Only In Thunder Bay…

When coming to Thunder Bay there are a few things that you should know about. To someone like me, who has lived their entire life in Thunder Bay, a lot of things are just the norm… and sometimes we forget that people from other areas don’t quite know what we are talking about! Here’s a couple of things that you will see and/or hear only in Thunder Bay!

Camp: You might refer to it as the cabin or the lake, but if you have a house away from home that you visit in the summer to go swimming, quadding, hiking, and the like, we call it “camp”!

Persian: Nope, not the people, the gulf, or the place. In Thunder Bay, a persian is a delicious cinnamon bun -like pastry with strawberry icing on the top. They are sold at specialty bakeries in town, but you can also get them at local grocery stores, and even in the cafeteria!

Sally Ann: Similarly, the Sally Ann is also a Thunder Bay dessert. Though they are a bit harder to find and less popular than the persian, Sally Ann’s are just as delicious! They consist of a vanilla/chocolate cake filled with buttercream icing, they smothered in chocolate icing. As I write this, I am starting to crave one… (PS – “Sally Ann” also sometimes refers to the Salvation Army thrift store)

Port Arthur and Fort William: Prior to 1970, Thunder Bay was comprised of two smaller cities called Port Arthur and Fort William. On January 1, 1970, the two cities became one – Thunder Bay. However, the northern side is still commonly referred to as Port Arthur, and the south Fort William (and Westfort). If you hear some friends talking about going to either area, now you know they aren’t talking about some far away land!

Pickerel: aka a Walleye, aka a small pike. The actual and correct term is under wide debate, but most people call this freshwater fish a Pickerel. Our cousins over the border in the US call it Walleye more often, which is probably where all the controversy comes from. (Yeah, controversy about a fish… welcome to Thunder Bay!)

Shag: I’ve never heard this term anywhere else but Thunder Bay. Essentially a shag is a big party thrown a few months before a couple gets married; they raffle off prizes, sell food and drinks, and celebrate with family and friends, using all the proceeds to help pay for their wedding. They are very popular here in Thunder Bay, and because they are almost always open to the public, a lot of students like to check them out! Our neighbors in the south like to call them a “stag and doe.”

I’m probably missing a ton of other terms, so don’t think this list is inclusive! Like I said, a lot of the Thunder Bay “lingo” is just normal to me, and I often don’t realize that others don’t always use the same terms we do!

Anyways, I hope you are loving Thunder Bay if you’re here for the 2016-17 year… and if you’re not here yet, I hope you’ll check us out soon!

Doing My Master’s?!

Normally I do more generic “here’s Lakehead!” posts, but I wanted to talk about something I have personally been working on and contemplating for the last year or so!

I have always been a “school” kind of girl – I work hard at it, and I really enjoy it. I love learning, working on projects (most of the time), and overall just meeting new people and working on new concepts and ideas. Now that I’m in my final year here at Lakehead University (time flies!) I have been contemplating continuing my education by doing my Master’s degree.

As a Business student that wants to stay in Business, I have two options: the MSc and the MBA. Because I was playing with the idea of one day teaching Accounting/Business at the university or college level and even doing my PhD, I was told I should do my MSc. It’s very research-based, with six months of classes and a year of research on a specific topic that ends in a large report. Many students in Business (and other disciplines) take Master’s programs. I was also offered financial aid by Lakehead’s Business department for doing my Master’s, and that was what really got the idea in my head!

Anyways, I have been talking with some professors and doing some research and what I decided (at least at this point) is that I am not doing to do my Master’s. Not right now, anyways. As a soon-to-be accounting graduate, I am slightly anxious to get into the “real world” and start working. I want to be able to work in a local accounting firm or in industry and learn how accounting works hands-on. There is a big difference between accounting in the books and accounting in practice! Though from what my professor showed me about the research the students do (which is something I really loved) it would be a great fit for me, I also want to pursue my CPA designation. I would ideally like to challenge my exams as soon as possible (Lakehead Business, up until this week, offers “advanced standing” in the program) as well as get my practical (working) hours done as well. Not to mention my peers and classmates will be starting to work at firms this year, and I think it would alleviate a lot of anxiety and stress if I started working at the same time as my peers – as well as doing my exams at the same time. A firm might be willing to take me on part time, but right now and for my current situation, I think working full time and getting into a job as soon as possible is going to be my best decision.

