The Stages of Summer, as Told by a University Student (and HIMYM)

A homage to summer, as told by a (somewhat dramatic) student who finds heat unbearable and doesn’t like making important decisions when “I’m on break!”

Stage 1: Satisfied 

Summer has started. Your exams are over. You rejoice the world around. You see heavens open up and you know, you just know, that all that those things you wanted to do during the school year but haven’t had the time to do will finally happen. High hopes and excitement are what surround you as you set out to read that book, watch that TV show, catch up with those friends, and plan that road trip.


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Stage 2: Reality Sets In

It’s a week into summer. The weather is hot, too hot, hotter than you had planned for. The heat encompasses you and suddenly you no longer want to do anything but lay in your backyard and sleep in the sun. You know you need a good tan, especially since Mom hinted during finals that you should “probably stop wearing hoodies so much.” For once, Netflix can wait: it’s the sun you really want to keep you company.

People are starting to ask you what you’re doing with your summer. You had such a great plan for it the week before, but now you want more to tell people. A job? Do some academic research? Volunteering? The choices are limitless, but of course, that doesn’t make it any easier to choose. Stress slowly starts creeping up behind you, and since you just let it go, you’re not keen on addressing the issue anytime soon. So for now, you’ll cuddle with your cat Pickles on your deck with your super-cool sunglasses and hope you get at least a little bit of a tan.


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Stage 3:  You Find Something to Do

It’s a month into summer, and you (for the most part) are settled into the daily grind of something, whether it’s going to work, volunteering, or actually watching all of the movies you’ve wanted to watch on Netflix. You’ve fallen into a routine and it feels good. Mainly because you don’t have to make a decision about what to do every day. You’ve found a good book to read, or a super-long TV series to watch in the evenings, and you finally have an answer to the question, “So, what are you doing this summer?”


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Stage 4: Relapse

Your friend from last term’s “Intro to Statistics” class tells you about a super interesting course on comic books that you should take. You go on Beartracks and while looking for her recommendation, find a few other courses that get you excited. The result? Trying to reorganize your already flawless schedule to fit these new courses in. Next, you’re googling syllabuses. Can it be? Is it true? Do you want to…go back to school? (No, I didn’t intend for that to rhyme, but isn’t it much better that it does?)


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You push the thought away from your mind because, no, it’s only June, and you really like how you’re summer’s going so far. But you can’t help it. Despite those courses you thought you’d never be able to get through, there’s still a lot of courses you’re looking forward to taking this year. You consider how not having a brain might be more relaxing, and are lost in your reverie for a while until Dad calls and asks what the plans for dinner are. Pizza? Pizza! It’s summer, after all.


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Stage 5: It’s July

July is great for one reason: you’ll finally do most of what you wanted to do this summer. Road trips with friends, attending festivals around the city, cleaning out your closet (wherein your cat Pickles found one of his favourite mice that he lost about a year ago). You’ve never felt closer to your friends and family, and the new people you’ve met at your job and volunteering are pretty awesome as well.

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But July is also not the greatest for one reason: you’re only doing all of these things, now, because it’s the second last month of summer. You’re halfway through. If you don’t finish what you’ve planned for this summer, then you’re going to have to do it next summer. It’s a motivator but at the same time, it’s a reminder that summer will be ending soon. But you’re not in the stage of mourning summer, no sir, you’re still in the “best time ever” stage.


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Stage 6: The Home Stretch

You’ve just returned from the Edmonton Folk Fest, and you’ve been having such a great time trying to forget about the end of summer, that you actually have. But then you start getting emails, reminders about the school year to come. Only this time, you’ve more than accepted your fate: you’re on the path to accepting it. Sure, Stats was rough last year…

… but that comic book course you’re taking with Sue is sure to be the bomb. Plus, Pickles has made it clear that he’s getting tired of your presence and he wants your bed to himself again.


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You start thinking about what you’ve managed to achieve these past few months  - you’re cool, you’re proud, you’re happy about these memories and are ready for a change. After all, university isn’t about being stagnant; it’s the total opposite – it’s about moving forward. Even the things you haven’t set out to accomplish can always be done next summer (or even during either of the Reading Weeks! Remember, we get TWO now!), and you know that one day, after you convocate  from this Green and Gold campus, you’ll miss it and the summers it has offered you.


