Only upon entering my 3rd year after a global pandemic, do I feel I can finally write about arguably the worst year of my life. I’m writing this post because nobody ever thinks to tell you that the best years of your life might not start right away. Despite so many of us knowing how hard the first year can be, we shy away from talking about the growing pains. Well, as your BoostHer blogging older sister I’m here to tell you that my first year was awful. Now, I’m not telling you this to scare you away but because it gets better and we need to start alleviating the pressure to have nothing but fun during your first week away from home.
The summer before my first year I had a pulmonary embolism and while physically I recovered fine, there is nothing like an unplanned hospital stay to make somebody (who is already a homebody) rely on their parents. On top of this, I was trying to adjust to a long distance relationship with a boyfriend that I had been with since I was 15. Needless to say, the transition was not easy.
But like so many of our parents, I am happy to say that I will look back fondly on my university years, telling stories about aIl great friends I made in my first year. That being said, I hope I will also mention how during my own OWEEK, I had to buy meal supplements at the university grocer because my anxious stomach couldn’t get any food down. I hope to add how my new friends were great, not only because of late nights, but because they picked me up from the counselor's office and walked me back to the dorms, hiding my tear stained face. I might also mention that I had to leave the mental health presentation on UC hill because this seemed to be the only thing that felt too close to home and I wasn't prepared to cry in a field full of my peers. I hope I will stress that every so often good things come from comfort zones and it doesn't matter if you're kind to everyone, if you can’t be kind to yourself.
If you are struggling, please reach out to a friend, family member or professional.
MHA Virtual After Hours Crisis Counselling:
October 4 to December 8, every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Appointments are available from 5:00-9:00 p.m. Registration ends at 8:00 p.m.