By Mohammed Mohyedin
Students at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) are starting the school year this September at two different crossroads: some are beginning their first year, while others are preparing for their last.
For first-years, stepping on campus marks a season of new beginnings. It’s a leap towards independence and a chance to redefine themselves from their time spent in high-school or work.
For students in their final year, it’s a moment to look back on the university years that built them. From friendships made and challenges overcome to the unexpected turns that may have arisen throughout their journeys.
For fourth-year marketing student, Marlen James, university has been about pushing himself out of his comfort zone and embracing the opportunities that come his way.
“I wanted to make the most of it because this is it, there’s no more schooling after this for me,” said James. “I wanted to take as much information, meet as many people and do as many things as I could.”
That urgency to embrace it all has been his compass. “While you’re [in university], take advantage of everything that comes to you, because there’s going to come a time [when] you graduate.”
Incoming first-year professional communication student Aaisha Arshad said she chose TMU for its community-based environment and the opportunities she could see herself thriving in.
“I love how social it is,” she explained, adding that her program felt like “the perfect in-between” after weighing the choice between business or English studies. “It offers so much and the courses are super interesting; I just knew it was for me.”
Arshad views university as a fresh start. She’s already mapping out the clubs she wants to join, the events she hopes to attend and the courses she’s most curious about.
She’s especially drawn to the idea of working on collaborative projects and public speaking opportunities within her program. “I want to challenge myself to go beyond my comfort zone,” she said. “If I can look back at the end of the year and see that I’ve tried things I never would have before, then I’ll know I’ve done it right.”
For fourth-year retail management student Shiyami Seralathan, the journey has been about adapting to the unexpected. Starting her studies during COVID-19 meant missing the in-person experience. “I assumed I would be very, very confident,” she said, “but then when I started, we were online due to COVID, I did get a little nervous, just because I know first year is where you make all your friends but for us, it was a little bit different.”
A major turning point came with a class trip [RMG 917: Experiential Learning Travel Study] abroad to Dubai. “I felt like it was a dream…I felt like seeing the world from a different point of view…that was really interesting for me.”
She now makes it a point to attend every class and connect with professors and peers. Her advice to new students: “Make lots of friends, talk to your profs, ask all the questions you want, just don’t be scared to ask for help, because everyone needs help at the end of the day.”
First-year computer science student Annber Christene Verginon is also beginning her journey at TMU, though it wasn’t her initial path. “I applied for both architecture and computer science,” she shared. “I got into computer science, so now I’m seeing where this takes me.”
While getting into her second choice wasn’t expected, she’s embracing it with curiosity. “I’m interested in design and building things, and in a way, programming is another form of creation,” she said.
She’s looking forward to exploring coding, joining tech-focused clubs and connecting with peers who share her interests.
Back home, she had a large network of friends and a familiar environment. Now, she’s stepping into an entirely new setting where she’s eager to build those connections again. For Verginon, that means seeking out new friendships, joining activities and finding her place within the TMU community.
While computer science was not her original plan, her focus this year is on adapting to the coursework, learning new skills and creating a support system on campus. “This year is about finding out what I’m good at and how I can use those skills in the future,” she said. It’s a journey she didn’t expect but one she’s ready to make her own.
Whether it’s starting fresh, embracing unexpected turns, or finishing strong, each student sees this year as more than just classes; it’s a chapter in a much bigger story.
James sees all these experiences whether planned or unexpected, as part of a bigger story. “This is the start of the end but that ends one chapter and begins something different in my book of life,” he said.
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