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Rachel - YouAlberta Contributor

Rachel is always up for a good adventure, as long as it doesn’t involve spiders. When not snuggled in a corner connected to headphones and attached to a good book, she’s spending her last year at the U of A tracking down as many quirky people and events as this campus can offer. She would willingly and gladly roll down more hills — and believes this is a valid pastime — if not for her allergy to grass.

Procrastinating in 2016: Campus Face Swapping

Leave it to technology to add yet another method of procrastination for students. Although I’m no Snapchat guru (or frequent user, for that matter), I’ve recently become obsessed with the new Face Swap feature (is it new? No, I don’t think it is. So that tells you how often I actually use Snapchat).

Behold, in all of its facial inaccuracies, my adventure with Face Swap during the last day of classes and impending all-day-studying of finals.

First, I needed to Face Swap some graduation photos, because (hopefully!) I’ll one day be in that position. But unfortunately, both of the graduation photos on the walls of the Ag For building and Business building were too small for Snapchat to recognize the faces, so I ended up just swapping them with each other, like so:

Hopefully this isn’t a sign that I won’t be graduating. 

Next, I set my sights to larger photos and came across some wonderful portraits in the lobby of Ag For. Check it:

This one is particularly frightening and makes my face especially resemble a certain snouted and curly-tailed animal. The convenient aspect about this one, though, is that we’re both wearing fairly large glasses that match up pretty well. 

I particularly enjoy this one because it looks like I could probably star as the sassy mother figure in a 90’s sitcom. 

I’m not entirely sure what happened here, but it looks like a tri-Face Swapping incident. Whatever it is, there’s no denying it’s valuable in its own existence. 

To be frank, I’ve never wondered what I would look like with a moustache. But now I know the answer, whether I like it or not. Also: why does my face look like I’ve just been asked to explain Quantum Physics in front of a lecture hall?

Well, that was fun. I guess that’s it, right? It’s not like I can Face Swap with a statue, right?

Psych! You totally can:

I feel as though I’ve terrified all descendants of Henry Marshal Tory (our first university president), and for that I apologize. 

If you ever see me around campus, don’t be afraid to ask for a Face Swap. It is, without a doubt, one of my favourite new methods of procrastinating. Thank you for that, Snapchat.

Think you can best me? Try Face Swapping the same or other photos, statues, or real-life human beings and tweet us @YouAlberta so we can see them!

Rachel - YouAlberta Contributor

Rachel never leaves her house without a pair of good headphones, her current favourite read, and a cup of tea. She’s a third-year English Major and Linguistics Minor who mainly enjoys hanging out with cats, but will leave their side for the promise of some live music and the company of friends. Some of her dreams include sleeping in and never running into a scary insect ever again.

Rachel Eats a Tombstone

I have to admit, I have been bested. Never before have I experienced the meat sweats so intensely. The air of SUB felt heavy, and I could feel the grease in my bones. I ate a Tombstone. More like, most of a tombstone...

When I signed up for this, I had no idea what I was in for – but apparently my friends and acquaintances did! When I told them my plan, I was met with faces that were mixed with worry and an evil sort of excitement. One of those faces belonged to my fellow YA contributor, Niabi, who was kind (or evil?) enough to offer to document my tombstone attempt, because, as she put it “no one should ever eat one of those alone.” So, here’s what happened (with commentary by both Niabi and I).

Rachel: Before the Deed

As I walked away from Marco’s Donair in SUB, the weight of the Tombstone in my hands, I could see the next hour of my life: I had been warned of the meat sweats, the grease, and the heaviness that the donair/poutine’s mouthwatering yumminess would leave in my stomach. I was remaining confident, but when the workers at Marco’s had asked me how many forks I needed and I replied with “only one,” their eyes silently conveyed the message “good luck with that” before they went back to helping the line.

Niabi: The Delighted Observer

After 15 minutes of eating, Rachel’s facial expressions started to change, and so at this point I decided to write down her reactions and the things she was saying. The result is this time log. And yes, I timed her.

