A mass influx of students is hitting Ottawa this Labour Day weekend, most of whom are heading to University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
Most of them are 17 or 18 years old. Most of them are excited and more than a little nervous.
On Saturday afternoon, the University of Ottawa campus was populated by groups of people clad in brightly coloured T-shirts, a different colour for each faculty. Loudspeakers played dance music. There were Bohemian Rhapsody singalongs.
This group at #uottawa is bonding by singing bohemian rhapsody loudly in a circle. hard not to sing along!
More than 3,400 students are moving into residence buildings at the university this weekend, among a crop of 5,200 new first-year students. In total, nearly 43,000 students are registered for degree programs at uOttawa.
The Citizen spoke to a few students about how they’re feeling during this first weekend of their university careers.
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Friends and first-year University of Ottawa students Dalie Brisson, left, and Jade Fournier
Dalie Brisson and Jade Fournier
Ages: Both 18
Majors: Brisson: Communications, first year. Fournier: Communications and Public Relations, first year.
Brisson and Fournier are friends who went to high school together in Embrun, Ont., southeast of Ottawa, and both plan to commute from there to their classes and activities at uOttawa. “We’re both interested in the same things, so we went in this together,” said Fournier.
Brisson said she was looking forward to welcome week activities. “I’m more excited than nervous,” she said. It was the opposite for Fournier: “I think she’s more social than me so she’s not afraid, but I’m a bit more on the shy side,” she said. “It’s really different from high school. I feel like high school didn’t prepare us enough for this.”
Third-year student and Telfer School of Management welcome week facilitator Sara Valentino
Sara Valentino
Age: 21
Major: Business, third year
Valentino is a facilitator for Telfer School of Management welcome week activities. About 600 new students are joining the program, she said. This week is all about new students making connections with each other, Valentino said. “They’re a little timid at first, especially since there’s so much excitement they’re a little taken aback. They’re not too sure what to expect with the transition,” she said. “Definitely, we see over the course of the week they get more comfortable with each other and meet so many people and are very excited.”
First-year University of Ottawa communications major Hayley Dennis
Hayley Dennis
Age: 18
Major: Communications, first year
As her mother and brother hauled carts to her residence room, including a mini-fridge, a side table, her laptop and printer, and “excessive amounts of clothes,” Dennis was looking forward to meeting other people on her floor. “I hope I can make some really good friends there,” she said. “For a while, it didn’t really sink in. Now that I’m here, I’m so excited. Kind of nervous, but mostly excited.”
Prospective first-year University of Ottawa political science student Jaafar Hosi
Jaafar Hosi
Age: 20
Major: Political Science, first year
Hosi and his mother, father and brother came to campus as a final step in his decision to start school here next week. He hadn’t officially confirmed his acceptance yet, but was feeling good about the energy on campus. “It seems nice, and the location is great,” he said. “It’s going well, but I’m a bit stressed. What am I getting myself into?”
First-year University of Ottawa English major Skylar Premo
Skylar Premo
Age: 18
Major: English, first year
Despite her family’s car issues on the way in from Cornwall, Premo was glad to have arrived at the uOttawa campus and keen to get set up in residence. “I brought some string lights and some stuff to put on the wall, posters and stuff,” she said. Premo said she was looking forward to her classes. “I’m excited to be studying something that I love,” she said.
