By: Marc Mesina
When I first walked through the doors at the HMC campus of Sheridan College, my attitude of excitement vanished, as fear caused me to quickly switch to DEFCON 1. My first day of learning at school was essentially a student orientation program that introduced us, newcomers, to the academic and social aspects of life on and off campus. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed by every bit of information thrown my way and I did not know where to start. From this point onward, I felt every bit of motivation gradually being picked apart as I started the school year on a weak note.
I knew that I had to at least start by introducing myself to people, getting acquainted, and finding a group of individuals I could relate to and thus, mutually support, since I disliked the idea of being a loner. However, after a little more than a few dozen failed attempts I was finally able to find a classmate that I was able to call a “friend” midway through the first semester, who I still talk with to this day. By becoming acquainted with my classmate, I was given so many opportunities to meet new people and I knew right then and there that I was not going to miss this golden opportunity to widen my social circle. It was from this moment that I realized that both my confidence and motivation had risen.
Being included in a friend group was one thing, but finding friends that were willing to support me in everything I did in and out of school felt like exploring Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory for the first time. I have never been to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory before, but I imagine the feeling of being there also gives people goosebumps. Once I met these people, I realized I had been missing out on a lot of opportunities for personal growth. They taught me all about good habits, hobbies, how to succeed further into my professional work career, and how to have fun passing the time during painful classes.
Everything I have learned from my friends now reflects in the routine I have centred my life around over the past two years. Whether I’ve taken their lessons to the heart, or with a grain of salt, matters a lot and I encourage newer students, young or old, to venture out and experience the same journey to discover motivation that I plunged myself into. It is not guaranteed that everybody coming to Sheridan College will be able to discover Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, but for those of you who have not already watched the film and do not understand my reference, my overarching lesson for you is to find a family you belong to.
In a time of incredible change, we are all experiencing this monumental shift together. With a global pandemic, the transition into online schooling and so much more, members of the Sheridan community have become chameleons to welcoming change into their daily routines.
But not every situation starts and ends so easily. There are hardships, challenges and struggles that we experience to come out successfully on the other side. In this blog series, students, Sheridan Alumni, and members of our Sheridan community will share their stories of resilience and how they were able to overcome these obstacles.
The obstacles will vary from physical, emotional and mental, and our hope is that there will be something for everyone to read and grow from.