16.00 minutes in: At this point, a good two quarters into the Tombstone, Rachel said “I think I’m full, because when I move, it hurts.”

17.00 minutes in: Removing her cardigan Rachel said, “I want to sit on the floor.”

17.38 minutes in: “You need a fan to eat this.” (The Tombstone is not spicy people, it is just so large that you may work up a sweat while eating it).

18.00 minutes in: “I think I’m gonna call it quits.” Rachel burps. “It hurts to laugh.” She said.

18.30 minutes in: Rachel asks me “Niabi, did you wear stretchy pants? Because I wore stretchy pants.”

18.33 minutes in: Rachel lies back on the couch and closes her eyes, proceeding to take a nap.

21.00 minutes in: Rachel is eating the Tombstone again.

Image Courtesy of Simpson's Quotes on Pintrest

But how did we get here? Why is the Tombstone even a thing? What kind of person says, "I want to stick a full order of poutine inside an already packed donair?" It turns out that the answer is David McBean, U of A alum, and former SU Services volunteer and staff member. Meeting in front of Marco’s, he told us some insider information about the Tombstone, how it was named, and what it takes to finish one.

First up, he explained the name to us.

David: Well, the first donair that we made was called the Wild Cat donair, which was inspired by our favourite band called Ratatat (Note: he was wearing the band’s shirt!), and they have a song called Wild Cat. At the time, when my friends and I were eating donairs a lot, we were pretty obsessed with the song Wild Cat by Ratatat and that’s how we came up with that name.

For the Tombstone, we were all eating Wild Cats in SUB and playing Oregon Trail, which is like an old, 1990s video game. (Note: he would have been playing this around 2010 or 2011…. So, he’s not THAT much older than we are.) The gist of the game is that you load up a caravan and you try to make it across the United States and not die of terrible diseases, and when we reached the end of the map, everyone had died except for one person, Flavour Flav. He was the last person left, and as he was sailing down the final Oregon river, he crashed and died, and a big tombstone appeared in the game. If you look at the Tombstone’s poster, it’s a screenshot of the tombstone from Oregon Trail.

Next up, was the inspiration for adding poutine to a donair.

David: In high school, we had a poutine club, which started out as four friends (shout out to Eric, Wyatt, and Tyler!). Right by Harry Ainlay there was a Poutine Palace restaurant, and every Friday we’d get poutine there. It just started as the four of us and as the years went on, the size of the poutine group got bigger and bigger until eventually it was like 30 people.

When we were all in grade 12 the poutine palace shut down, tragically, and in place of it a donair store opened up. So instead, the group of us went and got donairs every Friday, and when we all went to university we wanted to keep this tradition, so we started the donair club. We’d go to Marco’s every Friday as a big group in SUB and we’d all eat donairs, and after doing that for about a year, we first came up with the Wild Cat, and maybe six months after that, as a tribute to our poutine roots, we wanted to put the poutine inside of the Wild Cat, and ended up calling it the Tombstone.

So, obviously, I couldn’t finish a tombstone. Which lead us to ask, can David?

David: I…have been one bite away, and it’s been one of my greatest regrets. That was the first time I tried it, and I’ve tried multiple times, and I haven’t been able to do it. I’ve seen lots of people do it, and Wyatt Young, the other co-inventor of the Tombstone, is the first one to ever complete one and he finished it on his first try.

Image courtesy of reactiongif.com

*Niabi and I applaud*

So knowing that, we asked David what kind of personal attributes one would need to finish a Tombstone.

David: It’s a lot of lying to yourself. I think you need to tell yourself that you still have space in your stomach. Maybe some stuff to wash it down, like some tea or water, would help you finish it. But it’s definitely one of the most challenging things to eat. It’s a lot of mental preparation. And as long as you do it fast enough. Don’t they say you can eat as much as you can in around 5-10 minutes? Yeah, so you’ve got to trick yourself.

David then told us why he thinks people should give the Tombstone – now a U of A quirk – a try.

David: *laughs* Um, you know, I feel like it’s part of being alive, like it should be on everyone’s bucket list. At least a onetime thing, just to say you’ve gone out there, you took a risk, you ordered a Tombstone, and you accomplished it. And I think it just kind of helps us all experience life in a nutshell.