Of course, that’s not saying that I’m not ever going to do my Master’s. In fact, unless my path changes or something else comes up/catches my eye, I’m almost sure I am going to. I would love to teach Accounting or Business someday and getting your Master’s/PhD is a great segway into doing that.

So that’s my decision right now at least. I’ll keep you guys updated on what’s happening, but I just wanted to share how my thought process worked and that doing your Master’s is totally an option for you in almost any program! It’s a great way to continue your education if you’re thinking about it, but it’s also a personal decision, too! I hope that one day I’ll be able to do my Master’s and PhD, but for now, I think I am going to go straight to obtaining my CPA and working!

You can view more about the Master’s programs offer at Lakehead here!

…….But maybe later… 😉

Chancellor Paterson Library

Hi there everyone! Today I decided to take you for a little tour around our main library on campus, the Chancellor Paterson Library! During the school year, the library is usually open until around 1am, and even later during exams. Some of my most memorable University moments happened in this library – particularly sitting until 2:30am with my best friend, drinking orange juice, and plugging away at one of our many tax assignments.

During the school year the basement, first, and fourth floor of the library is bustling. These floors foster social learning with booths, round tables, and study rooms. You don’t have to worry about being super quiet in these areas – no music or being excessively loud, though! It’s still a study area. On the second and third floor there are cubicles which are more conducive to quiet studying. You can literally hear a pin drop up there! On the first and fourth floor there are also computers, printers/copiers on the first, and more study rooms.

So welcome to the Chancellor Paterson Library! This library is located on main campus between Regional Center and the Ryan building.

When you first walk into the library you will find the Research and IT Support desk (where you can get help finding certain articles, setting up your internet, and get general troubleshooting assistance) and the Circulation Desk (where you can take out books and course reserves, get your student card, and load your printing account). To the very far left of this photo is a little cafe with coffee, drinks, baking, and sandwiches.

On the first floor there are a lot of places to study – tables, booths, and computer desks. The booths are my personal favourite because they are cozy, well lit, and have plug-ins for your chargers and laptops. Even though I wasn’t taking any classes this summer, I came to the library today to work on some business things and have a quiet space.

Another favourite spot of mine is on the North-East wall, which is covered in windows. They just added a ton of new Macs to this area for those of you that prefer to use a Mac! Lots of round tables and comfy chairs in this area for some group study!

Can’t find a computer on the floor? There is a whole computer lab on the first floor, too! We don’t hold classes in this room anymore, so there’s never a worry you won’t be able to find a computer to print something off.

Wondering where all the books are? The first floor houses only our collection of Encyclopedias – the rest of the books are on the remaining floors. I only took some photos of the first floor for this post, but if you want to see the upper floors and basement, feel free to let me know!

The library is also connected to our tunnel system. There is a staircase going down in front of the main floors. These tunnels connect you to the agora and cafeteria, as well as the majority of the buildings on main campus. This is great for those super cold and snowy days!

Well, that’s it for my tour of the library! I’m glad that you stopped by to check it out.

5 Things You Should Do During The First Few Weeks…

With classes starting up quickly and the summer coming to an end, it’s easy to stay in the habit of not wanting to do much… especially when the first week or two or so of class can be uneventful! Here is my list of 5 things you should do during the first few weeks of class… before things get too crazy!

