The end of the school year is a time for reflection: Closing textbooks for the last time, packing apartment belongings into boxes, and sharing one last beer with friends at OAP leave many looking back on the past eight months with a little more wisdom. The McGill Tribune caught up with students passing by the Y-intersection to hear the lessons they’ve learned from being part of the McGill community and the experiences that have shaped their year.
Q: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this year?
A: Clare Kenny – U3 Psychology and Religious Studies
“Something that I have realized in the last couple of years but have acted on this year, is that I am much happier just taking four classes instead of five. I’ve found that it’s just not worth it to push myself in the end by taking five classes. It’s a significantly better experience to take four classes—[there’s] definitely [a] quality of life difference and that is important for mental health.”
Abdoulaye Mouflet – Graduated in January from Economics
“The biggest thing I’ve learned, that I think will be practical for me when I’m older, is money management. Learning not to spend all my money for the month in one week.”
Shanti Rumjahn-Gryte – U2 Anatomy and Cell Biology
“Get involved. Go to the events. Meet people in your program because that’s the only way you’re really going to make friends other than in lecture. That is something that I really didn’t do in U1 but I’m doing now and it’s a lot more fun.”
William Liu – Graduated in June from Pharmacology
“I think I’ve come out of McGill being more organized and being better at dealing with stress by writing things down when [I] get anxious, or exercising and having a good schedule.”
Julia Lesser – U0 Cultural Studies
“You should always go to office hours and make relationships with your profs. Because when you feel disconnected from class, you’re going to feel disconnected from the course as a whole, and especially when you have an individual relationship with the teacher it really strengthens the level to which you can really succeed.”
Berk Tokmak – U2 History and Classics
“When I came to McGill a lot of things were [going wrong] in my life. The more you fail, the more things you learn. I just had nothing but the courage to try things.”
Emma Hignett – U3 Microbiology and Immunology
“I came in with advanced credits like many students, but because of the degree I chose I have to finish in four years instead of three. But it’s been really nice because [you get] a lot more elective space to explore your options [….] Don’t rush things, take advantage of what university has to offer.”
