This is where it all began.

Paul Brandt might have had a point when he told me that "Everything I need beneath that big blue sky" is found when I'm Alberta Bound, but there was something in my adventurous self that thought - "I should see how life is on the other coast". And so this journey began. This journey's main purpose though is for me to study my program of choice and eventually graduate from it, in addition to travelling and living independently from my parents. So I packed up my two suitcases and my carry on and headed to Toronto, Ontario, wide-eyed, optimistic, and ready for the challenges ahead.

Nathan Phillips Square

So how did this all come about? Of course, as a stressed out little high school student, I did my research on my strengths and weaknesses, what the job industry is like, what's on demand, and, the most important of them all is, what am I passionate about? There are a few things that I knew: I am good with logical thinking and problem solving and I am fascinated by how the human body works. I am good with math, physics, and chemistry, and I lack a little confidence in biology. Since high school came so easy to me, I, mistakenly, underestimated university and decided to challenge myself and took biology together with engineering. Biomedical engineering became my program of choice but universities in Alberta do not offer this program directly. I either have to start at chemical or mechanical engineering, then specialize or minor in biomedical. So I've decided to look elsewhere and found Ryerson University.

Ryerson University

This university and its location is actually quite perfect for me. Three of my closest friends from high school started their university career a year before me and one of them goes to Ryerson University. I would just like to point out that I took a year off after high school to work and to think about my decision. At the time, I felt like my program of choice was rushed and it was also being pushed to that direction as I had a $5000 scholarship in my name as long as I enter an engineering program. Back to the point, having friends around gave me some comfort that I already have a support system in place and that I know I will not be completely alone since I am moving away from what I've known all my life. Furthermore, Ryerson is one of the only universities with an accredited direct Biomedical Engineering program.

Pitman Hall

Pitman Hall is one of the few university residences at Ryerson and it was recommended that I live in residence for my first year of study to ease my way in to the student life. This place is in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the city being steps away from the live bands performing at Dundas Square, festivals on Nathan Phillips, the waters of the Toronto islands, the suited men and women of the Financial District, the shopping crowd of the Eaton Center and many more. I lived in an apartment style room with a tiny kitchenette, a little living room, and a bathroom that I shared with 3 other girls. It definitely is a complete 360 from how I lived in Calgary. I lived on the outskirts of Calgary where my neighborhood is by horse ranches and a fairly quiet highway that leads to Canmore, Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, Jasper and many more national parks. This was such a change in environment because I've noticed little things that I never got to experience. Things like ambulance or fire truck sirens in the middle of the night, other noises coming from people talking and walking at night, the city lights were blinding, and unfortunately, the smell was completely overwhelming. Who knew that you can experience culture shock coming and going to the same country ?

Pit 3 (2015 - 2016)

Despite the adjustments that I had to make, I made some great friends and created more support system for myself in order for me to thrive in this city. I think the highlight of my experience living in residence is the constant company that I got for every time I came home. It was the sense of community. It was relating to your peers with the same struggles and challenges. It was experiencing a lot of firsts together and it was about all the created memories that will hopefully last a lifetime.

Update: Now, after 4 years, most of us are off to walk the stage in the spring. I may not have stayed in touch with everyone in the photo above but I do get constant updates from everyone. I will definitely keep and cherish all the memories we have had together and will never forget that feeling of safety and security during my stay with these folks.