University is a lot like cycling across Canada. It can be intimidating, tiring, and overwhelming, but with the proper perspective and support you will succeed with many amazing memories and life-changing experiences.
When I began my Canadian cycling journey, I felt inexperienced and unsure of whether I could make it all the way across the country. Perhaps you are having similar feelings about starting university and may be wondering how you will get to graduation day. I learned a few lessons on the bike tour that I think can be useful in your experience.
Travel one day at a Time: The start of university is full of information sessions, class syllabi, fun events, new people and new places. On the bike tour I had to focus on each day individually and trust that our tour manager had mapped out a route that would eventually get me to the Atlantic ocean. If I focused on the whole journey, doubt would over-take me. Universities have tour managers too (professors, academic advisors, residence directors, orientation staff, etc.) who will be guiding you. Just follow. When you start university, all you need to do is travel one day at a time and trust your tour managers.
Enjoy each day: On the tour, cyclists often would get caught focusing on the road so much that they missed the scenery around them and the people they were with. My best memories of the tour were when I looked up from the road and enjoyed the coffee shops, museums, and friends I found through-out Canada. Relax and enjoy all the fun and challenging experiences of university life. These are the blessings of the journey.
Seek advice every day: I wasn’t the first person to bike across Canada and neither will you be the first person to enter university. We have the benefit of learning from other people’s experiences. They can reassure us that our experiences are normal and give us great tips to make the transition easier. Generally, people love to help through sharing their experiences if you ask.
As you seek advice each day, and enjoy all the fun and challenging moments university brings, the over-all journey will take care of itself. Soon you’ll be at graduation wondering about your next adventure. I’d recommend biking across Canada!
Miach van Dijk
When I began my Canadian cycling journey, I felt inexperienced and unsure of whether I could make it all the way across the country. Perhaps you are having similar feelings about starting university and may be wondering how you will get to graduation day. I learned a few lessons on the bike tour that I think can be useful in your experience.
Travel one day at a Time: The start of university is full of information sessions, class syllabi, fun events, new people and new places. On the bike tour I had to focus on each day individually and trust that our tour manager had mapped out a route that would eventually get me to the Atlantic ocean. If I focused on the whole journey, doubt would over-take me. Universities have tour managers too (professors, academic advisors, residence directors, orientation staff, etc.) who will be guiding you. Just follow. When you start university, all you need to do is travel one day at a time and trust your tour managers.
Enjoy each day: On the tour, cyclists often would get caught focusing on the road so much that they missed the scenery around them and the people they were with. My best memories of the tour were when I looked up from the road and enjoyed the coffee shops, museums, and friends I found through-out Canada. Relax and enjoy all the fun and challenging experiences of university life. These are the blessings of the journey.
Seek advice every day: I wasn’t the first person to bike across Canada and neither will you be the first person to enter university. We have the benefit of learning from other people’s experiences. They can reassure us that our experiences are normal and give us great tips to make the transition easier. Generally, people love to help through sharing their experiences if you ask.
As you seek advice each day, and enjoy all the fun and challenging moments university brings, the over-all journey will take care of itself. Soon you’ll be at graduation wondering about your next adventure. I’d recommend biking across Canada!
Miach van Dijk
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