Media & Press

New City, New Life

1 May, 2016

Annie Yao

During the first hour when I arrived on campus in last September, the very first friend I met was Julia Won, one of the other three 2015 Schulich Leaders at U of T. She gave me a hug and said, “Welcome to Toronto, Annie.” Toronto was a new world for me. Before I arrived, all I knew about Toronto was the landmark, CN Tower. 
 
I never visited the city, and I had no friends or relatives there. However, through Schulich I connected with Julia, and she became my tour guide in Toronto. We first spent our frosh week together in our college, and we met the other two Schulich Leaders, Daniel and Christopher. Through time, the four of us agreed to occasionally gather together for a meet up. Every time we would share our recent stories, and we would challenge ourselves with a room escape game in downtown as a stress reliever outside of the studying environment. Last week, we even challenged ourselves for making a dinner together to celebrate completing first year, regardless of the fact that none of us can actually cook. 
 
Interestingly, I never felt helpless or lonely as a new student living in the new city. Although there were times where I struggled and questioned myself, I would always remind myself the passion and ambition I very first had for coming to Toronto and studying in life science, and which I should forever carry on with. Now, on top of the CN Tower, I am confident to say that I know more about Toronto. They are U of T and my Schulich family.