Diary of a 1st-4th Year Student: Reality Sets In

Monday, Sept. 15

I got to go back to Dancing with Parkinsons (DWP) today! It’s such a lovely community that has been created, and it’s always a good day when I get to go and dance with my friends. There is a really broad range of abilities and skills (even among the volunteers!), and it’s cool to be a part of this group that creates something beautiful every day. They have an online program that has not had a day off since March 2020. Not many businesses can say that!

After DWP, I thought I was supposed to shadow at a clinic, though, and the whole thing’s kind of odd. They sent me some time slots back in August, and I requested a few time blocks…but it was never confirmed if they were actually booked. I followed up with the person I was booking them through last week, and then with the receptionist at the clinic this weekend. They just kind of ghosted me, I guess? It seems odd for a place where booking appointments is a part of their business model.

Look at me saying ‘a part’ instead of ‘apart’!

The other weird thing about today was that it was Monday, and I didn’t go to school, so now it feels like my system is off. I was initially planning on going in the morning before DWP, but I already had to miss one class because of it, so I was only going out there for 2 classes. I got home from work last night at 1am, though, and I didn’t want to start my week off exhausted. I let my alarm wake me up in the morning, but then I was still able to fall back asleep quickly, so I decided sleep was a better use of my time.

I’ve already caught up on the two lectures I wasn’t planning on missing, but the third one (the class I wasn’t able to go to regardless) hasn’t released the recording yet. At least that course has a corresponding textbook that seems pretty clear, so it should be fine if I miss a couple lectures here and there. I really love doing DWP, and I think it will keep me grounded this term.

Tonight, I also had a fun time trying to install this referencing software on my laptop for a lab I have today. After all of it, I’m not sure if the final answer is that I need permission from the IT department or if it actually just doesn’t work with the version of Word I have access to. So, I’ve emailed IT and followed the steps of requesting permission, and maybe that will fix it. I might also be able to download the desktop version of Word through school, and that might fix it too, but it’s not clear, either…both the downloading part and the fixing it part. I might want to figure out if I can do things another way, though, because I don’t usually use Word, and I like the organizational scheme I have. Having referencing software would be helpful, though, so it might be worth exploring something for my own sanity.

Tuesday, Sept. 16

Today, I made up for not going to campus these past few school days by being there aaaaaaaall day! It wasn’t bad, though. I had a bunch of itty-bitty assignments to do, so I just held myself hostage in the library until I finished a few things.

I haven’t technically solved the reference software issue, but IT got me to download the Office Suite via an incognito window, and that seemed to make that part work, finally. Apparently, I don’t really need to solve the citations thing, but it should solve itself anyway now that I have the desktop version of Word. Also, it looks like I was right that it doesn’t work with the browser version of Word that I was using. *Phew!

While I was finally figuring out the Office Suite thing, I luckily found out that I will need Excel…so I downloaded that, and learned that my DUO app (which does our 2-factor authentication) got disconnected from my York account when I got a new phone a month ago, So it was a good thing I was already on campus and could sort that out right there.

In the realm of technical difficulties, I also successfully lost authorization for my independent study group project folder…so I got to re-equest access for that as well.

It’s a good 24 hours in tech-land for Nadyaaaaaaaaaa!!!

I can’t believe I worked in tech for a hot second….

Anyway, I also survived my first dodgeball game since…I don’t know…199…9? I have no idea. My last PE class was in grade 4. I love that most of my classmates weren’t even conceived before my last dodgeball game. I’m so tentative about playing stuff with them. To be fair, I’m hesitant about a lot of things that are quick and change-of-directiony now. Because I can guarantee I would be a basket case if anything happened. I literally had a sore ankle once a few months ago, and I freaked out and did NOT handle it gracefully.

We don’t have to do a lot of physical stuff, but there’s a bit through this random new course called IPAL. It’s kind of like a quasi-gym class, but with a lot more theory and discussion. It’s a fledgling course, and I think they’re still trying to figure out a good system for it. It’s random and basic, but at the times when it’s not patronizing, it’s ok.

