If you’ve spent any time at TC, whether it's one month or one year, you know the vibe. It’s that weird mix of fighting your sleep, feeling inspired, praying the elevators don’t take their sweet time, and running across the campus for free food. Once you get past that, you begin to realize that TC is the place to be. It has a personality that’s hard to find anywhere else. I’ve put together my top five favorite parts of the TC experience, from the characteristics that shape TC’s personality to the moments that make the whole thing click.
- The Good Luck Ritual
How does your ID card even authorize you when you tap it at the entrance if you haven’t rubbed John Dewey’s head before a major assessment? It is quite hilarious to observe high-achieving students, who usually spend their time in Gottesman Library, touch a bronze statue for good luck. It’s our most iconic campus tradition, the ultimate “only the gods can save me now” move. It’s superstitious, it’s definitely not a degree requirement (although it should be, because how can you graduate without following the tradition). It’s probably the most important ‘education’ you will get before walking into an exam room.
- The Blue Java Regular
At TC, Blue Java is not just a cafe where ‘Friends’ plays on TV almost every day; it’s a lifestyle. Let me tell you, there is no greater accomplishment than walking up to the counter and having them already reaching for your ‘usuals.’ I’ve officially reached ‘Cheese Danish and Coffee Girl’ status, and honestly, I might just post my achievement on LinkedIn. Nothing beats the absolute peace of mind that comes from being known by name, or in my case, by your go-to fix, while you’re trying to survive classes.
- My Unofficial Cheerleaders
If Blue Java keeps me running, the Health Promotion faculty keeps me sane. I’ve never felt more supported in an academic space in my life. It’s not just about the feedback on papers or the guidance on projects; it’s the fact that they actually want to see me succeed. Office hours have become my favourite part of the week, not just for academic guidance, but because I get to pull up a chair and talk about anything and everything. Having mentors and advisors who care about you as a person, not just a TCID, is what makes TC the best place.
- Gottesman Library
In all transparency, I practically eat, breathe, sleep, repeat in Gottesman, so much so, if my friends ask me where I am, and I reply saying “in my second home”, they will show up in the library. There’s something strangely motivating about being surrounded by hundreds of people who are also deep in the academic trenches. It’s the ultimate focus zone; the quiet hum of productivity, coupled with the blaring of an ambulance, is contagious. Whether I’m actually testing my ability to cram a paper that I had 2 weeks to write in 2 hours, or just staring at my screen hoping my laptop will do the work for me, no place makes me feel more like a serious scholar than Gottesman. Plus, it’s the only place on campus where you can lock in and ignore the world for a few hours.
- We’re All In This Together
At the end of the day, my favourite thing at TC is the people. The best part of TC is realizing that everyone around you, from the person sitting next to you in class to that one peer you always see in the hallways, is just as confused and stressed as you are. We’re all here for the same reason: to fix, learn, and hopefully change something for the better. The shared ‘we get it’ look you trade with classmates after a rough lecture is worth more than any grade. It’s the community that keeps the imposter syndrome at bay and makes the whole grind feel like a team sport.
Graduate school at TC is a marathon, not a sprint. TC is demanding, but it’s the kind of demanding that pushes you to be better. Whether you’re a prospective student or just someone trying to get through the semester, just remember to find your ‘Top 5 Favs’. Now, to the lovely reader, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got 7 assignments to submit…and am in desperate need of my cheese danish and coffee.