Life lessons I am taking from TMU

This winter, I wrapped up my final semester and a four-year-journey at TMU. A lot has happened in these past four years. I achieved milestones I didn’t realize were possible and met people who taught me things I’ll never forget. The TMU campus has become my second home, one I’m so grateful I could find far away from the familiarity of my home country. As I wrap up my semester, my Career Boost role and my time as a student, I’d love to share some valuable life lessons I’ll take with me.

When I first arrived on campus as an international student, I was overwhelmed by the enormity and stimulation of downtown Toronto. I had missed my Orientation week, so I felt a little late to the party. I wanted to jump head-first into the campus community, but was held back by a fear that I didn’t quite belong yet.

I figured that International Student Support (ISS) would be a safe place to start. I started joining their Peer Connection Circles which met every month to discuss topics that particularly impact international students. Upper-year students would often sit in with us and offer advice on budgeting, housing, travelling, academics, etc. to acclimate the newer students to student life at TMU. This is where I eventually met my future roommate of two years and got the opportunity to have the best time living downtown.

Over time, I figured out that there are endless social opportunities on campus. I started going to niche events and learning about new activities. I would stop at vendor markets, show up to different student group events, or just sit on different SLC floors in between classes. These small, spontaneous moments taught me to inhabit the community by taking the simple first step of stepping into the room!

My first class on campus was SOC202: Popular Culture, a lower level liberal studies class with professor Michael Thorn. Never having studied sociology, I was nervous about whether I would do well in the class and be able to participate. That first week, we analyzed some of my favourite films and shows and I couldn’t help but raise my hand to share my thoughts. I learned how to go about academic writing, which helped me in many future courses. I also ended up taking similar liberal studies courses in future semesters, helping me figure out the areas of study outside my comfort zone that interest me. 

I have always heard of “fake it till you make it”, but it never really worked for me. Over these years, I have found it is easier to be authentic, even if that means appearing nervous, than feigning confidence. A better piece of advice for me has been to “do it scared.” Whether that is class presentations, interviewing a source for a feature, or pitching my ideas at work, waiting for the fear to magically vanish has never helped me. Instead, I have learned to let my confidence shine through the conviction I feel in my work.

One of the ways I arrived at this lesson was through campus jobs such as working in social media for TMU Eats, installing signs for Facilities, Management & Development (FMD), or my Career Boost role with International Student Enrolment, Education and Inclusion (ISEEI). Through these opportunities, I worked with different kinds of students and supervisors which broadened my perspective on what professionalism looks like. 

Being heavily involved on campus also meant that I got to know all about its different services, resources and departments. It has been so valuable getting to promote these services and share my experiences with prospective students in my Career Boost role, because it allowed me to bridge the gap between being a student and being a guide. Looking back at my time at TMU, I realize that the moments where I felt the most scared were exactly the moments where I grew the most.

In TMU’s busy and thriving community, I quickly became a student with a lot on my plate. At one point, I was balancing six courses with three jobs! While I managed to make it out of that semester alive, I was left feeling unsatisfied with my priorities. As an international student, it can get overwhelming to try to "justify" your tuition investment by doing as much as possible at all times. In trying to make sure I seized all the opportunities, I was starting to tire myself out. 

Thankfully, what followed after that semester was a restful summer. I travelled to British Columbia and also went back home to visit family and friends. I spent hours mindfully journaling, reading books, biking, eating good food – all of which helped me restore some balance. When I went back to school that fall, I had cut down on both courses and work. This shift allowed me to do what mattered with more intention. I realized that my value wasn't tied to the number of events on my calendar. By narrowing my focus, I finally had the breathing room to actually enjoy the opportunities I had worked so hard to secure.

As I write this, I am sitting in my favourite spot on campus – a window seat in Balzac’s Cafe on Gould Street. Whenever I have too many overwhelming assignments to work on or a conversation to have with a friend, I always come to this exact spot. It is my favourite because I get to see students on the TMU campus all around me. Some are first-years, bright and ready for the journey just as I once was, while others are fourth-years like me, wrapping up our final days on campus. We’ll all go our different ways, but we will always share the TMU foundation that helped us discover parts of ourselves we didn’t know existed. 

I hope that you find your favourite spot and get to both witness and experience the exciting TMU student journey. If I could, I would do it all over again. 

With that, I am signing off on the International Student Blog one last time.

Best, 

Liana