Hillel Ontario

Written by Ethan Avinoam, Student President at Guelph Hillel 2017/2018

How fast time flies! I remember my first year of university like it was just yesterday. It was a whirlwind, but the perfect blend of fast-paced academic action, and incredible social experiences that made you want to pause time entirely. One of the most important aspects of my transition from high school to university was seeking out and settling in a new Jewish community and maintaining my own routine and Jewish lifestyle. This was my gateway to finding a home at Hillel, the defining element of my undergraduate career and one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had the privilege to be a part of. From the moment I walked into my first event, I could immediately feel the warmth and comfort of others who were just like me, and so eager to connect and collaborate with each other.

By my sophomore year, I had joined the executive team with a new brand, director, and no shortage of uncertainty. From the first team meeting onwards it felt like family, and the incredible things we were able to achieve on campus and within our own community made me proud to be an active Jewish student. I remember thinking to myself after my second year, can this really get any better? I was enjoying my academics, in love with my campus and everything it had to offer (don’t even get me started on the food at UoG!), and had met dozens of amazing new friends through Hillel and AEPi that all had common interests but also unique differences. My personal challenge was finding ways to become more involved and as third and fourth year approached, my motivation to enhance Jewish student life at Guelph increased by the day.

After an incredible third year full of new friends & everlasting memories, I decided to make the jump and take on a leadership role as President for my final year. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I could have made and working on such an amazing team for the year was fulfilling and humbling. It was a year of firsts, a new approach to our executive team philosophy and a new outlook on how to continue improving and innovating Jewish student life at Guelph. However, none of it would have been possible to conceive without the brilliance of our Director Gila Cotler. Gila has been so much more than just a Director, she has been the catalyst behind the student-led revitalization of Jewish life at the University of Guelph. Gila’s unbelievable work ethic, compassion, perseverance and philosophy have influenced our entire community and set the foundation for years of growth and positive change to come.

It has been such a privilege to work and collaborate with Gila, our amazing Vice President and incoming Co-President Riley Noik who is one of the most creative and intelligent individuals I have ever met, as well as the rest of our team who have made this past year the most memorable and who have inspired me to enjoy every day to the fullest and take risks so that we can all learn and discover more about ourselves and others. A ‘Thank You’ doesn’t come close to describing the extreme gratitude that I have for being able to experience my four years of University in paradise, a nurturing environment with incredible professors, community leaders, but most of all students. It has been an honour, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Signing off for one last time,
Ethan Avinoam

Written by Aleeza Karp

As my undergraduate career comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on me, my relationships, and my experiences. Naturally, the majority of this self-reflection is focused on me wishing I could go back to my first year knowing everything that I do now. If this were possible there are a few key lessons I would always carry with me.

1.Embrace your fears!

The sooner you accept your fears and anxieties, the sooner you can begin to explore and overcome them. Even though it may not seem like it, the vast majority of your peers share your insecurities and can help you through them. It doesn’t matter if this fear stems from social anxiety, stress about keeping up in school, or being afraid to try something new. Don’t let your fear keep you from experiencing all of the incredible things your new world has to offer you.

2. Expand your horizons and create your own community!

University can be really terrifying, especially if you are living away from home. While it is important to maintain ties to your community and friendships at home, it is just as important to create this network for yourself at school. Join a club. Go volunteer. Make an effort to talk to one new person every day. Build new relationships and pursue new experiences. The inspiration and support from your personal community will give you immeasurable value.

3. Plans are almost always made to be changed.

Some people enter their undergraduate degree with an exact plan of where they want to go in their lives and how they want to get there. Others spend their entire degree and then some trying to figure this out. Either way, it’s not uncommon for your original goal to change as you gain new experiences and perspectives. And that’s okay. You need to be able to keep an open mind and have the flexibility to re-evaluate and accept change as it comes to you.

4. Make time for yourself!

The rumours about university are true; it can be really demanding. Between classes, study time, extracurricular activities, and your social life, it is extremely easy to spread yourself too thin and become overwhelmed. Make sure to find an activity that you enjoy or something that helps you relax. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you are doing it for you.

5. It’s okay to ask for help!

Going into university can feel like being thrown into the deep end while you’re still learning how to swim. All of a sudden, your professors don’t know your name, your workload has tripled, and you feel like you have to do everything on your own. But you don’t!!!! Your school has so many resources to help you, you just have to seek them out. Professors are there to support you, and they love it when you visit them during their office hours and give them the opportunity to get to know you. Your school is full of professors, advisors, and counselors whose job it is to help you and support you through your university journey. All you have to do is ask.

6. School is extremely important. But it’s not EVERYTHING.

This is probably the most valuable lesson, one which I have spent my entire degree learning. There is no question that academics should be your main priority in university. At the end of the day, you go to school to learn in hopes of furthering your education and building a career. But it should never be your only priority. I mean this in two ways, both equally as important. First and foremost, your health comes first. ALWAYS. This includes your mental health. You should never do something that puts you at risk or compromises your health. This could mean losing out on some study time in order to get a full night’s sleep. Or taking a day or two off from your hectic schedule when you’re sick to allow yourself to fully convalesce. Or making room in your schedule to go to the gym to maintain your sanity. There are certain compromises that shouldn’t be made, even for school. Secondly, university is not solely about academics. Sure, it is of the utmost importance to get good grades so that you can pursue a career, but some of the most important lessons you learn during this period of your life can’t be learned in a lecture hall. They are found in the relationships you form and the experiences you allow yourself to have outside of the classroom, all of which shape who you are as a person. Make sure to make the absolute most out of your university experience. Take advantage of every single opportunity the comes your way, and even go after some of the ones that don’t! You never know where they may lead you…