Ben Mucsi – Orientation Chair (OC)
What inspired you to get involved with F!rosh week?
What inspired me to get involved was the amazing passion and energy that the community brings to F!rosh Week. So many people are so heavily invested in giving the incoming class the best welcome possible, and it really shows through the amount of work and effort that is put in. I have never seen anything else like it! All of this culminates in one amazing week that can have lasting impacts throughout one’s university life (and beyond) with the friends and memories they carry forward.
What is one thing you want F!rosh to know?
One thing I would want all F!rosh to know is that there is something for everyone here at Skule(TM). We have countless clubs, teams, and student groups you can be a part of, and each has awesome people who you can become great friends with. Regardless of where you come from or what you are interested in, there is a place for you here, with so much to offer!
What is your favourite memory as a f!rosh?
My favourite memory as a F!rosh was our group cheer-off at Nathan Phillips Square. We had just finished half of the downtown walk-around, and there was an incredibly hype moment when we all started cheering together in the square. At that point I really felt like I was a part of something bigger, and I think those situations really help overcome the nervous anxiety that so many of us had felt coming into university. It was truly an unforgettable experience!
Stephanie McDonald – Vice Chair Leadership (VCL)
What inspired you to get involved with F!rosh week?
Part of my inspiration for the past 3 years was remembering how impactful F!rosh week was for me when I first showed up at UofT. Some friends in high school made me believe that I was in for a really rough ride and that at UofT I would be on my own. But from the first minute I spent on front campus with my F!rosh group, I knew I made the right choice of school. All of my leedurs were so open and fun to be around, and throughout F!rosh week I was reassured that I wouldn’t be getting my degree on my own. And now, as VC Leadership I feel like I can make a big impact on the incoming class as well as the incredible volunteers and leedurs who make F!rosh week the magical thing that it is.
What is one thing you want F!rosh to know?
I want F!rosh to know that while UofT can be a big and intimidating school, it offers a place for every single person. No matter their interests, orientation, identity, past, or hopes for the future.
What is your favourite memory as a f!rosh?
One of my favourite F!rosh week memories as a F!rosh was just talking to different F!rosh and leedurs on downtown walkaround and leading cheers for the first time. By then I was already comfortable with a few people. Going around fully purple, showing off my pride in UofT engineering both as a school and as a community, it all was overwhelming in the best way!
Edward Luo – Vice Chair Logistics (VCLog)
What inspired you to get involved with F!rosh week?
F!rosh week is definitely one of my favourite parts of Skule. It brings people together and provides people with an opportunity to share their experiences. I really enjoyed my time when I was a F!rosh and I want to be a part of delivering the great experience to incoming students as well.
What is one thing you want F!rosh to know?
You’re only f!rosh once! You are handed with opportunities to make amazing memories and spend your time in the way you want! Live your best live and don’t be shy!
What is your favourite memory as a f!rosh?
Probably F!rosh Retreat! It was really nice to get away for the weekend and good bonding time. Also I love s’mores.
Chinmayee (May) Gidwani – Vice Chair Operations (VCOps)
What inspired you to get involved with F!rosh week?
One of my HLs! He was really hype during my F!rosh week and made sure to keep in touch throughout the year. It made me feel very welcomed into the Skule community, and I wanted to create the same experience for others.
What is one thing you want F!rosh to know?
No matter where you come from, you always have a place here at Skule. There’s something for everyone and I’ve never met a more supportive community. Skule’s got your back!
What is your favourite memory as a F!rosh?
Definitely parading through downtown screaming at the top of my lungs. Downtown walkaround was such a fun way to see and explore the city!
Valerie Ajayi – Vice Chair Finance (VCF)
What inspired you to get involved with F!rosh week?
I was inspired to get involved with F!rosh Week because of how much of an impact it left on me in my first year! I think F!rosh Week helps so much with the awkward and unclear transition between secondary and post-secondary life. It gives you the perfect setting to meet new people, make friends, explore interests and best of all, relax some of your fears about uni right before starting! Like a weeklong human pep-talk! For me, Orientation helped humanize UofT and Skule. The more I met people and participated in the community, the less I was worried about not being smart enough or loud enough!
What is one thing you want F!rosh to know?
I’d want F!rosh to know that though you might be worried or nervous, basically everyone is just as nervous as you; whether it be about how hard classes will be, making new friends or being in a new city. I’d tell them that as a result, there’s always a community of people who understand and are willing to help. It might not even be the overall Skule community or Leedurs, but could be a community of friends or upper years you’ve met outside of Skule. I think I can speak for Orientation when I say that we would be honoured to help introduce F!roshto their community in anyway we can!
What is your favourite memory as a F!rosh?
My favourite memory as a F!rosh was Nathan Phillips Square. As a F!rosh, I thought that fight was the stuff of movies and in my mind a series of climatic early 2000s alternative rock songs played as the soundtrack to the whole experience. It was a complete surprise to me and that only made it more fun! I think Nathan Phillips really sets us apart from other F!rosh Weeks and shows that we work hard & play hard.
Anthony Tang – Vice Chair Marketing (VCM)
What inspired you to get involved with F!rosh week?
I wanted to give something back to the Skule community. They welcomed me into first year and gave me all the tips and tricks that made my experience the best it could be. F!rosh week seemed like the best way since it’s the potentially first experience anyone coming into engineering has.
What is one thing you want F!rosh to know?
One thing I want F!rosh to know is the value that exists from immersing yourself in a community at university. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Skule. Whichever community you choose becomes an indispensable resource in both academics and life in general. How you choose to immerse yourself is entirely up to you.
What is your favourite memory as a F!rosh?
My favourite memory as a F!rosh was sitting by the campfire at F!rosh retreat and talking about nonsense with a few of the friends I’d made that week. It felt great realizing they would eventually be my best friends for the foreseeable future.