A day in the life of an Environment and Urban Sustainability student

I recently had a conversation with Biancka Pragash, a fourth-year Faculty of Arts student in the Environment and Urban Sustainability program at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Not only does Biancka have a passion for all things related to the environment and social sciences, she was a trained opera singer for 10 years at the Royal Conservatory of Music (external link, opens in new window) . Take a look at more of her side hustles and what a regular day at TMU looks like for her.

Hadiqah: What does a typical day at TMU look like for you?

Biancka: I wake up around 8 a.m. and get to campus around 10 a.m. I am a part of a student group called the Society of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (SASSH). I start off the day with a couple of meetings with some of our members. Since I’m the president, I like to check in with some of our executive members. 

A lot of my classes this semester are in the afternoon. My favourite class is EUS 750: Energy and Transportation Transitions — it is sort of like a seminar class and very discussion based. I am very interested in city studies, how they operate and their urban planning, so that’s what that class entails. 

I try to grab lunch sometimes after class and then hang out with friends. Depending on the days, [SASSH] has events, so I stop by there and then take the GO train (external link, opens in new window)  home around 8 p.m. 

H: What do you like about working at TMU events and why should future students attend?

B: I started trying to make friends, so I joined the SASSH club. TMU [has a lot of commuter students], so a lot of people go to class and then go home. But, if you want the university experience and to meet new people, it's important to go to these events. A lot of the events that are out there can be really beneficial depending on what you’re looking for, which can be either academic or social. 

Last year I was chair of this case competition run by SASSH called SPROUT. That was my favourite four-day event. There are different components to the event like networking sessions, work time for the participants and even partnering with [other companies] was cool, as we got to go to their office and do some financial literacy workshops. 

I never really thought of these events in Grade 12, but they can help you post-graduation. Networking is a huge thing most people don’t think about, especially in this economy you have to do everything you can to get the most experience and soak everything in.

H: What advice do you have for students preparing to apply to TMU?

B: Look into what TMU has to offer, because a lot of people don’t look into the small things, like the Recreation and Athletic Centre (RAC). I used to work at the [RAC], and a lot of people don’t know there are yoga programs and boxing programs. All of this is included in your tuition. Look into all aspects of what is included in your tuition because it's important to take advantage of what you can.

H: Why did you choose TMU?

B: I applied to TMU for the city aspect of it all. I’m also interested in urban planning, so where better to learn about this than in the centre of the city? 

Sustainable cities are a huge part of net zero set by governments, and I was really interested in this. There are things called green spaces — I obviously didn’t know this before — but it’s what I’ve explored [since I got] here. Also, Allen Gardens is 500 metres of park surrounded by buildings.

The localized bits of greenery scattered around downtown are definitely my favourite part about the city, too. Thank you Biancka for sharing what a typical day on campus looks like, your active involvement in clubs and why you chose TMU! If you’re interested in learning more, go take a look at Future student events for more chances to connect with TMU students.

Talk to you later,

Hadiqah