蘑菇传媒

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When I started university, I was quietly hoping for a reset.

I wasn鈥檛 bullied or involved in anything dramatic in high school. It's just that I never truly felt like I belonged. I drifted between friend groups, spent lunch breaks alone in the library and often felt like I was watching high school happen from the sidelines. I鈥檇 tell myself,听鈥淯niversity will be different鈥�.听I didn鈥檛 know exactly how, but I clung to the hope that it would be.

Spoiler: it was different. But it didn鈥檛 change all at once. It started with small moments 鈥搒ome intentional, some unexpected 鈥� that helped me feel seen, included and connected.

One of the first surprises about university was how no one cared who you were in high school. It felt like a fresh start 鈥� everyone was a stranger, many quietly hoping to redefine themselves. I remember meeting a classmate during orientation who said, 鈥淚 was really shy in high school. I鈥檓 trying to be more outgoing here so bear with me.鈥� That stuck with me. It was the first time I realized that everyone was figuring it out, just like me. It also gave me permission to try something different too.

I didn鈥檛 have to impress anyone 鈥� I just had to show up.

Those first few weeks were awkward, but also听surprisingly meaningful. Everyone seemed open, curious and eager to connect. I made myself go to one welcome event听鈥撎齮he Meet and Mingles hosted by the Student Experience Office.听And even though I nearly talked myself out of it,听going became a turning point. I ended up in a conversation with someone who also hated icebreakers, and we鈥檝e been friends ever since that day. That moment reminded me that connection doesn鈥檛 have to start with a perfect introduction. And sometimes, bonding over mutual awkwardness is enough.

Over time, I started looking for small ways to meet people. I said 鈥渉i鈥� to someone in lecture. I joined one club that aligned with my interests. And most importantly, I stopped thinking of campus events as awkward. Things like student socials or club meetings aren鈥檛 just about filling time but they鈥檙e about finding your people. When I joined the student newspaper, I met a group of passionate, creative, thoughtful students who made me feel welcome without me having pressure to perform or impress. I didn鈥檛 have to impress anyone 鈥� I just had to show up.

It wasn鈥檛 always easy. Making new friends as an adult can feel unfamiliar. There鈥檚 no assigned seating or group projects to force an interaction. You have to be a little bold, a little awkward and willing to start conversations that might not go anywhere. I began with simple openers like, 鈥淗ave you taken this professor before?鈥� or 鈥淚s this seat taken?鈥�. Not every one of those moments led to a friendship, but some did and that was enough.

What I didn鈥檛 expect was how long it takes for real friendships to settle in. It鈥檚 not like the movies, where you meet your forever friends in week one. It took time. I kept showing up 鈥� at club meetings, in class, at residence events 鈥� and gradually, faces became familiar. Familiarity turned into connection. Connection turned into friendship. Some people I barely noticed in September became my closest friends by spring.

You don鈥檛 need to reinvent yourself or become the loudest person in the room. You just need to be yourself and be brave enough to try.

Even now, as a fourth-year student with a solid support system, there are still days I feel out of place. But I鈥檝e learned that feeling lonely from time to time doesn鈥檛 mean you鈥檙e failing at university. It means you鈥檙e human. Everyone鈥檚 navigating this experience differently, even the ones who seem completely confident.

If you鈥檙e coming into university with that same feeling I had 鈥� that quiet hope for something better 鈥� know this: you鈥檙e not alone. There are people on your campus who want connection just as much as you do. I found mine by taking small risks, embracing discomfort and saying 鈥測es鈥� more often than I said 鈥渘o.鈥�

You don鈥檛 need to reinvent yourself or become the loudest person in the room. You just need to be yourself and be brave enough to try.

Your community is out there. Keep showing up.

You鈥檝e got this.

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When I first arrived at university, I thought the hardest part would be the coursework. I expected long hours in the library, group projects that stretched late into the evening听and听the occasional night of studying until sunrise before an exam. Those challenges were real, but they were not what left me most exhausted. The听real burden听came from something quieter,听something I had never even heard of before: the mental load.

The mental load is all of the things you think about, plan for and organize that no one else sees. It is not simply what happens inside the classroom. It is the constant responsibility of keeping your life moving while also trying to keep up with your studies.

