A day in the life of a 4th year Public Health student

Hi! I’m Kayla, a fourth-year international student at Toronto Metropolitan University, in the Public Health program. I’m originally from South Africa, but I grew up in Qatar, and moving to Toronto has been one of the biggest and most exciting changes in my life.

Every day at TMU is different. I spend a lot of time on campus, whether I’m in lectures, at the gym, at work, or helping to plan and host events. Today, I’m sharing one of my busier days to show what student life looks like for me. It’s a mix of everything that I do. 

After completing my morning routine, I get to the gym at 7:30 a.m. I’m fortunate to live very close to campus, and the gym is just a five-minute walk away. I'm there almost every morning, and after going for three years now, it feels like my second home. I go to the RAC and use the Fitness Centre the most; I enjoy the variety of equipment.

Now it’s time for my first and only class of the day: ENH 524 - Pollution and Waste Management. This lecture was about water pollution and microplastics. We examined major water outbreaks like Walkerton and Flint and how these tragedies have shaped today’s public health measures for protecting our water sources. This is a common theme in many of our classes, where we use case studies and apply our knowledge to real-world situations. As future public health professionals, this prepares us to think critically and respond effectively.

I’ve really enjoyed my courses this semester. I’m currently taking four classes: ENH 825 - Risk Assessment, ENH 505 - Infection Control, ENH 524 - Pollution and Waste Management, and POH 705 - Health Promotion and Education.

My favourite classes are definitely Risk Assessment and Infection Control. I really like my instructors; they’re supportive and approachable, and they make the material easy to understand. Shoutout Dr. Eric Liberda and Instructor Kaitlyn Irving! In Risk Assessment, we work through real scenarios where we calculate risks and see how they can affect whole populations. I like it because it shows the connection between assessing a hazard and communicating it to the public.     

This day is especially exciting because I’m hosting an event! As the International Director for the student-led Faculty of Community Services Society (FCSS) (external link) , I get to organize events for our students, and this one is the FCS x FCSS hangout. I collaborated with the Faculty of Community Services (FCS) events team, led by the events coordinator who runs monthly hangouts featuring speakers from different campus departments. I met up with them to pick up the food orders and set up the room.

After my shift, I headed over to the Good Food Centre (GFC) (external link)  on campus to stock up on my weekly groceries! I’ve been going there for over a year now, and it has really helped me save money on groceries. I really appreciate having a resource like this on campus, and it’s nice knowing that TMU provides support like this for students who need it.

I headed back to the FCSS office in the Daphne Cockwell Complex (DCC) for two bi-weekly meetings. First I met with the FCSS Events Committee, where we plan upcoming events with our Executive Director of Events. Over the years, we’ve organized everything from trips to Canada’s Wonderland and Blue Mountain, to our Semi-Formal Gala and apple picking. 

Next was the FCSS Board of Directors meeting, where we vote on motions that impact students. As International Director, I lead the FCS International Students Association, run the Mentorship and Campus @ Home programs, hold weekly office hours, and represent international students in my faculty. Being on the board has strengthened my leadership and advocacy skills.

After a very long day filled with classes, events, work and meetings, I finally get to go home and get ready for bed! Luckily, I’ve finished most of my midterms and don’t have any upcoming assignments, so I’ve been putting a lot more effort into my extracurricular activities. My time and energy fluctuate between all of my commitments, which means no two days ever look the same. 

I hope you enjoyed coming along this jam-packed day with me. My biggest piece of advice for future students is to get involved in campus life as early as you can; you will gain incredible memories, friends, as well as crucial transferable skills for your future career. 

TMU has given me so much, and I can’t wait for you to find your own home away from home here, too!