An ode to the campus that helped raise me
I grew up fast.
In high school, I was forced to deal with the passing of a sibling on top of a plethora of mental health issues. It wasn’t easy.
What I didn’t know, however, was just how much I’d missed out on from being a 30-year-old in a 16-year-old’s body. Strangely enough, despite complaints about the course load and having no time for anything, it was at university that I was able to really enjoy life again, and to find the things I hadn’t realized I’d missed out on.I remember the day I got accepted to the University of Guelph. I had only applied to appease my mom and dad, and had applied for the French program because I didn’t know what else to do.
At first, I didn’t want to go to Guelph. I was adamant that I would leave home — I had lived at home my whole life, and didn’t want to go to university in the city where I grew up. Luckily for me, financial restraints kept me here. I thank God every day that it did.
It was at the University of Guelph that I finally branched out and made new — and amazing — friends. It was at Guelph that I racked up significant opportunities for my CV, and actually enjoyed doing it. It was at Guelph that I picked up sports again for the first time since childhood. It was at Guelph that I took the leap and studied abroad, and had one of the best semesters of my life. It was at Guelph where I found my passion for history again. It was at Guelph where I realized that your peers and elders really do want the best for you. It was at Guelph where I discovered that you can succeed despite your mental health issues. It feels like it all happened at Guelph. I became who I am today, and I can see who I want to be — at Guelph.Yes, I grew up fast in high school, but I’m starting to see it as a blessing in disguise. All those days of working from home because I was too anxious to go to class, all that time hating myself for being behind in my graduation, all that time worried about making new friends for fear of rejection — it prepared me to enjoy even more the things that university had in store for me. So here’s a thank you.To Karen Racine, who constantly reminded me that the world IS big and scary, but worth it, and who did not question me when I decided to write a research paper’s subsection titles in Elvish; to John Walsh, who made the endless statues of Ancient Greece and Rome discernable and even interesting to the point of a new obsession; to William Cormack, who let me write one of my favourite — and, it turns out, best — papers on the obscure history of Polish servicemen who served with the Allies in the Second World War, and for encouraging me to not let my language skills go to waste; to Kevin James, for being the first prof to show me that profs actually do care about their students as people; to Brandon Carroll, for going above and beyond to help me succeed during one of many difficult times; and lastly, to Margot Irvine, for reminding me why I love the French language and the people who speak it. Thank you for your respect, encouragement, and enthusiasm.
To every first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth year — enjoy every moment here, and take every opportunity you can. Trust me, you can do it, even when it desperately feels like you can’t. Also, a reminder: everyone has their own clock. Don’t rush it.
To every single friend I made here, thank you for letting me be myself and loving me for it.
To the classes I took and the unmentioned profs who taught them, thank you for reminding me why I love learning.
To my peers and graduating class, it’s been an honour. Go forth and conquer the world with wisdom, grace, and tolerance. Remember every lesson you learned here, but above all, remember the most important one — that in this always crazy and overwhelming world, you have the ability to be light; To do good; To squash the absurdities and screaming voices of racism, sexism, religious intolerance, and homophobia. I really do believe we can all do great things, and be even better people.
Once a Gryphon,
always a Gryphon.
Thanks, Guelph.
Photo by Karen K. Tran/The Ontarion
Very proud of you and your accomplishments!