Author: Elora Pharai

Transitions are a strenuous part of life for all of us. We’ve all made transitions, whether it was moving on from kindergarten to the first grade or moving into a new house. They’re inevitable, and that is why they can be so terrifying. One transition that has always terrified students all around the world is the transition from high school to university.

University is often illustrated by society as this intimidating, complicated institution. As such, going into it can be terribly nerve-wracking. This transition has always been especially scary and difficult, but it has only been made scarier by COVID-19. As we head into the second year of the pandemic, students everywhere have had to take a step back and re-evaluate how they are going to prepare for this new chapter in their lives.

When the pandemic started, I was in grade 11; now I am a first-year university student. My last day of in-person high school was on a random Wednesday and I graduated on a Zoom call wearing sweatpants. Yes, sweatpants. You read that right. Obviously, none of us expected the pandemic to last this long. A two-week lockdown soon bled into a month and that ended up turning into a year. I never got to have a prom or a normal graduation, two rites of passage that make the transition from high school to university seem so much more exciting.

As a result, I was not very elated about attending university because I felt like I was just going into another year of headaches from staring at my screen for way too long. I never thought that my first semester of university would be like this, nor did I want it to be, because that meant that my first year was going to be harder than I had ever anticipated. Truthfully, I am actually doing better than I thought. For all of my fellow first-years, here is a list of tips on how you can prepare to try and make the transition just a little bit easier.

How Should You Prepare?

1. Take some time to get to know your professors. Trust me when I say that shooting your professors a greeting email will make you feel a lot In the last few weeks of summer, I was getting so anxious about university that I had forgotten that the professors on my screen were human too – they’re just people. Emailing some professors just to say hello really helped me to realize that. Professors may be having a hard time adjusting too. Remember that we’re all in this together, professors included.
2. Get to know your schedule. I would recommend having a printed copy of your schedule on you, keep it somewhere safe, yet accessible and memorable so that you don’t lose track of it. University classes are weekly, and you only have a certain lecture/tutorial once a week, which is an adjustment from high school where classes were daily. Keeping your schedule handy will be a life-saver.
3. Stay alert on the COVID-19 Protocols. Some universities are having in-person classes, and some aren’t. Life during the pandemic has been very uncertain; things are constantly changing. You should definitely stay on top of your university’s protocols, so that you may keep track of your classes and whether they are in person or online. If you’re on campus, it will be extremely helpful to know what your university’s rules are for social distancing.
4. Stay on top of your readings! In university, 90% of your homework is to read. Do all of your readings because that is more than half the battle. If you don’t stay on top of your tasks, you will fall behind and become piled up in work.

The First Year is Always the Hardest

Your first time doing anything is hard – like your first time riding a bike, or your first day of high school. As much as you prepare, it all comes down to you. Be patient with yourself. Remember that mistakes are there to help you to grow and learn. You may not immediately get the marks that you want; you’re going to have a lot of ups and downs, but focus on the ups. Those bad days are really what make the good days so worthwhile. University is difficult, but remember that this is your first time in it. Cut yourself some slack. Your hard work will eventually pay off, so long as you hang on.

Making Friends

If you’re online, it may be difficult to make friends. Try as hard as you can; participate in the introductory discussion boards, and the class chat during class. You’d be surprised at what you may have in common with people. Sometimes in university you make friends just by asking someone a question. The majority of your peers are in the same boat as you, try to be brave and reach out to them.

Transitions are always scary, and university during COVID-19 may be one of the scariest. But just follow these tips, and you’ll be ready for this next chapter in your life!

References:

Kerr, Emma, and Travis Mitchell, and Josh Moody. “12 Ways to Prepare for Your Freshman Year of College.” U.S. News. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/ways-to-prepare-for-your-freshman-year-of-college.

Mental Health America. “How To Transition To Remote College During The Coronavirus Outbreak.” https://mhanational.org/how-transition-remote-college-during-coronavirus-outbreak.

By Maryam Sheikh

Social media has drastically changed life for everyone. Gone are the days of flipping through newspapers and magazines to gain access to breaking news and trends. Nowadays, virtual platforms fulfill all of our needs. While this has been a gamechanger for accessibility, creativity, and obtaining information, it has also drastically impacted the world of marketing.

In the past few years alone, there has been a shift towards online shopping. When grocery stores and shopping malls were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce started booming. Brands found new ways to appeal to audiences in online formats. Perhaps most famously, TikTok became a powerful platform not only for social interaction, comedy, and entertainment, but for digital marketing as well. Companies are now able to appeal to their target audiences by utilizing high profile Internet figures to promote their products and services. They utilize strategic product placement, endorsements, and trends to convey their messages and attract consumers.

Moreover, digital marketing has altered the capacities of advertising. Previously, company goals may have just been to connect with audiences. Now, brands use digital marketing to build brand image, gain access to new demographics, introduce new ideas, retain customers, and deliver promotions (e.g. coupons, online contests, giveaways, etc.). Digital marketing also minimizes the need to use financial resources to reach customers. Instead of paying for traditional media, companies can sometimes rely on organic marketing campaigns and the power of shares.

A large part of digital marketing is creating content that appears relatable to users. Brands strive to create relationships with their consumers to build trust and reputation. Online engagement provides opportunities to increase brand awareness. Ultimately, digital marketing has allowed for two-way communication to take place, which can mean deeper and seamless relationships between brands and consumers.

