As this semester comes to an end, some students reflected on their experience to give tips on how to make the first year easier for new learners at Humber.
“Study hard, the programs are very hard, so study hard, have your notes ready,” says Thaisa Sakima, a third-year student in the Massage Therapy program.
Melissa Lewis, in the same program and year, echoed that advice.
“Keep making your charts, I know they seem annoying, but you’ll need them in the future.”
Humber College is a school where you can find students from many different backgrounds and cultures, but everyone seems to agree on something: you have to study a lot to succeed in these programs.
“For me it was really hard because, you know, I’m not from here, I’m from Serbia,” says Marijeta Pesic from Culinary Management, on her second semester of a four semester program.
“I tried to do steps like learning better English and to learn where the classrooms were, and in the beginning you have to learn these things, but my advice would be to just listen to professors, submit you test on time, and that’s going to make easier finishing with better grades.”
During the pandemic everything has been more challenging, and meeting new people has never been so difficult.
Gianna, who is enrolled in the Chinese Traditional Medicine program, had advice on that aspect of student life.
“Get involved with as many clubs or people, events, as you can, that’s something I didn’t do. Thankfully I met friends on my program but it’s kind of hard to make friends in programs, so making friends through clubs and stuff is… I think it’s a good idea.”
Mental health has also been at an all-time low since the start of COVID-19, and Nicole Bellows, from the second year of the Aesthetician and Spa Management program, reminds students to “Choose your classes wisely!”
Advice on school is always needed and well accepted, especially when it comes from someone with much more experience than you.
“Know how you are spending the 168 hours in every week,” said Jim Coyle, a professor in the Journalism Diploma program.
“Work hard. Be true to yourself. Trust your instincts. Pay attention to people, their struggles, their accomplishments, their relationships,” he said.
“As I grow older, I think relationships are the most important thing in our lives.”