So that’s the story of Rachel eating a Tombstone, with some extra background for anyone who has ever said “who’s idea was this?!?!?”

Difficulty Scale (form 1 to 10):

The first half is like a one, but then it gets exponentially closer to ten at the end. The last two bites are a ten out of ten, like it just feels greasy, you’re sweating from the meat. So overall a ten, but it definitely starts out easier than it finishes.

Note: Difficulty rating courtesy of Tombstone creator, David McBean.

Rachel - YouAlberta Contributor

Rachel never leaves her house without a pair of good headphones, her current favourite read, and a cup of tea. She’s a third-year English Major and Linguistics Minor who mainly enjoys hanging out with cats, but will leave their side for the promise of some live music and the company of friends. Some of her dreams include sleeping in and never running into a scary insect ever again.

Niabi - YouAlberta Contributor

Niabi is a third year student just starting a BA in English with a Spanish Minor. She’s a relentless optimist, hazardously curious, and tends to laugh a lot (her friends would say that she has a juvenile sense of humour). When not spending money she doesn’t have on clothes, or jamming out to Reggaeton, you can find her in a movie theatre, reading a book that involves sword fighting and dragons.

New Year’s Resolutions: Take Two

I get it, New Year’s Resolutions. Your intentions are really good, and I know that you’re well-meaning. But no matter how many of us seem to subscribe to your ways, and no matter how much effort and time we put into them, you always seem to fizzle out before we hit February.

I’m not big on New Year’s Resolutions myself for a couple of reasons — the main one being that I never really seem to commit full-term. They always tend to be WAY harder than anticipated and I’m always left disappointed instead of proud of what I did accomplish. But it’s never too late to make a change or start something new, so I’m doing a Take Two of some common New Year’s Resolutions — tailored to make them just a little easier, but still beneficial.

Workout on a regular basis —> Take the stairs!!!

You’ve seen those signs - you know, the ones that say, “Take the stairs! It’s great for your health, and the environment!” But you ignore them anyway because, let’s face it, there’s no way you’re climbing up four floors of Business to get to your English class, only to arrive panting and sweating and trying to hide this fact from your classmates.

But what I hate even more than showing up to class or walking up the LRT steps panting and wheezing is going to the gym on a regular basis. So, if you’re like me and do no physical activity whatsoever, try taking the stairs. I started out easy — please, for the sake of your breathing, DO NOT start with the LRT stairs. SAB’s stairs are also really hard to climb, and I swear the Business staircase gets wider as you go up the floors. It might not have the same effect as going to the gym every day, but it’s a start. Plus, it’s much better than relying on my jaw to do the most exercise for me.

Eat all healthy, all day, every day —> Watch what you eat

I think this plan was doomed from the start. We all get super cravings for McDonald’s fries and potato chips, and there’s absolutely no shame in digging into treats once and a while (I’m sorry if I now made you crave either of those foods. Are you drooling yet? I swear I’m not trying to make this harder for you).

If you’re like me and seem to have no self-control when it comes to food, you might want to start off a little easier on yourself. Checking the Nutritional Information on the back of foods means I can no longer live in ignorant bliss when eating those TV Dinners instead of making myself a better supper. Only eating out when it’s conveniently necessary has not only saved my body from unnecessary fats but has also saved my bank account.

Stop buying unnecessary things —> Take account of EVERYTHING you purchase

#studentlife is rough, especially because we all seem to be on a budget. Who doesn’t want to study abroad for a semester, or buy a car instead of taking an hour long bus ride to campus, or buy the new iPhone? But alas, these things take money.

If you have a steady income and are baffled as to how it escapes so quickly from your fingertips, try to start keeping tabs on what you spend your money on. The second I get a pay check it seems to vanish in thin air, but with some investigating I found that I spent way more money than I had thought on concert tickets, books, and music. Saving takes time, so this resolution probably won’t see any benefits until next year, but it’ll all pay off once you get your hands on that new laptop you desperately need.

Get the right amount of sleep every night —> Put some time and effort into your sleep schedule

Look, I’m going to save you the math: there’s no possible way you can go to all your classes, watch every season of The Office, plan a prank on your roommate, execute that prank, fail miserably at that prank because you are not Jim, finish all your assignments, get in some studying time, and then get eight hours’ worth of sleep. It just isn’t feasible.