The Constant Juggle

In between lectures, I would find myself thinking about whether I had remembered to email my landlord if my OSAP (, a government financial aid program for students) payment had arrived and if I could still buy groceries after paying for rent and textbooks. Sometimes, during a lab session, I would suddenly remember that I needed to register for a career fair or renew my student bus pass.

These tasks were not complicated on their own, but together they preoccupied my mind. They became a layer of invisible work that followed me everywhere, even when I was supposed to be focused on something else.

The Many Small Decisions

One thing I never expected was how many decisions I would have to make each day. From the moment I woke up, I was choosing what to wear, whether to walk or take the bus and which assignment to start first. By the time evening arrived, deciding what to make for dinner felt like a major challenge.

This is called decision fatigue. When your mind is busy shifting between so many small choices all day, even the simplest decision can start to feel overwhelming. It is not a sign that you are careless. It is a sign that your brain has been working without pause.

The Responsibilities We Overlook

Alongside coursework, there is a long list of responsibilities that no one includes in a syllabus:

• Answering emails from professors and supervisors
• Updating a LinkedIn profile before a networking event
• Booking medical appointments and renewing important documents
• Keeping a budget so you can pay rent and still have enough for groceries

These tasks may not have deadlines or grades attached to them, but they are essential. As they are not part of the formal academic structure, they can be harder to schedule time for. This means they often remain on your mind until they are done.

Learning to Carry Less

It took me some time to realize that managing the mental load was not about doing more, but about creating habits that reduced the number of decisions I needed to make.

I started eating the same breakfast on weekdays. That small change removed one choice from my mornings and left me with more energy for the day ahead.

I set aside a half hour every other day for administrative tasks. During that time, I answered emails, checked my OSAP account and planned my schedule. Instead of letting those tasks interrupt me throughout the day, I completed them in one block.

When I thought of something I needed to do, I wrote it down in a notebook right away. This helped me trust that I would remember it rather than keeping it in my mind all day.

I also gave myself a few regular choices for meals, outfits and bus routes. Limiting these options made my daily routine feel calmer.

Most importantly, I started taking short walks without my phone. Even ten minutes outside gave me a clearer head and a break from constant input.

Why It Matters

The mental load is a real part of university life and it often goes unnoticed. It is easy to think you are simply bad at managing your time or not working hard enough when, in reality, you are carrying a set of responsibilities that no one else can see.

Recognizing this weight is the first step to making it lighter. By creating routines, writing things down and giving your mind genuine rest, you can protect your energy for the work that matters most.

University is about more than attending lectures and completing assignments. It is about learning to manage the many moving parts of your life in a way that keeps you healthy and balanced. That skill will serve you well long after graduation.

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By Hailey Leggett

The transition from on-campus residence to off-campus living can place significant pressure on a student鈥檚 financial stability and mental wellbeing. Many are experiencing financial independence from their parents for the first time, which can be a liberating but also challenging milestone. While it may feel daunting at first, through practice and personalization, you鈥檒l adopt individual tips and tricks of budgeting.  Learning how to manage money is one of the most important life skills for university students. It doesn鈥檛 take much to get yourself in trouble, so understanding how it works is a necessary skill. The following tips and strategies serve as helpful reminders for managing your finances effectivelyand how to allocate money in a responsible and organized manner.

When you craft your budget, a helpful tip is to organize your expenses into three distinct categories: Fixed Expenses, Flexible Expenses, and Savings. Fixed expenses include rent, utilities, and phone bills. Flexible Expenses include food, transport and any other necessary but fluctuating expenses.  Savings refer to leftover money set aside for future needs or goals. Although this may not apply to everyone鈥檚 situation, if you are looking to save up for a large purchase鈥攍ike a car for example鈥攊t鈥檚 a good idea to designate a certain amount of money into what鈥檚 called a sinking fund. This money, although put aside now, will be used in the future. As you develop your own budget, it is important to keep in mind the following tips:

Avoid overspending on groceries

Grocery prices can be overwhelming and confusing to navigate, especially for first-time shoppers. While groceries can take up a significant percentage of your monthly budget, there are plenty of ways to save money. When you have time or access to a vehicle, compare local grocery stores near your campus and determine which one has the best prices. Discount grocery stores include, but are not limited to: Walmart, Food Basics, No Frills and regional favorites like Adonis, which operates in both Quebec and Ontario, as well as local farmers鈥� markets.

