My Four Years of University are over, What Now?

Written By: Nicole Vendrame

Three years ago I was getting ready to move to Guelph, spending the summer panicking about living by myself for the first time. Now, I am panicking about moving back home.

When I started my first year, it was in the comfort of my bedroom, because it was COVID. I was still grieving the loss of my grade 12 graduation and my prom dress I never got to wear. Adjusting to online university was hard, but I got through it. There was nothing that memorable about my first year, even though I know was supposed to be a time of growth, meeting new people, and self exploration.

I officially moved to Guelph at the start of my second year. To be honest, a week before moving to Guelph I think I cried every day. I was so scared and anxious about moving that’s all I could think about. I needed to distract myself so I decided to do what anxious girlies do best, make sure you're as busy as possible so you can’t even think about being anxious. I decided to volunteer for Orientation Week, and that was one of the best decisions I ever made. From that week on, I started to realize that the next three years will be some of the best years ever.

Now, I am just a couple of days away from being done my with undergraduate degree. These four years have gone by in the blink of an eye. I didn’t realize how fast these years would go. The past month I have spent a lot of time doing self-reflection and I would like to share some advice with everyone who still have some time left in their undergrad (and even those who don’t).

1. Get involved

Obviously getting involved can be intimidating, especially in a place where there are so many students. But there are so many different experiences to get involved on campus, you can volunteer, join a club, work an on-campus job. As someone who has done all three of those things, they all provide different experiences and learning opportunities for students.

I can say that being a part of GWIL has been one of the best parts of being at UofG. I have learned so much about myself, so many new skills and have taken part in so many great opportunities. I have also been able to build such a great community of like-minded people who I know will always be there for me.

2. Say Yes

I am not joking, say yes as much as you can. There were so many great things that have happened to me just because I said yes. So many great nights out, so many cool events and experiences. I met some of the people closest to me just because I said yes to going to the neighbors' house even though it was 1 a.m. This is the time to say yes, you have the freedom to do the things that you might not have been able to do before. Say yes to football games, say yes to late-night adventures and early morning exploring, most importantly say yes to meeting new people.

3. It's okay to not know what you are doing

Hello, I graduate in June and have no idea what I’m doing. It's okay to not know. Going into university I wanted to get my master's and PhD and work as a clinical psychologist and art therapist. Now I want to work in marketing and social media management. Who knows even if that’s where I am going to end up. It's so scary not knowing what you're doing when you feel like everyone around you has it figured it, but it's okay. If it makes you feel any better, just remember I am graduating and have no plans.

4. Support local

Okay, so this advice is a little different from the others but being in Guelph has made me realize there are so many great local businesses. There are so many good little coffee shops that provide the cozy vibes needed for studying. There are also so many great places to grab your daily sweet treats. I think this is one of the things I am going to miss the most about living in Guelph. Please experience them all while you can and trust me supporting local businesses feels so good.

5. Slow down

Four years went by in what feels like 20 minutes. My last piece of advice would be to slow down. I know being a student is super busy, but trust me I would count down the days until exam season would be over. But slow down, take in the little moments while you’re here. Live in the moment. Cherish those late nights in the library and all the sunny days on Johnston Green.

Although I have had lots of boring nights laying in bed and studying, being in Guelph has provided me with so many great moments. I found community on campus, met so many different people and had friends who became like my second family. Leaving here I will have so many great memories to tell my future kids one day. Will I remember every single paper I wrote and how I did on them? Definitely not. But I will remember all the nights I went to Woodlawn to bowl, all the themed house parties, all the homecomings and what it means to be a Gryphon.

As I prepare to graduate, I have no idea what the future holds but I am super excited for it. My experiences here have shaped me into the person I am today. Choosing the University of Guelph was the right choice, I know this because I have cried sad tears over the fact I have to leave. Although I am sad to leave, I know I will be back here a lot. Guelph will always feel like home to me. Thank you UofG, for everything <3