Digital marketing is not only limited to advertising through social media platforms. It also refers to marketing through other virtual channels such as search engines, websites, email, and mobile apps. Companies can also track your interests by gathering data from your browsing habits and interactions. Reports also show that companies with strong engagement strategies tend to have higher retention rates. So, posting on social media and utilizing digital tools not only builds awareness, but also contributes to brand loyalty. It is anticipated that future marketing strategies will involve highly personalized content.

So, what makes digital marketing successful? Brands must find niches in the market, develop a consistent voice, and adapt to changing trends. Moreover, they must be mindful of the tones, imagery, offers, and timing of their content. They should also carefully select a diverse set of metrics to determine the effectiveness of their advertising methods.

Overall, it is evident that the sphere of digital marketing has rapidly evolved over the past few years. Undoubtedly, this industry will continue to grow as companies learn how to harness trends and strategies of young influencers to promote their products and services. Though 2021 has not brought flying cars, it has definitely brought otherworldly online content. It will be interesting to see what the future of advertising brings!

References

Adobe. “What is Digital Marketing?” https://www.marketo.com/digital-marketing/.

Ahmand, Irfan. “How Social Media is Changing the World of Advertising.” Digital Information World.  https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2018/07/how-social-media-changed-the-ad-game-infographic.html.

Holton, Laura. “How Social Media Has Changed Marketing Forever.” MYVA360. https://myva360.com/blog/how-social-media-has-changed-marketing-forever.

By Erin Rebello

With the weather getting cooler and many university students away from home and living in cramped dorms, getting your 30 to 60 minutes of daily physical activity can be tough. Add in the fact that university itself takes up so much of your time and energy, and it seems just about impossible to leave your dorm and head to the gym. But what if you didn’t have to; what if you could stay fit while staying home? Well you can, and it’s something I like to call dorm-cercizing!

Instead of requiring tons of equipment, machines, or space, dorm-cersizing works with what you have at your home/dorm to establish a routine that keeps you healthy, even if you can’t workout outside or at the gym. Below are a few routines you can get started on without any prior training or knowledge. You typically won’t require any equipment to start, but might want to add in an inexpensive yoga mat or handheld weights if it’s something you plan to keep up with on a regular basis.

Whenever starting a new exercise routine, it is important to take it at your own pace and listen to your body. An injury can mean days of recovery without being able to exercise!

Warm-ups/Stretches:

The best way to start and end any fitness routine is with a set of full-body stretches. Although they may seem tedious, stretches are crucial to getting the blood flowing and rolling out any cramps pre-workout, as well as preventing future cramps post-workout. Additionally, if you find that yoga and flexibility is something you really enjoy, or would like to explore further, you can also build a full workout routine with only stretches.

1. Start with ten toe-touches. Don’t worry too much about actually touching your toes, but make sure that you’re reaching for them. You’ll also want to be sure to keep both your legs and back straight. If this is easy, try touching the floor!
2. Then put one hand on your hips and stretch your other hand over your body. Do this ten times for each side, and try holding it for 1 to 2 seconds each time
3. Now for arm stretches! Stretch one arm across your chest towards the other side of your body, and use the other arm to clamp it in place. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat with the other hand.
4. Body circles are up next! Start by standing straight and tracing big circles with your arms, making them smaller and bringing them together with each rotation until you’re tracing smaller circles. Repeat but with making circles in the opposite direction. Make these same circles with other parts of your body! Try doing leg circles by balancing on your other leg, and hip circles by creating a hula-hoop motion with your hips.
5. After that you’ll want to do some stationary lunges. Stand up straight and take a big step forward as far as you can go. Make sure that the knee of your front leg doesn’t go past your toes to ensure the best stretch. Repeat for the other leg.
6. Finally, sit on the floor with both of your legs together and out in front of you. Keeping your knees and back straight, reach as far as you can towards your toes. Try holding it for 5 seconds.

Cardio and Strength Building

After you’ve warmed up, it’s natural to want to kick things up a notch, which is where cardio and strength building comes in! Cardio is strenuous and continuous exercise that keeps your heart and lungs healthy, and includes forms of exercise like cycling, swimming, and running. On the other hand, strength building exercises use short bursts of power to build muscle tone, and include weightlifting and core training. In combination, cardio and strength training work together to improve your level of fitness both inside and out.

1. Start with 20 jumping jacks. These simple yet powerful moves are a great way to get your blood pumping. Increase the amount as needed.
2. Then hit the floor and do 30 mountain climbers. Start off in the top portion of a push-up position. Stay upright and bring one knee to your chest at a time, as if climbing something, and alternate legs at your own pace.
3. After that it’s onto 20 squats. Keep your back straight and feet a shoulder width apart, then bend your knees and lower your hips as low as you can before getting back up. If you’re looking for a challenge, try doing this with a 2 to 5-pound weight in each hand.
4. Next up in the routine are 20 burpees. Start with doing a push up, then get to your feet and jump as high as possible, reaching your hands towards the sky before coming back down and repeating the entire motion.
5. Don’t forget your planks! For planks, you’ll want to start in a pushup position. Instead of doing push-ups again, bend your arms at the elbow. Hold yourself up with your leg, upper arm, and core muscles. Try holding this position for at least 30 seconds each interval.

Although these are just a couple of ways to get active in your dorm, mixing and matching these exercise moves into your daily workout routine will help you stay fit, regardless of how much space you have. Happy dorm-cersizing!