First Year, Life Science
“Are you in any clubs?”
“I haven’t joined anything yet, but I’m interested in the Frisbee club, not a lot of schools have this kind of stuff, so it’s really interesting that they have varieties. And there is basically something for everyone here. I really like that.”
First Year, Political Science
“This is technically my first year. I am actually originally from Ottawa, I only stayed there for a semester.”
“How do you like UTM?“
“I like it, the campus is very beautiful, and I feel more [at] home than I was in Ottawa, because in Ottawa, I was surrounded by tall buildings but here … it’s more like a park area so it feels a lot more friendly.”
Fifth Year, Art & Art History, and a double minor in Psychology and English
“Up to now, what has been one of the happiest moments of your life?”
“One of the happiest moments of my life was a few weeks ago, when my dad told me that he supported my boyfriend, Paul, and I being together. I’m a Chinese-Canadian … and Paul is black … when our intentions to date seriously were made aware to my parents, a huge ‘kerfuffle’ ensued shortly after. It’s been a long two years, but Paul’s commitment to sticking this through, and his relentless care for me has been my greatest encouragement to do the same for him and to fight for what we have together. Several weeks ago my family (and huge extended family) invited Paul over for dinner to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival. On the way there, my dad told me that he ‘supports Paul [and I] 100%.’ I thought I would faint, I was so happy and relieved.”
Fourth Year, Art & Art History Specialist, and a minor in Professional Writing
“I think my biggest fear, however irrational it may seem, has to be the fear of being alone. My friendships are important to me, and if by some circumstance I lost those, yeah, it would be pretty frightening. Also spiders.”
Third Year, Health Sciences and Biological Anthropology
“Why did you choose this program?”
“Because I love learning about sciences especially in biology you learn about what your body goes through, what exactly happens, why cells move the way they do, why we breathe the way we do why plants are the way they are.”
Photographer: Shyam Jalal
Fourth Year and Third Year, Life Sciences
“What do you like about her? “
“She is so cute! She has always been here for me from my highs to my lows. She helps me with everything. She always thinks differently from me. She sees what I can’t see. For example, when we watch a movie she would see a character in a completely different way than I do. I call her an alien sometimes. “
“Any funny moment you had together?”
“Right now! We usually dress similarly and we try to convince people we are twins.“
It’s a little weird, but when I was a kid, September meant something different to me. September meant everything that I loved—my freedom, my lack of math homework, and my hours of Anastasia marathons—were suddenly coming to a grinding end. September meant homework. September meant bedtime at a reasonable hour, and September meant a juggernaut of newness. September, now that I think of it, was the first time I realized I hated change.
What’s strange, though, is that university is somehow different. Now I don’t know if that was just because I was working and doing summer school, but when September came around, I couldn’t wait to get back to school. I actually liked school, and I, especially now (as this is one of my last “first months”), like the first month of school.
Second Year, Sociology & Women & Gender Studies
“What worries you most about the future?”
“I guess not having my mom around. It’s just been her and I for five years. She is my pillar of strength.”
Third Year, Criminology & Sociology
“What’s the wisest thing you have ever heard someone say?”
“I don’t believe in bad people, I believe in bad habits.”
Fourth Year, Psychology
“When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?”
“OH! A fire truck!”
“Haha…a fire truck?!”
“Haha yeah! My parents always questioned it, asking if I meant a firefighter…but no…I meant a fire truck!”