Hey Everyone! As it is really close to my first, of six final exams, I just wanted to check in to keep you updated on what I have been up to.

Well, since classes ended, I have been trying to study for my exams (I say trying because I haven’t been as productive as I had hoped to be…but I think when push comes to shove I will get down to it!). I am really looking forward to summer (which officially begins after my last exam (SPAN201 – Spanish) on April 24! I’ll have a lot of time to relax and look forward to second year. I know Year 2 will be tough, but I am excited to learn a lot of new things (as I have throughout first year). I am also excited to work with SCSR (Students for Corporate Social Responsibility as I recently found out I got the position of Academics Director!).  So, I am looking forward to what is to come!!

I think some of you may have received acceptances to Queen’s Commerce and I just want to say that I know what a tough, stressful decision it is; it is reasonable for it to be so as you are deciding where to spend the next four years of your life as well as what university name and degree will follow you for the rest of your career. In giving you some advice, I would like to say that in making my decision, I realized I spent too much time focusing on rankings and which one was objectively “better” rather than thinking of where I would be most happiest, and what was best for ME. Just because a university or program is better does NOT mean you should choose it over another uni/program if it results in sacrificing your happiness and well-being.  There are, of course, many reasons why the Queen’s Commerce program is great, but you need to ask if and why the program will be great for you!! Think about what needs/wants you have and THEN find the program that suits your preferences (you’ll learn a lot about starting with customer needs and then working toward developing a product in the first-year Marketing course, and I think it is a relevant analogy for the point I am trying to make).

All that being said, I am happy I chose Queen’s Commerce because there are many many benefits (profs, education, friends, involvement opportunities, etc.) that are not offered to such a great degree elsewhere. It really is about quality at Queen’s.

Anyway, I am going to study a bit of Economics before I call it a day..so, I wish you good luck in the rest of your final year of highschool (enjoy it…university is a whole new world!) and best of luck in deciding what is right for you. If you have any questions at all, please leave me a comment or Facebook me!!

Farah Lalani

My second year of classes finished up one week ago and I am still in shock at the rate that time passes. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in my grade 12 computer class and found out I had been accepted to Queen’s.

Here I am now: two years, 18 final exams, three all nighters, 87 assignments, 2174 emails, survived two homecomings…and I wouldn’t do it any differently.

Hope to see you all here next year. Email me, facebook me, or leave a comment if you are have any questions at all.

Wow, it seemed like yesterday when I first got here. Time passed by so fast and now I’m already finished my 2nd semester of classes and final exams are coming again. First year is almost over; I am so excited! Over the past few days I have been at Stauffer Library studying for my first 2 exams: Economics and Accounting. I’ve been going at a good pace and I *hope* that I will be ready to go into these exams, which are taking place next Friday and Saturday. Wish me luck!

I have received a few Facebook messages from potential Commies. If you would like to ask me any questions, please feel free to add me as a friend on Facebook or just send me a message. Just specify that you are considering Queen’s and I should be able to answer you within 2 or 3 days. My name on Facebook is Sheila Pan. So if you have ANY questions, please ask! Also I’ll try to keep this going throughout the summer as well, because I know how it feels to have a question about life as a Commerce student and not have anyone to go to, and of course the anticipation really builds over the summer. So please don’t give up reading this blog just because its summer!

Cheers,

- Sheila