Spend a day with Professional Communication student, Alex
Hey there! I’m Alex, a fourth-year Professional Communication (or ProCom, as we like to call it) student and student ambassador at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). My days change every semester, which is great since it keeps the journey exciting. Here’s what a typical Tuesday looks like for me!
8:30 a.m.
Wake up
Since I have a 10 a.m. start, I get to sleep in a little bit. I use a softer alarm so I might hit the “snooze” button once or twice, but once I’m up, I’ll make tea and make sure I have everything in my backpack (laptop, iPad, phone charger, wallet, Metropass and AirPods) before heading out.
I carry a lot of stuff, so it’s important to have a backpack that’s comfortable!
9:20 a.m.
Commute
I live pretty close to campus, so my commute typically takes 20 minutes on the TTC (external link, opens in new window) without any delays. I like arriving early so I can relax and wander around campus.
10 a.m.
Class
I have classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays this semester, which gives me lots of time for homework and my on-campus job! My first class of the week is FCD 815: Design Solutions Supercourse. We’ve been put into groups to create a project with an organization that received a grant from the Toronto Arts Council (external link, opens in new window) . My group is partnering with the Toronto Animated Image Society (external link, opens in new window) to design a framework for increasing accessibility. I love that my class assignments provide me with professional experience, networking connections and work that I can add to my portfolio for future job applications!
1 p.m.
Grabbing a snack
I need to stay fueled to focus! If you love food, our campus is a great place to be. I’ll usually grab something from a spot near campus like Metro, Tim Hortons, one of the food trucks at Yonge and Gould or the Hub Cafe where I can get a meal for $5!
The World Food Market across from the Student Learning Centre (SLC) also has lots of great options.
2 p.m.
Learning strategist appointment
In case you didn’t know, TMU is #1 in Ontario (external link, opens in new window) for student services! I use our Academic Accommodation Support (AAS) for accommodations in my classes and meet regularly with Claire, one of the Learning Strategists. We’ll go over the assignments that I have due and make plans on how I’ll tackle them, and then we’ll spend the rest of the hour brainstorming assignment ideas. This is my favourite resource at TMU and I’m super grateful for the assistance that I’ve received. Shoutout to Claire for all of her help!
3 p.m.
Work time
This is usually around the time that I’ll settle down and try to get some work done. You can often find me in our ProCom Practicum Centre, or “The Prac” as we call it, which is located in the Rogers Communications Centre (RCC). This is a space where all ProCom students can either study, hang out with friends, attend events hosted by the ProCom Course Union (external link, opens in new window) (I’m our fourth year rep!) or do some creative work in the media booth. I decided to get some work done for my Career Boost job at Student Recruitment. On this day, we were getting ready for TMU’s Open House.
5:30 p.m.
Wing night and trivia
I can get pretty caught up in work, but I always set aside time to hang out with my best friends! Our campus is near my favourite (and I would argue, the best) wing spot in Toronto — Crown and Dragon (external link, opens in new window) . We go nearly every week to enjoy their half-price wings (I recommend trying their Mardi Gras or Dragon Breath flavours) before heading over to the Jack Astor’s down the street for Tuesday Trivia.
Thanks for spending the day with me! As a university student, figuring out which work style and schedule works for you is super important, and there are so many resources at TMU that are available to help you. I really love how much TMU has supported me as a student and how my classes have helped me gain so many skills and experiences — all while living in the heart of the best city in the world.
Hopefully I’ll see you on a campus tour soon!
Alex
