Is a student-led project seeking to connect our staff with the public through sharing personal experiences and insights about student life. Take a look at what some of our Chapman Learning Commons Assistants have said, below!
Meet Johnson
Hello! My name is Johnson and I am a fourth year student studying Operations and Logistics. In my
spare time, I enjoy drawing digitally, writing fiction, reading fantasy/science fiction, and playing a variety of sports.
In my third year, I had the bright idea of moving out. This meant that I had to work two jobs while doing 5 courses per term. The biggest recommendation I can give when it comes to managing commitments is to prioritize and understand the limits of your own abilities. Yes, you theoretically can finish those 2 papers and that quiz after coming home from an 8 hour weekend shift. However, under the very real threat of burn-out, knowing when to let a small assignment slip through instead of losing another hour of sleep is extremely important.
My favourite place to study is in the Law Library. I am a person that needs complete silence when studying. In the Law Library, it is so quiet you could hear a pin drop onto the carpeted floors. With multiple floors and plenty of seating, I always love working and studying in the space. If you don’t like studying inside, I recommend the large tables and seats outside of Irving K. Barber Library that faces Koerner Library. On a sunny day, there is plenty of table space for you to work with and creates a focused atmosphere.
For someone just arriving to campus, I would recommend stepping out of your comfort zone. That doesn’t mean you have to join a club or be social all the time, but it does mean that you have to find a way to put yourself out there and meet other people. You can build connections everywhere on campus; from the Drop-In sport sessions in the SRC to your neighbours one dorm over. Also keep in mind that not everyone suddenly has a group within a month of being on campus. Be patient and put yourself out there at your own pace.
When I started feeling the pressure to apply to internships in second year, I didn’t really know what to do or who to reach out to. It seemed like no-one knew exactly how to obtain an internship apart from a vague answer of “Just apply and get an interview.” In my experience, while your faculty advisors are helpful, the best people to ask would be alumni or fourth year students who have obtained internships and other opportunities before. In my opinion, they paint a more realistic perspective. An example of such people would be the Teaching Assistants in your courses.
Meet Madeleine
Hi! My name is Madeleine and I’m in my fourth year at UBC, Majoring in Computer Science! I love playing field hockey and exploring the outdoors, but when I’m inside you can find me baking and rewatching any of the Harry Potter or Marvel movies!
Yes! What helps me a lot is writing down all my responsibilities for the day or the week on paper so I can visualize what I need to do and how much I've already done. Breaking up tasks into smaller parts can help me slowly get things out of the way, since smaller tasks are more manageable. The other thing that really helps me when I’m really overwhelmed, which may seem counter intuitive, is to stop working and take the night off. It’s so much harder to get things done when you’re tired and stressed, and giving yourself an evening to rest and recover slightly helps enormously.
It's always important to be respectful, but you never have to please everyone. Ultimately, as a student, you need to take care of yourself, and sometimes that means putting yourself first, or walking away even if the situation isn't ‘fixed’. A lot of the time, time will heal the situation for you. In cases where that’s not an option, you may have to respectfully defend yourself, and remove yourself from the situation and do it yourself.
The transition back to in person learning has been challenging. I find it hardest when some courses are online and some are in person, because it's difficult to constantly change mentalities. It helps doing my online courses on campus, so that my mindset is similar to when I’m in lecture. The other thing that helps me is reminding myself that the transition does not have to be immediate. All my classes are recorded and live streamed, so if I need a mental health day to rest, then I do my classes from home. It's okay to not be ready to be back 100%.
My favourite place to study on campus is the Life Building, for three reasons. Reason 1: Coffee is nearby. Reason 2: It’s usually pretty easy to find a seat. Reason 3: Lots of people pass through the Life Building either headed to or from the bus, or to get food, so you have a good chance of running into someone you know and getting to say hi.
When doing something new, I like to do something for myself that gives me confidence. It can be anything from wearing a new shirt, painting my nails, or getting a coffee so I don't feel awkward with my hands. Small things that boost your mood and give you confidence go a long way because that confidence reflects in your work and how you compose yourself.
Meet Angela
Hello! My name is Angela and I am a fourth year student majoring in Economics and minoring in Commerce. I am from Peru so ask me all about llamas! In my free time, I love playing bass (been playing for about nine years!) and electric guitar and jamming with my friends. You can also catch me watching documentaries about history and politics, exploring places around Vancouver and trying different cuisines.
There are times where it’s so difficult to stay on top of your work. Having a calendar and a to-do list helps me visualize better what is coming up and the tasks that I need to do. I can plan ahead when I see that a week has more exam dates and deadlines than usual, schedule extra activities when I’m free and ensure I don’t miss anything. Also, taking breaks is important! I try to play guitar often and it brings my mood up. Breaks not only help me relax but actually increase my productivity since I won’t feel overwhelmed while studying.
It’s been WONDERFUL! I stayed on campus last year and sometimes felt down because most in-person activities were cancelled, I missed some of my friends who had left Vancouver and UBC was a ghost town. It’s so exciting to see that most people are back! I’ve been enjoying the walk (many times it’s a sprint because I’m about to be late) to class, talking to anyone sitting next to me, going out with friends more, the events and volunteering in person. However, I’m still worried about getting COVID-19, so I wear a mask, spend more time outdoors and try to avoid very crowded places.
When I arrived, speaking English was challenging since I learned it as a second language. I set the goal to talk a lot every day for class and with friends, professors and even the staff at restaurants. Always share your ideas and, if something isn’t clear, ask for help!
It never rains back home, so I bought my first umbrella here! It gets way colder and darker here during the winter, which can make you feel gloomy, but staying involved in activities helps. I also love seeing how the leaves change colours and enjoying the season in places like Whistler!
I really like going to Tower Beach. It’s the perfect place to relax after a long day of classes and I usually have a snack, play the ukulele and read. The sound of the waves is so relaxing, the sunset looks beautiful and it’s often very quiet. The stairs though… come prepared for a good workout.
I have joined clubs and organizations, as well as the CLC team! I get to work with amazing people while learning new cool things and having fun. Besides that, I like going to events and meeting students. It’s much better to do your hobbies with other people, who are as passionate about them as you are, and become friends!
Attend the events! It’s scary to go without knowing anyone, but there are always more people than you realize who want to make friends too. And, get out of your comfort zone. If you see any cool opportunity, go for it 🙂
Did you learn something new today? Do you want to learn more about the lives of our student staff? Leave a comment about what questions we should ask next!