Physically, this group is more tepid than my last class, so they’ll probably be fine to do activities with. My class last year had a LOT of testosterone, and some things were kind of intimidating. Even if I wasn’t quasi-injured, I’d be hesitant. At least this class talks more than my last class did - I hate carrying the conversation, and I just want to talk at times when I think I have something valuable to say.

Wednesday, Sept. 17

’Twas another day of lectures and tutorials….and I actually made it in-person for all of them! There’s really only one class where it makes a difference. Other than the energy being fun in the room, two of them are actually probably better at home. It’s nice to be able to 1.5x-speed lectures with ones where you don’t have to write as many notes.

Today was my first discussion-based tutorial with the new 1st years, though. That was…interesting. I think I’d actually get more out of the class if I was a fly on the wall, just watching them process and interact. We broke into small groups, so I was talking with four other people for most of it. One of them was really sweet, but was trying too hard, and was busy trying to take good notes about our discussion. One of them didn’t care, and I’m not even sure if they knew they were in our group. One of them tried to participate, but it was hard to tell if they were struggling with the concept or the English. One of them thought they knew what was going on, and really wanted to lead the discussion (go ahead - I read you pretty darn quickly - lead away)…I think they said they’d done the class before? Or else they’ve taken a similar class before?…whatever it was, they decided they were the authority on the topic, even though they weren’t staying on track at ALL - they just thought what they were saying was smart.

Hopefully, some of that energy dissipates, and I’ll find groups that stay on topic and are actually happy to talk and discuss the course content. I don’t want to have to moderate every conversation I’m in just so that we have something to talk about at the end of class. I think that if I pre-plan some ideas about how the course and reading content correlate, I should be able to have something to say, regardless.

It’s always nice to have a discussion-based class that requires pre-planning.

Also, I finally heard back about the shadowing I was supposed to do this week. The person who was in charge of booking them apologized because she was on vacation. I am collecting all of my willpower to not respond with - SINCE AUGUST 8TH??? Clearly, she was out of the office when I checked in last week (without an auto-response, I might add), which is fine…but it doesn’t excuse the month of ghosting leading up to it.

I haven’t responded yet, but I have a feeling I will just tell her I’m no longer available and will try to set up something another time. I’m at capacity right now, and stressing about things as it is - I’d rather not add it to my schedule…especially since they’ve already ghosted me once. 

Sorry, I’m no longer available. It’s too bad. I was really looking forward to it. I have now pursued the other opportunities that I wasn’t able to schedule because I thought I was already booked. But apparently, I wasn’t. Thanks!

Thursday, Sept. 18

I’m tired. I can’t believe it’s only Thursday.

Today, I cleaned for a friend of mine, but then got trapped on the TTC on the way home, and it took an extra 45 minutes.

1.5hrs there. 2.25hrs back.

And I forgot to eat lunch.

Life is grand.

OMG - I get to go to bed now, yay! I’m so excited!

I got to hang out here for a bit, though, that was nice.

Friday, Sept. 20

Yeah, that date’s fully a lie - it’s 12:30…HAPPY SATURDAY!!!

Today was my “get on top of physiology” day. It’s my hardest class this term, and it will be my first test in a few weeks, so I’m happy I’ll at least start next week off on the right foot. I have a bit of a tedious notes system for it, but I find it helps to go through everything slowly, even if it’s time-consuming. Basically, I rewrite anything useful from the slide deck (which is basically everything), reorganize it a bit, and add some of my own notes. It takes extra time, but I get to play with coloured pens, so that part makes me happy! I probably should have a more organized colour scheme, but I have a pattern about the heading colours, and then do my best to have “themed” colours on each page to some extent…but the colour schemes never cross over to the next page (actually, if something has an obvious theme on the page before, I make sure it doesn’t have the same role on the next page). So, basically, I actively work against making a scheme that might actually be somewhat helpful.

At least I only have the one class using a paper notes system this term. Last year this time, I was doing this for both physiology and anatomy. In the winter, it was sort of one and a half courses because biomechanics didn’t all get translated onto paper; all the math did, though.

