Name: Maria-Jose Bouey
School: George Brown College/Ryerson University
Program, Year: Early Childhood Education, last year!
Right at the beginning of high school, I received a life saving kidney transplant from my mother. You would think, ‘Wow, shocking.’ Moi? No. I have had more then 40 major surgeries and counting. Two years ago, I was 20 years old, in my first year of uni, with my first real boyfriend, first real job, having an awesome first year, awesome shopping, awesome parties, could not wait for second year. This past February, I got re-diagnosed with end stage renal failure, aka I need a new kidney. Thought I could finish school, but no, had to take the semester off and start full time dialysis. Mon, Wed, Fri, 6 hours…the second perfect year done. Every single student has struggles every year, divorce, illness, disabilities, stress, exes, and who better to help during first year then people who get the reality of being in university? This city is my fashion inspiration, my temple, my club, my meal, my employment, my education, and best of all, it’s my home….
What was the deciding factor that made you choose this school? To be honest, when I went to the visit with the school, everyone I spoke to loved both George Brown and Ry, students, teachers etc. The location was perfect, right downtown, and I live 10 min subway away, and the program seemed fun, intense, effective, and also left time to study other things after!
What do you love most about your school? The staff, and location. Because the program I am in is through GBC and Ryerson, I get the best of both worlds, University feel, but flexibility of a college…The staff are ALWAYS offering help, even on those days where Starbucks and sunglasses are all you want to deal with.
Are you involved in any extracurricular activities? Originally I wanted to get very involved with GBC and Ryerson things, I even signed up for the music program and more. However as much as I love school, I love doing non-school volunteer work more. I was a patient at Sick Kids my whole life, so through them I got involved with fundraising, as well as volunteering with Ostomy Toronto, and Sick Kids, and whatever comes up! Pay it forward is a big thing in my life… A big thing for me is doing something you love, be it music, art, sports, non profit, etc… don’t be afraid to go for it and love it more!
What’s your best advice on how to meet new friends? BE YOU! At the end of the day, its not high school, you cant make up stories about how you have gone to the moon and back, it comes out. Remember a few key things, you all have something in common with each other even if you don’t know each others name.
– you are all studying something similar to leave you in the same classes.
– you are all in university, as hard as it is to believe, how many people actually thought they wouldn’t make it in!
– you are all going to see each other at your worst, be it a breakup, hair day, sleep day, the hangover, the birthday and the dreaded cram for exam day. SO CHILL! You won’t be alone
– SMILE! Not only to show off the awesome teeth your spent 4 years of high school wearing braces for, but because it’s okay to be friendly! And really, they are just as scared as you, or shy.
LAST! DON’T SIT ALONE! We all naturally gravitate to people who seem to dress like us, be of the same nationality, religion etc, so don’t sit alone, smile and say HEY! do you mind if i sit next to you? (this, I kid you not, is how my best friend and I became friends on the very first day of uni.)
Where’s your favourite place for:
A cheap dinner: “-licous” anything, aka Summerlicious places, winter, fall etc.. or Sushi Inn (On Cumberland between Bay and Avenue road aka Yorkville. Though it sounds ritzy, you can find the best sushi in town for UBER CHEAP! WINGS! You can’t be in school without doing a boy’s night of wings and beer-Duffs has half price Tuesdays! In the Distillery District you have 49c wings on Wednesday. Spacco. Hidden but fab at Yonge and Eglinton, about 2 blocks north, on the east side. Walk past the jazz bar (hidden lane… just past La Vecchia, also amazing gnocci there!) and there you will find Italian food at great prices and a great scene! Aji Sai on Queen West.. all you can eat sushi for $18.
Brunch: The Boulevard Cafe on Harbord one block east of Bathurst is great! Beni, sandwich, steak etc! On Yonge street, north of Queen: Eggspectations. Its name says it all, there are probably over 50 different ways to get eggs–yum yum. 7 West is another great one for mimosas and home cooked goodness- it has been around for I think over 20 years. Did I mention they are 24 hours? So brunch, lunch, dinner… anything goes! Harbourfront! There is a great Il Fornello that most don’t know about .. THEIR BRUNCH ROCKS!
Lunch: The one meal in my life that I have to say is based on how I feel, and where I am. If I am in the Ry area and going from class to class, BIG SLICE is the way to go! GIANT HUGE MASSIVE slice of pizza for what seems like free. Corner of Yonge and Gerrard.. did I mention Freshman 10 start with that slice? Sushi Inn has to be re-mentioned because really their lunch special is insane. If you’re at school, go to a super market! ANY and ALL! With a friend that you made with a smile, grab a French baguette, cheese and maybe some sparkling lemonade! YUM YUM YUM! New Generation Sushi on Bloor east of Bathurst— the one on the south side! Freshy- corner of Spadina and Bloor.. yummy, healthy, great prices.