So, okay, maybe we should be a bit more rational and a little less hopeful when it comes to planning our sleep. Instead of thinking we should get seven to eight hours of sleep, let’s start planning to get seven to eight hours of sleep. Maybe then we won’t start watching How to Get Away with Murder right before our bedtime because, let’s face it, you can’t NOT find out what happens next.

Stop procrastinating —> ????

Anyone have any idea how to fix this one? I’m still at a loss. Maybe it was a losing battle to begin with. But I like to believe that there’s a heaven out there somewhere. I guess that I could try these 10 tips to prevent the perils of procrastination though.

The moral of New Year’s Resolutions for me: Take tiny steps. You’ll get there.

Rachel - YouAlberta Contributor

Rachel never leaves her house without a pair of good headphones, her current favourite read, and a cup of tea. She’s a third-year English Major and Linguistics Minor who mainly enjoys hanging out with cats, but will leave their side for the promise of some live music and the company of friends. Some of her dreams include sleeping in and never running into a scary insect ever again.

From One Student to Another: Tips and Tricks for Job Hunting

Bills are due, you owe your parents money, you need to buy textbooks, and you desperately want a new phone since your iPhone 5 has started shutting down randomly. There’s only one problem: you don’t have a job.

There’s a constant nagging voice at the back of your mind that gets vocalized by only those closest to you who are brave enough to say it, even if it means tough love. They’re saying “get a job!” and you’re nervous because, guess what? It’s not that easy.

While I’m not expert at job hunting (like the University’s Career Centre), but I have been in the above situation more than once, and can now say that I currently have an iPhone 6 that, fortunately, stays on when I need it to.

Throughout each of my long summer and part-time job searches (which always feel like they’ll take longer than my degree,) I spoke to a few career counsellors and did a little bit of research that might help others who are in a similar situation. And while sharing that Facebook post of “The Lucky Dog Who Will Get You A Job If You Share” probably won’t hurt, it’s a safer bet to get out into the world and try your very best.

I’ve used the University’s Career Centre website (formerly known as CAPS) to help create this list:

1. Know what you’re after and have an open mind

Image courtesy of genius.com

Life doesn’t always turn out exactly as you plan, but that’s part of the charm! Be aware of opportunities and engage in different activities outside of academia that follow your interests.

If you have a specific career or job that you’re absolutely set on, then try volunteering or applying to different jobs that still sound interesting to you (even if they aren’t your ultimate dream job). It definitely won’t hurt, and you might actually find a position better suited to your talents and interests.

And if you still don’t really know what kind of career you’d like, don’t worry. Take an inventory of your interests, skills, values, and personality and see what kinds of job descriptions are looking for those same skills, values, etc. You might also want to consider setting up an appointment with a Career Advisor who can help get you on the right track.

2.  Keep practicality and feasibility in mind

Image courtesy of tumbr

If a job needs you to move across country and you a) are still working on your degree (and therefore need to be here) b) don’t already have money to help support the living costs needed for a different city (especially if you’re looking for your next summer job) or c) both of the above, then it’s probably not practical or feasible for you to accept it (or to apply in the first place). Google Maps is one tool that can help you figure out if a job is accessible to you and your transport methods. Take into account how much time you can commit to the job too, and if there are any costs associated with it, see if you can find funding opportunities. (i.e. if you want to spend your summer working abroad, are there ways to get some funding to do so.)

3. Get some experience

Image courtesy of giphy.com

Avoid the awful catch-22 of “I need experience to get a job, but I need a job to get experience”. Experience comes in all shapes and size (so to speak), including volunteering, internships, working abroad, finding jobs on and off campus, or participating in undergraduate research. These experiences can teach you a lot about yourself while also giving you transferable skills, like working effectively in a team, communicating efficiently, and building a strong work ethic. So even if you don’t have traditional work experience, there are many other ways in which you demonstrate related experience on your resume.