1. Print off the course outlines/syllabi, read them carefully, and highlight any important dates or information. It’s a lot easier to look back into your binder for how much your exam is worth than to go searching through your phone or course website for it. You can usually find your course outlines on MyCourseLink (login with your MyInfo information), or your professors will distribute one during class.
2. Stock up on supplies. You don’t need anything fancy. Having a pencil case with some pencils, pens, an eraser, a calculator, and highlighters is sufficient. Don’t forget lined paper/notebooks and a binder, too! Most office supply stores have good sales going on (like 15 cent notebooks and lined paper!) during the beginning of the school year. The LU bookstore also has a ton of LU branded and regular stationary if you need it in a pinch!
3. Try to get to know your classmates and your professors. Even turning to the person next to you and saying “hey, are you in first year Business too?!” is a great way to make friends (been there, done that). No one likes to be scrambling to find a partner or group, and getting to know someone ahead of time is an excellent way to get groups or study parties together. Getting to know your professor early on, even if that means just answering questions, is also a great way to get yourself known (that’ll come in handy later when you need assistance or have a question!).
4. Buy an agenda or a calendar and write down all your important dates including project due dates, days off class, and midterm dates. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re too busy to be riffling through all your papers! The LU bookstore sells this awesome dry erase wall calendar that a lot of students use!
   
5. Don’t fall behind. Even during the first week of school professors can give readings or small assignments. Some more compressed or strenuous programs may have projects and papers. The last thing you want to do is fall behind the first weeks of school. To be honest, I would try to get ahead if you can. Try reading a chapter ahead when things aren’t so hectic with midterms and exams… you’ll thank yourself for it later!

My final tip, which extends all the way into October, is to get outside. You’ve probably heard that winters can get pretty cold in Thunder Bay, but for the first month of classes the weather is still beautiful and warm. Sit outside with your lunch between classes, or even just do a loop around campus! It’s the perfect weather and a nice way to get to know the University!

I still can’t believe that the summer is already over and I’m about to embark on my last year of University. Time flies! I hope that your first month of classes goes great, and that things don’t get too hectic too fast! 😉

Talk to you soon!
Sarah

10 Things To Bring To University

With the summer quickly ending and the new school year quickly upon us, I figured I would offer some advice on what you should be bringing to Lakehead University with you! Whether you’re travelling to Lakehead from across the province or across the globe, here’s a list of 10 things to bring to University.

1. Laptop or Tablet: Having a portable computer with you is extremely helpful for taking in-class notes, working on homework or projects in the library, or doing open-book exams. You don’t need anything fancy unless your faculty suggests you buy a certain model. I have the HP G6, which I purchased almost 5 years ago during my first year! It’s still going strong and works like new. It’s about a 50/50 mix of students with PCs to students with Macs.

2. Blankets/Comforter and Dorm Decor: You’re going to be spending the next seven to eight months in your dorm or townhouse. Make it your own with a nice comforter, some posters, and some cute dorm decor! Keep in mind that Thunder Bay has a lot of stores where you can purchase these items – Wal-Mart, Home Outfitters (they have lay away!), Superstore, the campus bookstore, and Sears, just to name a few.

3. A Printer: This is totally optional (the library has printing – both black and colour) but it’s a nice convenience if you need to print something last minute. Keep in mind that Campus Tech, our on-campus tech store, sells printers and ink. Same goes for the laptops mentioned above. It’s all student priced, too.

4. Winter Coat/Boots: Winter is long and often cold here in the North. Expect to be doing lots of outdoor activities like skating, skiing, and snowshoeing! Even if you’re not into sports, it’s still an icy trek to classes. A good pair of boots (I suggest Sorels) and a heavy winter coat are a must here in Thunder Bay. You should also get a good pair of mitts and a hat to keep yourself warm!

5. An Agenda: Keep yourself organized and on top of all your projects, tests, and exams with an agenda or planner. You can get a cute one from Chapters bookstore or Wal-Mart, or pick up a FREE agenda downstairs in front of the LUSU office! PS – even you don’t use an agenda, I suggest grabbing one from LUSU anyways… there are valuable coupons in there, a campus map, and some other helpful resources. The bookstore also sells this great dry erase wall calendar that is very popular among students!

6. Mattress Topper: Unless you’re driving down to Lakehead, this is likely something you’ll need to buy in town… however, a mattress topper is a great way to make those dorm beds a little more comfortable! You can buy them at Wal-Mart or Superstore for under $30, and they are basically an extra foam cushion that goes over your mattress!

7. Stamps, Envelopes, and Packing Supplies: Of course you can pick up the phone and chat with your family and friends at any time, but sending a letter or package (for birthdays or Christmas if you aren’t going home!) is extra special. It’s cheap to mail letters in Canada, and most mailing supplies you can purchase at the campus bookstore. I bet your parents would love to receive a surprise letter from you, or send some maple syrup back home!

