Imagine UBC

Today was Imagine UBC. It was an all-day event that took the place of classes for everyone. Everyone was assigned to a group, mine was Nelson and my group leader's name was Branden, he luckily only referred to us as "his muggies" a handful of times. Basically, Imagine UBC is a day about getting to know new people, the campus, your faculty and all of the awesome opportunities that UBC has to offer. Firstly, you are given a mini-tour of the campus with your group, who are all in the same faculty as you. Then we went to the Chan Center and the Dean of Arts, Gage Averill gave us a little spiel about how awesome arts is, and how happy he was that we were all there. 

Then we go on another little tour and afterwards had a little session with a professor in one of the classrooms. Our professor was Charles Menzies, who is one of the first year anthropology teachers. He was really nice and helpful. He gave us lots of advice on classes, school, and how to get on professor's good sides. 

Next, we had lunch and that SUCKED TO BE HONEST. It was Subway and by the time we got there they only had veggie and vegan sandwiches left. After, we headed over to Thunderbird Stadium for the Pep Rally! This was definitely the best part about today. 

The pep rally is pretty much all of the faculties together in one stadium, wearing their colours, (arts is purple), and screaming out their chants. We all got sweet I AM UBC hand towels too that we swung above our heads like maniacs. 

The Arts cheer is:

we got talent

we got class

we are arts 

and we kick ass.

To be honest, I think this could have probably been a bit more creative. All of the other faculties were so loud and rowdy. They looked like they were having lots of fun too. The Sauder kids were by far the loudest. It was a really special thing to be surrounded by so much energy. 

This is what was left of our MUG group by the pep rally. Kevvy, Me, Megan and Branden, the leader. 

All of the deans and faculty presidents walked in the academic procession. The best part was that they walked in while The Imperial March played in the background. This is a picture of Gage Averill walking in in his robes. 

I know this is very much so blurry but I really like. At first I couldn't tell what these very bright lights were but actually they were the flash light on people's phones! 

This was Johnny Macrae, possibly the best part of the pep rally. He did a spoken word that was really inspiring. I loved it. Please watch it here.

THUNDERBIRD SPIRIT.

Finally, you attend what they call, "The Main Event." This is where about 300 different clubs each set up booths and you go find what you like and sign up for it basically. It's total insanity and something for EVERYONE. I signed up for a few different things, well actually, maybe a lot of things to the point where I don't even really remember what I signed up for. I'm waiting for all of the club's e-mails to show up in my mail box to recall. I did get quite a bit of free stuff though, including a button of Justin Trudeau from UBC's Young Liberals! Yay!!

Today was informative and tiring but it made me very much so excited for what's to come. UBC is filled with possibility. One thing that was brought up over and over again was the school's moto: Tuum est, which means "it's up to you" or "it's yours." I am UBC, and as Professor Stephen J. Toope said today, UBC is me. UBC is what we make of it, it can be anything we want it to be and we can be anyone we want to be thanks to UBC. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now.