I definitely spend way too much time making notes for certain courses…but it’s only for the hard ones. I’m learning to chill a bit about the easy ones. So far, that hasn’t bit me in the butt!

I did a bit of review for my other two classes today, too. Not much, but a bit. I have to remember to do a little bit periodically - they’re not that hard, so it’s easy to forget they’re on the list. If I do a little bit often, though, it will mean I won’t get overwhelmed cramming for the things I clearly don’t care about.

And guess what - tomorrow, I get to sleep in!!!

Will I? Probably not…but I don’t have to set an alarm, and I feel like a truly empowered adult. I won’t feel quite as glorious when I get home late tomorrow night and have to work against Sunday morning, though, but c’est la vie. I was allowed to say no to working tomorrow night…but alas, I did not. It’s just a photo booth, though, so hopefully I can just park myself in a corner and get things done!

I also had a meeting for my research project today, where we handed in our research proposals. I’m a bit anxious to get the marks back. Whatever I get won’t determine how the rest of everything goes or anything, but I would love to get some feedback and get a better feel for where we’re going. I feel like a lot of it was just rambling on theme, and I’m not sure how much was excess bloat. It sounds like our prof likes to edit and give feedback, too, which is awesome! I’ve only done one piece of academic writing since starting at York, and, basically, my feedback was: Great Job - A+! Which is nice, yes, but that doesn’t mean I learnt anything from it. All I learned is that the bar was probably very low.

Also, I randomly looked at my high school transcript today, and I think Maggie added an extra class that I didn’t do??? I have no idea. There’s a business & management course on there that I apparently got 97% on….and the dates line up with it being at Maggie….which is impressive considering my grade 9, 11 and 12 years were the ones it would’ve been easy to make up a transcript entry - those were home learning and/or private school years. Don’t tell anyone, but I technically have a fake English 11 entry - my school gave me the credit as if I took 11 and 12 at the same time. I might’ve had an extra test just for funsies? But I don’t remember.

Saturday, Sept. 20

Today was another catch-up day. Didn’t get as much done as I had hoped, but spent a lot of time doing it! Working on a PowerPoint presentation for one of my classes that feels like a never-ending project. I made an outline, and am working my way through it, though.

I did manage to get a bit of review and studying done within my long PowerPoint day, at least.

The main thing that’s stressing me out now is that it’s only September - why do things feel stressy and packed already? I know some of it’s because I’m going home during reading week, and therefore I’m missing 7 legitimate work days…but is that all? I have one fewer course this term than last year this time - if anything, I should be MORE on top of things.

Why did I say yes to working again tonight? Right…because I like getting paid. I like buying food. I like having my bed.

Tonight’s not bad - it’s another photo booth again. I think I get to hang out at the venue downtown with the super creepy warped old hotel hallway. It feels like they should film a horror movie in there!

Hopefully, now that I’ve figured out a bit of a backbone for it, I can just crash through it and be on the other side.

Sunday, Sept. 21

I wish work didn’t exist, and then I’d be done with this stupid PowerPoint project. I have a draft now, and I think I have to just accept it for what it is - bloated and unnecessary. There’s a point where I’m supposed to talk about what I learned from the exercise, and to be honest, I don’t know what I can even put. It’s just having us examine many different factors contributing to someone’s physical activity…and you don’t have to get me to do a project to be able to pick out a bunch of different reasons for that. It’s supposed to teach us to think about inclusivity and what it means…but none of this is new. The way for this to be new would be to offer usable strategies and tactics in specific cases, not just illuminate the idea that not everyone needs the same thing.

This is not revolutionary.

Maybe to some 18-year-olds it is? But I’d like to give them a little more credit than that…

Actually, it makes me wonder if what’s happening is that the department heads have made something they think would’ve helped them in their time (they’re addressing a systematic problem); however, it’s now something that’s being addressed widely, and it’s possible this new generation doesn’t need this same education.

Interesting….now I want to interview all the first years and see what things are things they’d never thought of before.

I do have to continually remember and acknowledge that I am not a standard 18-year-old, and any time I feel I’ve learned something just from life, it’s very plausible my classmates don’t have a similar history.