8. A Mini Fridge: A mini fridge is included in all dorms, and obviously you have a big fridge in an apartment/townhouse. However, some students in the townhouses and apartments want to have their own fridges for medication or late night snacks. You’re more than welcome to bring your own mini-fridge on campus!

9. Shower Caddy: If you’re staying in a dorm, you’ll be sharing a bathroom with your floor. Having a shower caddy, which is basically a plastic bin, is a great way to carry all your hygiene items with you to and from the bathroom. They are purchasable at most big box stores!

10. Your heath card, driver’s license, passport, and social insurance card: Time for your parent’s to relinquish hold on these cards and bring them with you to University. You’ll obviously need your driver’s license (if you have one) to drive here, and your health card to access health services on and off campus. It’s also a good idea to have your passport with you in case some friends want to take the 45 minute drive to the American border! PS – taking copies your social insurance card and health card could also work.

And here are a few things NOT to bring with you to Lakehead University:

• Excessive amounts of shorts, dresses, and summer outfits. Fall hits here in mid-September, so you won’t get much wear out of these.
• Hot plates, microwaves, space heaters, candles, or elements. These are not allowed in on-campus housing.
• Old textbooks or books that might help. Trust me, you’re unlikely to use these unless there is something you know you’ll go to. Chances are you’ll be able to find the same information at the library, on a database, or online.
• High heels. Ladies, bring one or two universal pairs – not twenty. Trust me, you’re going to want to be rocking winter boots around these parts.
• A version of Microsoft Office. Don’t buy it. You get a free version of MS Office 365 with your Lakehead e-mail account. Click on this link to download (LU e-mail required) or head to Campus Tech in the tunnels to get your copy!
• Pets. Need I say more? You CAN have a little fish, though! 🙂

I hope that this list helped a bit… and remember, there are TON of online resources for you to use and get ideas. Keep in mind that you aren’t moving to another planet, and if you forget anything major, there any lots of stores near campus to grab what you need! Residence also has a valuable list of things to bring and not to bring, which is of course a bit more inclusive than what you see here!

Can’t wait to see you in the fall! 🙂

Student Appreciation Week!

This week was Student Appreciation Week at Lakehead and it was a blast!  Between awesome sales at the bookstore, free food, colouring, helpful seminars, and all sorts of activities, it was an exciting time around campus! To be honest I didn’t even know it was student appreciation until someone ran up to me on Tuesday and gave me a free blue-icing persian (which is by the way a delicious Thunder Bay dessert/donut!).
Here are some highlights from the week!

Naturally, I couldn’t help but go and check things out. Some nice girl also gave me a free coffee coupon in the Regional Centre when I was eating my lunch!

To be honest, the week after reading week (which was last week) is always crazy, and I think Student Appreciation is on this week for a reason! I mean, who doesn’t love a little free pizza in between studying for four midterms and writing two papers?

Friday was definitely my favourite day this week! Not only was I done all my midterms, but I also worked at the bookstore. Friday was Random Acts of Kindness Day – we at the bookstore were each given a $25 gift card to give out to a student at the bookstore! The guy I gave mine too was pretty excited, as he was buying a textbook! Staff also went around campus today buying students their lunches and coffees. There was not missing how excited everyone was!

Friday in the Agora there was also a colouring table (stress relief, anyone?) and a cool wall covered in hearts – written on them were things that people were thankful for, loved, or why they loved Lakehead! My favourite was the “I love Persians!” heart. There was also a giveaway draw for $500. Yes please.

Some awesome deals at the bookstore (and yeah, that’s a blanket that feels like a sweatshirt!):

Overall it was an awesome week – even though midterms, tests, and assignments had all us tearing our hair out. I love that Lakehead does stuff like this and tries to make it easier on us students. The fact that we were able to participate in Random Acts of Kindness Day was definitely the highlight of my week. I wish I would have gotten more pictures – but quite frankly, my blue persian and all the events were too exciting that I totally forgot!

Don’t forget – Lakehead  U!