4. Dedicate time to the cause

Image courtesy of Pintrest

Getting a job takes time, so allot some time for it. Whether you do it in between classes or while waiting for your laundry, the more time you give to your job search the more effective it will be. Researching, tailoring your essay, finding references, creating a cover letter, applying and doing interviews doesn’t come overnight, so plan and ask for help. Even close friends and family can help give you advice from their own experiences and, of course, there are always career advisors who you can reach out to.

If you’re interested in a specific type of career or job (again, either for the summer, part-time, or for your post-graduation days) then don’t be afraid to ask the professionals who already do those jobs. Let them share their experience and wisdom with you through job shadowing or career information interviews.

The Career Centre has some pretty amazing programs to aid in this step: Rapid Reviews (of your resume, LinkedIn profile, CV, or portfolio), numerous presentations, workshops, and seminars, job shadow week, and the summer job fair.

5. Be positive and confident

Image courtesy of billypenn.com

You have talent, skills, and interests that define you as an individual and as a worker. You are valuable. You have agency. You will make it.

Remaining positive and confident during this whole process is a crucial aspect. You might apply to fifteen different positions and not get one call back — but nothing is hopeless with the right attitude. Keep a support system of family, friends, and peers around you, to help you through the application and interview experience. Also, if and when you do speak with potential employers, remember that it’s not about just making the “right” impression – it’s about making your impression. Be content with yourself and let them get to know you.

Before an interview, I usually listen to some pump-up music that puts me in a good mood and gives me a little confidence boost. I avoid finding out who else has applied for the same jobs I have, and make sure that I remind myself that I will be okay if I don’t end up getting a job I really wanted. Remembering that you are still you regardless of what job you may or may not get can keep you from feeling disappointed and burned out, so be sure to make time check-in and appreciate yourself.

Although these steps can’t guarantee you a job or career, hopefully they will make it easier for you. As always, if you need any help whatsoever don’t hesitate to contact the Career Centre.

Image courtesy of her.ie

Rachel - YouAlberta Contributor

Rachel never leaves her house without a pair of good headphones, her current favourite read, and a cup of tea. She’s a third-year English Major and Linguistics Minor who mainly enjoys hanging out with cats, but will leave their side for the promise of some live music and the company of friends. Some of her dreams include sleeping in and never running into a scary insect ever again.

6 YouTube Channels That Will Help You Study (Kinda)

If you’re like me, then the internet is your greatest weakness – especially when it comes to studying. Yes, I’ve lost the battle with it too. But never fear, for I have found a way the internet can help you — yes, YOU — study for your finals. It’s pretty mind-blowing (albeit not as mind-blowing as a panda sneezing).

So instead of allowing social media to slowly take over your study schedule, try out some of these videos and see if they help keep you in an academic frame of mind — both for the sake of your studying, and for your sense of guilt about NOT studying. After all, some of these will relate to and reinforce what you’ve learned in class.

Of course, researching this list was an act of procrastination in itself for me…but at least I can say that I’ve learned a few things.

1. The School Of Life

Focused mainly on philosophy, sociology, political theory and literature, The School of Life is an actual school in the UK whose goal is to “develop emotional intelligence.” While the channel gets bonus points for having a British narrator, the part that I’ve found most useful is its ability to spur deep thought. It does present information that could be helpful for research purposes, but I was most inspired by the way that it caused me to look at things (plus, it solidified the correct way to pronounce Nietzsche’s name…) One student I’m aware of has even claimed that the channel caused them to experience an existential crisis (but in a good way).*

*This student was me.

2. AsapSCIENCE

Like the title suggests, these videos present science concepts for those who, like me, feel as though they’re in a time pinch. Plus, they relate all the science-y stuff to real world questions, like if it was the chicken or the egg who came first, or what colour WAS that dress, really? Sometimes they even have guest presenters, like the famous Bill Nye the Science Guy. BILL BILL BILL BILL.

This particular video is about the effect of alcohol on your body. A+ for the fun doodles, which I find make learning so much easier.

3. Crash Course

The title of the channel is quite literal, as it offers crash courses (short, yet vastly inclusive and well-explained theories and ideas) in everything from Capitalism to ATP to why that green light in The Great Gatsby is so important. It also has one of the most comprehensive subject listings on this list.
The channel is run by two brothers, John and Hank Green — one of whom wrote that really sad, emotional, yet pretty funny book The Fault In Our Stars…. This may or may not be how I found this channel in the first place...