Coffee: BULLDOG! Go to Bulldog for fresh pastries and coffee! South of Carlton on Church and Granby ( may have seen them on restaurant makeover?) Their lattes and anything really kill it all! Great place to study, gossip, cry, sip a latte or just run in and out! It’s amazing, and only a block away from Ryerson!
What bars do you frequent the most? Hey Lucy (Wednesdays they have $3.99 martinis!) Hemingways on Cumberland, pub prices, great patio all year around! 521 on the Danforth. Green Room has a great feel too. Affectionately known as “The Lab,” Labyrinth Lounge also makes a point of having a signature drink (shot ) every night for what I believe is 3 dollars. Across from the Brunswick House, great for drinks and then dancing…also a block away from Dance Cave. Eat My Martini…literally, the name is the explanation.
Where do you go if you wanna dance? Dancing is something like fashion, I feel like it changes based on your style/music of the moment. Here goes a list of places that are great:
– University of Toronto football team central-The Brunswick House. Let’s be honest, it’s a staple. Top 40 music, dress any way you want. Pub meets the city.
– Older scene- Pravda Vodka Bar. 25-35 year olds, DJ plus live musicians make great dancing/ drinks. Have a birthday there if you have the money for it.
– Dirrty-If you like winding and grinding to top 40 mixes, Mink is the place to go. Warning, short skirts (winter or summer), silver eye shadow and sweat may all come to play.
– Dance Cave. NO top 40. Casual, cool. More sweat from dancing, and fun all around.
– Grace O’Malleys! Staple in student life, live band, old school rock, fun times all around.
– Sneaky Dee’s. Bar/food on the main floor, upstairs live bands, throw backs, battles and more!
– Gay? Fly is it. Drag, hot, sweaty, drinking, unisex washrooms and more…3 floors of intense “fab” times.
– Latin! Plaza Flamingo has it for you. Hard core salsa, bachata, meringue and obviously reggaeton!
– DJs gone wild: MOD club.
– Ginas/Ginos? (it’s the Greek version of Guidos and Guidas): Local on the Danforth is the place to see ’em.
– Tattoo Rock Parlor. Mixed scene every night, always dancing central.
Any party nights we should know about? Koran Karaoke…it’s a must for embarrassment and amazing music videos!
Ryerson, UofT , York night…happens a few times a year, and at different places…just keep the eyes open. Thousands of students from all the universities coming together to party. It’s nuts.
Do you have a favourite clothing store?
– Tabula Rasa- vintage and new. Broadview and Danforth… this girl has great, GREAT stuff. It’s a new store, but awesome shopping, great prices, great fashion, new and old!
– Lulu Lemon- as a girl in university, do me a favour and pick up a pair of lulu’s, it’s the best investment you will make for your well being. a) black pants are flattering, b) these don’t pill, c) remember those fat day, hang overs, sleep deprived, studying sucks days? This is going to be the life saving pair of pants you have. Did I mention you can work out in them too?
– Zara- my seacret love. Please, please check it out when they have sales… I can’t tell you how amazing their stuff is.
– Body Blue on the Danforth. Jeans, jeans, jeans and great other things…did I mention they have jeans? If it’s too far, check out a similar store in Yorkville, Over the Rainbow. (Please invest in a great pair of jeans…it will change your life!)
-Gap sale underwear. Did I mention they have sales all year round? Sometimes you find cute little booty hipsters for 1.99! Great cotton, great brand really…
– Augustina in Yorkville. When the sales hit, IT’S AWESOME! (Great for purses and lingerie…odd mix, but great.)
Where’s your favourite place to study? Not at school. If it happens at school, usually it’s a loud mess. So, Starbucks is a great start for anyone and everyone. However, try somewhere different. I am big on not going to a library unless it’s is a life or death situation! I love going to visually pleasing and tasty places. Example, the Distillery District. There are cafes, breakfast nooks and more!
Do you have a hairdresser / salon you’d recommend? TWC Hair Salon on Danforth. William is the owner and hairdresser and is great. Small place, but looks are deceiving. HE IS AWESOME at color. HOWEVER, for cut and color and feeling all around amazing, try Vidal Sassoon, a) they have student prices b) if you ask to be cut by an apprentice/student, you get an amazing deal and they are sometimes even better then the actual stylist because they LISTEN and HAVE to get it right to succeed.