In most cities, big chain grocery stores will have a student discount once a week, where you can expect 10 to 30 percent off your order. It may not seem significant, but you can save a lot of money this way. Ask a cashier if and when your local grocery store offers this perk.  

Making a weekly grocery list and sticking to it can save you more money than you think. It鈥檚 also a good way to keep track of what you鈥檝e run out of and what you need for upcoming recipes. Before adding an item to the list, ask yourself 鈥淒o I need this, or do I want this?鈥�; if it鈥檚 not on the list then you probably don鈥檛 need it. 

Another tip is to buy products in bulk鈥攁ssuming you can get through the food before it expires. You can often save money when buying non-perishable foods like granola bars, nuts, and dried fruit in bulk.  Most importantly, aim to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. This means learning to cook and create healthy meals. Find recipes that keep you full and energetic. Often, the ingredients needed in these recipes use versatile fresh foods that can be incorporated into a variety of different meals. 

Beware of splurging on coffee

I understand the appeal of grabbing a coffee on the way to class, but the cost can really add up. It鈥檚 good to get into the habit of making your own coffee. If you have trouble with this, track your daily coffee spending and total it at the end of the month. It鈥檚 usually a lot more than you think. To save money, try purchasing a coffee maker and reusable mug. This will help you get in the habit of making coffee at home. If you like flavoured drinks, coffee shops and popular chains often sell syrup in bulk for around $15 to $20鈥攁nd a bottle can last over a month and a half depending on your coffee consumption.

If your coffee maker uses pods, buy them in bulk from stores like Costco鈥攊f you have a membership or know someone who does. This is much cheaper than buying them from a regular grocery store. Depending on your machine, you may be able to use reusable pods, which will save you money and prevent waste. A cheaper and more accessible alternative is to buy a coffee maker that uses ground coffee. 

Reduce your utility bills

For first-time renters, the cost of utilities can be shocking and stressful. One of the most important tips I can give is to always ask the local utility company what the average bill is for the space you are looking to rent. Depending on the area, type of heating, and unit space, the cost can fluctuate heavily. Before signing a lease, contact the local utility provider in your area and ask for an estimate on the previous tenants average billing amount. In addition, it is critical to learn   how the billing and metering works, as this can help you understand where and why spikes occur. For example, if you have in-unit laundry, learn when it is cheapest to run the washer and dryer, and accommodate your schedule to those times. 

When you are living with roommates and splitting the electricity bill equally, it is super important that everyone adopts the age-old habit of turning off the lights. You鈥檝e probably heard your parents say that before, but it can save you money in the long run. It鈥檚 also beneficial to build a habit of turning off energy-consuming devices like fans when you are not home or sleeping. 

Before you start crafting a budget, ask the utility company if it can provide you with the previous tenant鈥檚 highest bill. Depending on the unit and whether it has air conditioning, the utility bill may fluctuate heavily with the seasons. Having this information is important as it helps you budget accordingly. A good strategy is to calculate the total amount over the year, and budget the average monthly cost throughout the year, with a certain buffer in case of spikes during the winter. This way, you will have a clear picture of exactly how much money you will need to put aside for duration of the lease.

Cheaper alternatives to expensive textbooks

While professors may recommend the campus bookstore, it is very likely that the book you need is available elsewhere and at a lower cost. If your university has Facebook groups, check to see if they have a page dedicated to used textbooks. Often, you鈥檒l find the textbook you鈥檙e looking for in good condition, sometimes unused. Another strategy is to check and see if there is a used bookstore near or around the university campus.  Graduating students often donate old textbooks to local shops or student groups. They鈥檒l often be selling them at a huge discount.  Some university bookstores in 蘑菇传媒 don鈥檛 accept returns if the plastic wrap is removed from the book so keep this in mind.

Budgeting is very dependent on personal experience. Most of it, you鈥檒l learn through trial and error. My budget changed drastically in the fall and winter terms of second year when I started living off-campus.  Even though I had planned ahead, there were unexpected costs I hadn鈥檛 accounted for. The tips and tricks above were lessons I learned and now use as a guide for budgeting my money on a daily basis. 

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