I’ve included the crash course on Conditioning in psychology, mainly because…well, dogs.

4. Vsauce

Probably the most famous channel on this list, Vsauce likes to ask the big questions and also likes to give big answers. In fact, I’ve found that I usually end up with more info than originally sought  — and for me, this is why Vsauce is so great: because it always reveals more than you knew possible.

In this example, he works to answer the basic (and complicated) question “what is fear?” and to do so, addresses a number of related questions, like why do we get scared when we think of spiders? Or, why are some people afraid to speak in front of the class? Both are questions that I, personally, would love to know the answer to.

5. Minute Physics

Physics is pretty mind-blowing, albeit it’s even sometimes hard to wrap your head around. It’s like when you first watch The Butterfly Effect, and you end up walking around the earth weeks later still overthinking every single little decision you make. There’s a parallel universe? What do you mean my curiosity kills the cat? I ONLY WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH IT.

Okay so, physics confuses me more than anything. But these videos have helped me make a little bit more sense of some complicated theories, like E=mc2 and the numerous dimensions and universes that exist.

6. There’s a Heifer in Your Tank

This one is home grown since all of the videos were produced by students who’ve taken Animal Science 200 – Principles of Animal Agriculture right here at the U of A. Plus, most (but by no means all) of the videos feature people who could have (at one point or another) possibly been your classmates wearing animal costumes…. There are a lot of cow and chicken costumes. Each video finds a creative, funny, and sometimes funny way to answer a somewhat random (but totally worthwhile) question related to animal science – like “would you rather be a human gynecologist or a turkey gynecologist?” My answer – I still don’t know!

Rachel - YouAlberta Contributor

Rachel never leaves her house without a pair of good headphones, her current favourite read, and a cup of tea. She’s a third-year English Major and Linguistics Minor who mainly enjoys hanging out with cats, but will leave their side for the promise of some live music and the company of friends. Some of her dreams include sleeping in and never running into a scary insect ever again.

YouAlberta Spotlight: The Undergraduate Research Initiative

If there’s one thing your undergrad here at the U of A should show you, it’s that opportunities are everywhere. This is what I’ve come to learn since interviewing Connie and Crystal at the Undergraduate Research Initiative, and it’s one I hope to share with other students.

The Undergraduate Research Initiative — URI for short — is dedicated to bringing students closer to answering questions they’ve always wondered about, but haven’t had the resources to research before. Whether it’s discovering ways to make Emergency vehicles and their processes faster, or looking into artificial limbs for amputees, the questions are endless, and URI acts as your support team when figuring out how to answer these questions.

But instead of letting me explain it, I’m going to let the source tell you more about Undergrad Research here at the U of A and how fun and easy it is to get involved. Also, you should totally consider registering for their November 13 – 14 event (co-hosted with the Kule Institute for Advanced Study) Tomorrow’s Ideas, Now: Connecting Communities. In addition to offering you (yes, you!) the chance to become the catalyst for new ideas and initiatives, you could win $500 to help turn your idea into an actual plan. (You just need to register by October 26.)

RACHEL - YouAlberta Contributor

Rachel never leaves her house without a pair of good headphones, her current favourite read, and a cup of tea. She’s a third-year English Major and Linguistics Minor who mainly enjoys hanging out with cats, but will leave their side for the promise of some live music and the company of friends. Some of her dreams include sleeping in and never running into a scary insect ever again.

My U of A Bucket List

Do you have a bucket list? A university bucket list? I do. It includes all kinds of things that I want to do before I graduate. After all, university is a time for discovery and growth, and a bucket list should help me to track my achievements. So, below is my U of A bucket list. I hope that reading it will inspire you to start thinking about your list… because the final item on my list (spoiler alert!) is to create the ultimate to do list in time for September. So, take a look at my list, and then hit the comments to add your ideas. Together we should be able to build something awesome! 

My List:

1. Find out what’s at the top floor of the Tory Building

I love a good mystery! Getting to the top floor of Tory (the 14th floor, to be exact) takes determination and patience, as the elevator makes stops on nearly every floor on the way up. I plan to stick with it though, because I’m sure that the top must have one of the best views on this side of the river. Plus, I’ve heard that you can only see this particular view for yourself (since the wire mesh that covers the windows prevents anyone from taking a decent photo of the view). 

