A Change of Pace (Hiruni)

It’s week 4 and I am officially in panic mode, and if past semesters are anything to go by this will last throughout the semester until the end of the last exam :/

Without even touching on the fact that a quarter of the semester has dwindled away, I thought I’d take the opportunity to discuss something that has been on my mind regarding transition to second year.

While I did do a second year subject last semester, an entire timetable filled with them has brought about some changes that I hadn’t expected. First of all, now that I have completed more generalised prerequisites (math and chemistry subjects) and moved onto chemical engineering subjects for my major, I found that my class sizes decreased dramatically. Although at first I wasn’t too keen to be separated from friends I’ve known since first year, it’s nice to be part a smaller cohort of people that will potentially be peers for the remainder of my degree.

I was warned about the change of pace in second year subjects, but of course it’s still taken me by surprise. Not only is the content more advanced, I did find material being covered very quickly in lectures themselves. My tips would be to make sure to keep up with the material in class and be willing to spend time on it building your understanding outside of lectures. Having a motivated study group may also work, but be sure to keep on track, rather than having it devolve into a Q&A session about the perks of working at Subway…

Although I may sound a little lost, I’ve found these changes refreshing; the people I’ve gotten to know have made going to class enjoyable and the content itself, while difficult at times, is fascinating. Moving into second year subjects has definitely reminded me of why I decided to study chemical engineering in the first place.

What’s on in Week 4 &5

MUDFEST: this being my first ever MUDFEST I can’t exactly share my previous experiences, but only look forward to being blown away by the artistic splendour of our very own students. From the 20th- 29th of August the arts festival will be an opportunity to see art across various platforms showcase the talents of the student community. Categories include dance, theatre, film and much more with this year’s theme being ‘Come Together’. Plus, you can even apply to volunteer! Link: UMSU Mudfest

Science Festival: the many areas of science have come together to promote the faculty in a week of events that are as entertaining a they are educational. Running from the 17th-21st of August, the program of events includes a treasure hunt, robots that dance and play soccer, a math magician (mathemagician?) and even liquid nitrogen ice-cream! Be sure to check Careers Online as many of these events require registration. Link: Science Festival

Wellness Week: running from the 24th- 28th of August, Wellness Week is back with free breakfasts & lunches, yoga & group fitness sessions, and (my personal favourite) Puppy Therapy! Aimed to provide a balance to the intense studying of the mid-semester period, these free events will have you out of your self imposed isolation and into the warm and fluffy embrace of adorable pups. Link: Wellness Week