My First College Visit

My First College Visit

By Waverly Spratt 

As someone who is not fond of math, I never expected to have an epiphany in the midst of my calculus class. While discussing the mundane topic of functions, my calc teacher made a statement that was meant to simply pertain to math: "nothing is constant. The only constant is change itself." Even though he was referring to functions, I started thinking about how this, in fact, applies to life. Maybe I should have focused on functions based on my quiz grade. However, I could not help the affect that this sentence had on me. 

As a senior, I will be facing a constant influx of changes. As exciting as these changes will be, I'll admit that I'm a little bit nervous - not so much about being on my own, but about choosing the right college for me. It's a big decision. Thankfully, I was able to take a visit to a school I am considering, the University of Calgary (in Calgary, AB, Canada). I was born and raised in Calgary, but left when I was only 11 years old; thus, it was the perfect time to rediscover the city and to garner information about the school.

The University of Calgary's campus was a lot larger than I expected. Thankfully, however, I had my brother - a student at the university - to show me around. I was extremely impressed by the on-campus amenities: there is a gorgeous, state of the art gym (Calgary has previously hosted the Winter Olympics, so the gym remains a profound training facility for athletes). the food court offers a wide variety of cuisines that appeal to the diverse student population. There's even a student gastropub directly on campus - an uncommon feature for most universities. My favorite amenity, however, is the library: a sleek, modern building that seems to serve as the centerpiece of the campus. It's the perfect place to study.

My brother showing me around campus.

The library, my favorite building.

After my brother's tour, I had the opportunity to check out the University of Calgary's dance department, as I am interested in being a dance major. During this tour, I was able to see the rehearsal studios and talk to current / prospective dance students. It was awesome to hear about the dance program straight from the dancers themselves; I even learned some valuable tips for the audition process. 

One view of the magnificent skyline.

In addition to exploring the University of Calgary's campus, I had the opportunity to explore the city of Calgary itself. After this bout of exploration, I can honestly say that Calgary is one of the prettiest cities I have ever been to. There are plenty of trendy neighborhoods, delicious restaurants, exciting events throughout the year, and stunning displays of art on every block; however, Calgary's most appealing quality, in my opinion, is its skyline. A short hike reveals its beauty: a river lined with bright green foliage meanders in front of the glimmering buildings, and on a clear day, you can see the Rocky Mountains stand stoically behind the buildings. I don't think I could ever grow tired of this view.

A pedestrian bridge known as the Peace Bridge. 

My trip to Calgary was a huge success. Seeing the campus for myself and discovering plenty of new information helped ease my nerves about the momentous decision I will have to make in a few months. I hope to visit the campuses of other universities fairly soon.