2. Join a club

The U of A has clubs for nearly anything you can imagine — engineering, accounting, dance, scuba diving, numerous cultures and religions — and the best part is, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can create your own. I’ve personally been interested in joining the Outdoors group, which takes yearly, cost-effective road trips to California for New Years. And for a surprising twist in my everyday routine, the Swing-Out Edmonton Dance Club offers swing dance lessons nearly every Tuesday in ECCHA during the fall term – after a few classes, I’m hoping to  really show off some new dance skills at parties and bars (I’ll look so cool, just you wait and see).

3. Make friends with someone unexpected

This campus is swarming with students – there are over 30,000 of us! Every student has their own unique story to tell, and whether that story involves living in a far-away land, surviving an unbelievable adventure, or pursuing a passion that I’m less educated about, I want to know those stories. So don’t be afraid if someone random pulls up a chair beside you, because I just want to get to know you. 

4. Pull an all-nighter

Before I started attending the U of A, this was one thing I thought I would for sure check off of my list in my first term. Turns out, all-nighters are not as common as the rumours make it out to be. Nevertheless, it doesn’t seem right to graduate my degree without having at least one all-nighter under my belt, whether it’s to finish an essay or to party with my friends (during Reading Week, of course… also, just a reminder – we get two Reading Weeks this year).

If I don’t naturally find myself up all night at some point this fall, I’ll likely try to attend the “Long Night Against Procrastination” (hyperlink:http://c4w.ualberta.ca/LNAP.aspx), which is hosted by the Centre for Writers (this year it’s running from Nov. 19-20). The event will give me an excuse to hang out in the Library past midnight, but will also connect me with free tutors, workshops, and best of all, food!

5. Study abroad

I’ve heard many stories from friends and classmates about their experiences studying abroad, and they seem too exciting to pass up. As an English major whose favourite authors just happen to be Irish, taking a literature course in Ireland is my ultimate goal. 

7. Get an A

Nothing feels better than working your butt off and achieving the best grade possible. So, full disclosure (and hopefully it doesn’t sound like I’m bragging, but), I’ve already crossed this one off my list. But, I really really really hope to create a running tally for this list item. It took a lot of hard work to get my first A, but it was worth it, and I think the effort to get more will be just as rewarding. 

8. Befriend a professor 

Finding an academic guru to turn to for career advice, academic insight, and maybe even a round of Dewey’s pool, would definitely be awesome. I want to be the student who has a prof run out on stage to give them a big congratulatory hug when they graduate. Or if not a hug, an approving head nod would suffice.

9. Have a run-in with Guba and/or Patches

Okay, I’ll admit it: I’m afraid of mascots. Something must have happened to me during my developing years that I don’t seem to remember but has since scarred me. Despite this irrational fear, I hope to one day encounter campus mascots. Luckily, from what I’ve heard, they give great, non-threatening hugs!

10. Celebrate a milestone or achievement with friends at Dewey’s

Dewey’s is our laidback campus pub that feels a like a cross between an indie coffee shop and a super chill bar, and it seems like the kind of place where you would run into a mix of friends, classmates, and professors… and it even feels like the kind of place where you would WANT to run into that mix of people, which is why I think it would be fun to celebrate after a final or something.

11.  Build the Ultimate U of A To Do List

I know that my list might not be your university list – and I want to know what you would put on your list! So, here’s my personal challenge to you: Let’s build the ultimate U of A to do list. Hit the comments and add your suggestions for the things that you think every U of A student should try to accomplish before graduation. (Or at the very least, add something that you want to accomplish during your time as a student.)

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About the Author

Rachel

Rachel Wieringa never leaves her house without a pair of good headphones, her current favourite read, and a cup of tea. As a third-year, English Major/Linguistics Minor you could safely assume words are her comfort zone. Although being alone with a cat is her natural habitat, she can often be found hanging around campus or downtown with friends, either attending a local concert or trying her best to enjoy nature despite her eternal (and completely rational) fear of insects and bugs.