Navigating Post-Secondary Education
University can be a time of both great excitement, and significant stress for students. It’s a phase where you prepare yourself for the working world and delve deeper into subjects that you are deeply passionate about. However, This journey can also bring a lot of stress as you figure out what career you want to go into. As you are entering adulthood during your university years , you might need to think about the person you want to be moving forward. This process can be challenging since individuals can face a range of challenges ranging from struggling to figure out a suitable career path to facing academic difficulties, and encountering obstacles in making friends during this time. I want to address all these points here in this article and provide tips and resources for how you can navigate through your post-secondary education.
A good majority of people are 18 when they start post-secondary education, and honestly, 18 seems too early to decide what specific career you want to go into. As a third year student, I am still trying to figure out what I want to do after university and I know that many of my peers are in the same boat as me. If you’re struggling to know what you want to do both academically and in your career, a great place to go to is the Academic Advising & Career Centre (AA&CC). You can book an Academic Advising appointment and meet with a strategist to discuss things such as develop your academic plan for graduation, review your course selection, assess your learning and management skills, and so much more. The AA&CC is a great place to get you started, and if you need more guidance there are also events such as the Get Experience fair or the Graduate & Professionals Schools fair. It is important to remember that Even if after doing all these, you’re still not completely sure what to do, that is completely okay. These are just some initial points to help you get started.
I know that there are probably many people who may have a clear idea of what they want out of their university experience, but they may struggle to meet those expectations due to the difficulties they face in their courses. Many students feel anxious about all the work they must do for many of their courses, and how many of the courses they take are quite difficult. If you receive a lower grade, or find yourself struggling with a course, there's no need to get upset, as there are many ways you can overcome this. You can start with evaluating the way you have been studying for the course thus far, and see what you can change about your studying methods to improve your performance. If you need guidance in this process, then you can once again book an academic advising appointment with the AA&CC.
Another great place to visit if you're struggling with your courses is the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL). The CTL provides many resources to help students who are struggling with their courses, and they do so for a variety of subjects. If you’re struggling with writing assignments such as essays, or writing a research report, the CTL provides writing support. This writing support is available in the form of either one-on-one tutoring in which you can bring in your writing assignment and the instructor will look over it and provide suggestions for improvement . Another option is writing retreats which can help you make progress with your assignments, and give you writing strategies. There is also Math and Statistics support at CTL which can be in the form of TAs offering both in-person and online tutoring, workshops and seminars, as well as many resources to help further your understanding. UTSC provides many ways for students to seek help if they are struggling academically, and if you are, you should also make sure to attend office hours or reach out to your professor. Your professors are always willing to help you out with the material, and it is the main reason office hours exist!
A common struggle for many students during their time in university is that some may struggle to make friends. University is a busy time and many people are busy with managing their courses and work, however it is also important to form friendships during this time. Friends who you can study with, but also relax with. A great way to make friends who may have similar interests as you is to either join a club that you are passionate about, or attend events that clubs host. To explore what clubs UTSC has, and stay updated on their upcoming events, you can refer to the Student Organization Portal (SOP). Once you find a club you’re interested in, you can reach out to them about potential opportunities and ask if they are hiring. You can also attend the events they host, and meet new friends. Cultivating friendships are an important part of navigating post-secondary education.
Post-secondary education can be a stressful time, it’s important to take full advantage of the resources that the university has provided for us. Even then we still may experience a lot of stress which is why it is important that you take breaks, try to do some breathing exercises if you’re feeling overwhelmed, and make sure to spend some time away from school and continue pursuing your hobbies. Additionally, always be kind to others and try to help your fellow peers when you sense they may need some guidance. If you make the conscious effort to improve yourself, and implement the strategies that are mentioned in this article, I believe you’ll do just fine in navigating post-secondary education.
Links to All the Resources Mentioned in the Article:
Academic Advising and Career Centre (AA&CC):
Centre for Teaching & Learning (CTL):
Student Organization Portal (SOP):
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