Advice from alumni: How to make the most of your first year at Laurier

Sept. 17, 2018
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We asked our alumni audience on LinkedIn what advice they would give to first-year students starting at Laurier. The response to our post was fantastic and we have highlighted some their advice to you below.

With orientation events over and classes underway, we hope you will give their words of ‘golden wisdom’ some consideration.

Advice from Golden Hawk Alumni

“Don’t let fear of awkwardness or not knowing other students stop you from having a great experience. You’re all new Golden Hawks.” – Susan Cranston, Arts and Business alumna

“Step out of your comfort zone early and often. Laurier is a great place to really learn about yourself, meet amazing people and grow as a person. Make sure to get involved, join clubs and always stay curious.” – Andrew Tatton (BA ’15)

“Meet as many people as you can. They will be your best friends for the rest of your life and the best connections you will ever have.” – John Davitsky (BA/BBA ’09)

“You get out of Laurier what you put into it. There are countless opportunities on campus and in the community so get involved, put in the work and keep pushing.” – Danielle Russell (BA ’04)

“Have fun! Get involved and share your passions with others.” – Heather Coulter (BA ’07)

“Don’t sit in your dorm room all the time – get out there. But when it comes to classes, take it seriously.” – Angie Hindle, Communication Studies alumna

How to Get Involved at Laurier

If you are looking to get involved on or around Laurier’s campuses, here are a few webpages to check out:

  • The Student Organizations page will connect you to information about Laurier’s student clubs, the Students’ Union and the Graduate Students’ Association.
  • Intramurals and Club Sports is where you will find details on the wide variety intra- and extramural activities at Laurier. 
  • Laurier’s Indigenous student centres offer free soup lunches each week, in addition to a variety of other programming that is open to all students.
  • Visit the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion page to learn more about cultural and faith-based student groups and associations. You can also find information about the Women’s Centre and Laurier’s LGBTQ associations.
  • Check out the Wellness Education page to learn more about health and wellness workshops and events to keep you at your best.
  • Laurier’s event calendar has up-to-date information about what’s happening across our campuses. You can search for events by campus, category, audience and organizer.