What has been your favourite class thus far? Personally I really liked my Health, Safety and Nutrition course, not only because of the material, but because of the prof, she was awesome. When someone loves what they teach, and actually knows what they are teaching and is willing to take the time, it makes a big difference. Oh Rita Barron! However, with that said, since I am studying ECE, one of the perks are the easier courses…CREATIVE EXPRESSION! Finger Painting, crafts, story telling and more! Lets just say anything goes! One downfall, people forgetting to mention you have left over glitter on your face. Let’s hope it was more of a fashion statement rather then “faux pas.”
What class are you looking forward to most this year? Any and all, I took last semester off and really just want to move forward and finish! Lets hope I get yet another creative expression class!
What’s your best piece of first-year advice? BUY YOUR FIRST YEAR TEXT BOOKS NEW! And then you can re-sell them. Doing the whole borrow a text for the night thing, or photocopying everything, really ends up being more pricey then you will ever imagine.
Put money on your student card, when you don’t have cash for photocopying, vending machine, coffee, it always seems to have just enough…
BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF! If you’re sick, and don’t think it won’t happen- flu, cold, cough, cramps, hangover etc- just be honest, go with it and take that one day off. It’s better then letting it catch up with you and having to take two weeks off after. Be proud that you are in school and studying. Yeah, that party will be cool to go to, but try and study a bit before. Don’t forget everyone is in the same boat as you so they will get it if you have to meet them 20 minutes late. Get to know the student union/council/committee/groups and more! You will love being part of something, so try and join! Guidance councilors are actually helpful. Profs are usually willing to help you out, so follow up on that drop in time schedule and follow up with them via email, it really helps. Invest in a travel mug, trust me, Starbucks a.m., library p.m., exams, etc., all need some Americano to go! Last, MEMORIZE YOUR STUDENT NUMBER…you will know why once you have to write it on everything!
What did you learn the hard way? I missed a few classes by choice (no reason behind it, aka I was just lazy.) Little did I know that profs do in-class assignments for bonus marks! There goes those 5 marks that could have taken me from a B to an A. Class happens for a reason, if you can learn on your own, you could have done online classes, there is a reason why lectures, labs and more exist, enjoy them. Because when you don’t, it will show in your grades and stress level! Uggs are not water proof. Invest in Uggs, and hunter rain boots, Toronto does not have winter “hard snow,” we have grey slush! If you are sick, your doctor will be willing to give you a medical note, so ask for one. If you’re not sick, suck it up and go to class…even if you didn’t finish the readings! Somehow profs always know! Get class contacts, pick like 5, or 10, randoms, anyone, they will be your lifeline when you’re unable to find the article that is really just under the bed.
Any misconceptions you want to clear up about your school? “Ry Highschool.” Not for the quality of education, but actually just because it is such a small campus with so many students that you get to know EVERYONE!
Before you graduate, you are going to make sure you: Thank my profs and councilors for every bit of support. However, I will also try to inform people about what is available for them if they have a disability of any kind! Just because you are not paralyzed does not mean you don’t need help: Dyslexic, stressed, depressed, ostomy, illness, death and more. They are there to help you, don’t be afraid to ask! Get reference letters from profs! Jobs are always great post university debt!
What do you love most about your university town/city? For starters, I grew up here, so being able to study something I choose and still be able to enjoy a place that I call home just makes it that much better. With that being said, Ryerson is in the heart of the city, and constantly growing, be you a fashion student or engineering student, the city is an inspiration and playground. Did I mention we have the perk of being in the greatest city of the world? From clubbing in the “district” to shopping at Holts, toronto offers the diversity, culture, challenges and achievements!
Best memory so far? The “ah ha” moment my best friend and I had when we realized we are one latte choice away from an amazing friendship.
Got any weird /specific tip that would only apply to your school? In “health, safety and nutrition” we did this study as to what we thought were the dirtiest, most disgusting places in a building. In a united agreement we all said washrooms and microwave. Ladies and gents, please take this to heart, those desks and tables we use to write on, eat on, sleep on, gossip at and more, ARE DISGUSTING! They have enough bacteria to cause salmonella, the normal flu, viruses, fungus and much much more! Never, ever will I use the 3 second rule on any tables ever again. Believe me, the washrooms get cleaned, bleached and scrubbed. The tables do not.
Anything else you want to share with first year students? Don’t be afraid to be passionate and true to your opinion. Even if the answer is wrong, defend your thoughts. AND feel inspired and proud, if someone proves you wrong, don’t get embarrassed and ashamed, be happy that your world has just grown and changed that much more! I personally love being proved wrong, not only do I learn, but I also get to teach to the next person who comes along! Last, Have fun! YOU DID IT, YOU’RE IN UNIVERSITY!!!!!