be in a three-year program that prepares you for your dream job in the workforce. You could, perchance, posses a creative mind that longs to be set free through an artistic medium. Everyone has ambitions which are uniquely their own.
Sometimes we might be starting our trek through a completely new program. Changing programs is not something to be scared of. Academia is a journey, and sometimes we may realize that one path does not align with what we desire. There are different strokes for different folks after all. CEGEP is a place of change, so if you see an opportunity to transform yourself for the better, go for it.
Sometimes, students hit roadblocks. Always remember that Vanier has systems in place to help you. Everyone is welcome to visit Student Services (room C-203) whenever they are experiencing medical or financial problems, or require academic counselling. And if you ever need help with grammar, schoolwork or the like, you can drop into the Tutoring and Academic Success Center (TASC) next to the new library for peer tutoring. Vanier can really help you flourish as a student, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if ever you’re in need.
With all this talk of school and learning, it’s easy to forget that students need a break sometimes. The best thing you can do at Vanier is join a Club. If your school-related endeavours are the super-bowl, then Clubs are your half-time show, because everyone needs a break from the main event, be it a team sport with an oval ball, or studying for the next exam. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people and making a couple of friends in the process is a great way to achieve a certain balance whilst you plunge into the fast-paced world of student life. Rest your mind from Calculus, Drawing, or essay-writing every so often and become part of the school community.
One such school community is The Insider, Vanier’s student-run newspaper. The Insider is a group of writers, photographers, illustrators, and copy-editors that contribute to creating a source for everything from the latest events on campus, to articles about videogames, films, and sports. The Insider can provide students with a creative outlet that allows their voices to be heard. Since The Insider has gone back into print, it’s been gaining traction, but with a new semester on the horizon, The Insider needs new members. Should anyone be interested, you are all welcome to visit our room (D-168). Who knows, it could be a most wonderful choice.
On behalf of The Insider, welcome to Vanier, and enjoy your time here!
Written By: Editor in Chief, BeNjamyn Upshaw-Ruffner