Hi! This is Eric Liu from Waterloo. Being in a brand new environment is exciting, but also stressful in some ways. I will talk about my first expressions, experiences, and giving some advice about starting university.
Firstly, I had a great first expression. Waterloo for me is like a small town in China, but with different cultures. People are saying “sorry” all the time, even when it’s not their fault. Cars and strangers seem very friendly. However, the highest priority on the road is not the pedestrians, but geese!. These geese looked so big that I couldn’t believe they could even fly before I actually saw them flying. The first time I was walking around the University of Waterloo, I was delighted to see various buildings with a modern look. Their architecture made me excited about coming to our first-year orientation.
The very first activity of the school was the first-year orientation. Students and staff were all extremely excited. Tons of activities filled my schedule and I went back home late that day. I met many new friends from all over the world. Instead of being shy, people were all looking forward to communicating with each other. This passion also affected me and encouraged me to speak with others more in my second language—English.
Although my first week of University was full of fun activities, studying is still the priority. Waterloo is famous for its stressful study terms. Before exams, libraries are open 24/7. Being smart is not what makes a person succeed, but being organized is the key to achieve high marks. During the first week, you need to adapt to many new courses, lifestyle, and food. Being organized is extremely important as delaying today’s work might cause a million extra work tomorrow.
All in all, University life is diverse and enjoyable as there are various activities, clubs, friendly people, etc. However, to maintain delightful memories after university graduation, you need to have strong self-regulation skills. I wish all the students in Grade 12 “good luck” in their university applications and, most importantly, I will be happy to see you in Waterloo!
By Eric Liu