SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
www.protemgl.com
VOLUME 63 / ISSUE 1
LE JOURNAL ÉTUDIANT DE GLENDON / GLENDON’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER
@protemglendon
From Behind the Scenes to Centre Stage: The O-Lead Confidence Boost By Christina Savoiardo Section Editor
From August 27th to September 2nd, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in Glendon’s Orientation Week as an O-Lead. You might be wondering what this has to do with the title… Well, I will explain how this week transformed my mindset and, without exaggeration, changed my life. For the majority of my life, I was always a little shy. I would tend to gravitate towards small groups of friends; I didn’t always prefer working with others, and speaking up in big groups often felt intimidating. Even as someone so timid, I had the innate desire to become a leader, meet new people, and just help others in general. Since I was eleven, I knew I wanted to become a teacher. I did all I could to gain relevant experience such as photo: volunteering at the library to help kids practice French reading skills, decided to consider this opportunity. working at summer camp, and joining Then came May. I was in a class with Peace by PEACE at Glendon. This story another student who was the O-Week begins in August 2023, just after I leader for my team (special shout-out to participated in my O-Week as a first-year him!). He was talking about signing up student. I met so many new people. As to become an O-Lead, since applications someone with limited experience in were opening soon and he convinced me making so many connections at once, it I should do it too. That encouragement was both exhilarating and overwhelmconfirmed it to me, making it certain ing. When my O-Week came to an end, I that I should become an O-Lead. A week found myself thinking, “I actually kind of later when applications finally opened, I like this; maybe I should do it again?”. signed up right away, not knowing what After a few months, January 2024 to expect. A little over a month later, I rolled around. On campus I heard about had an interview and then received the a club fair going on, so I went to check it decision email. I nervously opened it out. A table with a poster about Orienand read the second line, “It is with great tation Week and becoming an O-Lead pleasure that we would like to offer you intrigued me. I got more information and the role of being an Orientation Leade ISSUES & IDEAS
MÉTROPOLE
SANTÉ & BIEN-ÊTRE Retrouver le Rythme............5
ACTUALITÉS & OPINION
METROPOLIS
HEALTH & WELLNESS Healthy Habits to Keep........5
The Magic of O-Week........3
Actualités de l’été...............3
Centre des sciences..........4
Highway 413 ....................4
this year.” In August, I had the chance to meet the other O-Leads in training, recognizing some and meeting others for the first time, flooded with both feelings of nervousness and excitement to see how things would unfold. Initially, I felt shy and unsure of my decision. However, I was also excited to try something new and be a part of the very beginning of a first-year student’s time at Glendon. I got to know everyone better throughout the training week and gradually, I began to feel more and more comfortable, confident and prepared. On the first day, I was beyond nervous, but I made sure to push myself to be confident and make the most of the week. Throughout the week, I
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Canadian NHL Team............8
ARTS & DIVERTISSEMENT Réseaux sociaux interdisant les nouvelles au Canada............9
formed bonds with the other O-Leads, as well as got to know the first years through conversations and social activities. Being surrounded by such good energy and being able to set the tone of the first-years’ time at Glendon made me feel so accomplished. I was able to share advice for the school year, encourage joining clubs and generally just talk to them about different things. Hearing them cheer and tell me directly that they were enjoying themselves made my heart feel so full! The whole spirit of O-Week, filled with cheering, dancing, and laughing, as well as helping with/and participating in events and trips, made me feel the most confident and happy I’ve ever felt. I was able to try new things and help the first-year students feel welcome in a new and unfamiliar university environment. Not to mention, cheering and dancing all week made me come out of my shell and let my hidden outgoing personality shine through. Although O-Week is only seven days long, the lessons I learned, the memories I made and the confidence I gained will last a lifetime. I would love to personally thank each and every one of you involved in O-Week 2024 for this incredibly fulfilling opportunity—I can’t express enough how forever grateful I am for everything. Also, if you are reading this and have not yet participated in O-Week as an O-Lead, I strongly encourage you to sign up when applications open! It is a great opportunity and I truly hope it will be as life-changing for you as it was for me.
EXPRESSION Changer de Ode à mes dactylos....10
CAMPUS LIFE behind o-week...................1
EXPRESSIONS Finding Destiny in France......10-11
VIE ÉTUDIANTE Une Français de l’autre côté de l’Atlantique........................ 12