testimaonial-sherise


 * October 15th 2009**

Hey OSCSS,

I Can't believe it's been a year already since semester 53 was at the OSCSS!!! Time goes by so fast. How is everything??? I am at the University of Guelph now. Things are...hectic. Mid-terms are this week and I have quizzes left and right. If there is anything I've taken away from the OSCSS it would be organizational skills, for sure. I learned quickly that if you don't stay on top of things in university, there is no one there to tell you otherwise. BUT it is still an awesome experience nonetheless.

So you want us to say something to the new semester this year right??? Well here goes:

"Greetings, Semester 55!!! My name is Sherise from semester 53 and I now go to the University of Guelph for the Molecular Biology and Genetics program. I hope the OSCSS is treating you well. I remember around this time last year I was wracking my brain for an idea for a bio evolution project assigned by Mary (I don't think she is there anymore). I must say it was stressful, and I wasn't even sure I would finish it in time, as I also had to balance chem labs and physics homework as well. But, I am proud to say that I did, and I got an EXCELLENT mark for it too :).

The OSCSS for me was a challenge. In september everyone was complaining about the chem aspirin synthesis lab and bio evolution unit, the ridiculous amount of bio work to be done on the whole (if you didn't realize, for us bio was the most demanding subject), going to school early, heading home late, and the overall workload that comes with balancing three courses (which would be the three sciences). At times we were wondering "How will we even survive???" and the answer then wasn't at all clear. But here we are now, alumni of a wonderful school and we also added some valuable skills that have already proven useful for that next giant step that is...university. I am sure all of you are coping well with this new environment, but here are some tips that you may or may not find useful, if you haven't already realized them for yourself:

- GET ORGANIZED!!! If you don't understand the importance of this at the OSCSS, then you are in for a big wake up call in Uni. Knowing what you have to do and when it's due is vital to success, especially in post-secondary life. I've already had two close calls with due dates and now that I plan out everything I can do stuff accordingly. No one is going to remind you about your assignments (some of my profs will remind you the day before that it's due, not even that you had something in the first place) and you have to take charge and manage your own time. Especially with such a late dismissal, always be aware of what takes priority. - DON'T PANIC!!! I did. And it did nothing for me. At one point I was gonna crack because I had so much to do and didn't know where to start (around bio evolution project time). Just always remember that time keeps moving and at this time next week or in two weeks you WILL have thought of something (you have no choice!) and it will be over.

- ASK QUESTIONS!!! The wonderful thing about the science school is that with such a small group you can have one-on-one time with the teachers if you are struggling. I was not a great physics person and Maria offered me the help I needed to understand concepts and whatnot (she also taught me grade 10 science at O'Connor :D) A definite must. I didn't get such a privilege when I went back to my high school.

Now for the corny tips:

- PAY ATTENTION!!! And keep your notes if you decide to go into science in the future. All my science binders are in my university dorm for reference, because so far, EVERYTHING I've learned in chem and physics in grade 12 are now popping up in my lectures (except for bio, I don't know where that class is going at the moment). Quantum numbers, equilibrium, thermodynamics, everything that Leslie went out of her way to teach us are now coming back for round 2. And it makes you feel super cool to say "Yeah, I know that already."

- HAVE FUN!!! In the first month of the OSCSS all of us had so much time to go explore the OSC and just relax, but as assignments started piling up most of our time was spent in the student lounge. Looking back, I wish we all made more of an effort to do more activities together both inside and outside the OSCSS. Of course we made events, but not everyone would go due to work. 5 months go by faster than you realize. Try to make time for work as well as each other, because the times when we all did manage to do something were always the most memorable. Cameras are a good idea too. (NOTE: The odd-numbered semesters are the best because we have Halloween AND Christmas. You can't do many group activities with Valentine's Day and Easter. Enough said.)

That's all for now. At the end of all this, you wouldn't want to leave :). Semester 53 still gets together on occasion for dinners and whatnot, just for old time's sake. I hope that 55/56 will be able to forge strong friendships from this once in a lifetime experience. Just live in the moment and enjoy the workload, because in a year you will learn that you had it "REALLY, REALLY GOOD."

Sherise.