Congratulations on starting your journey in Psychology at Kwantlen! When I began my studies at KPU I was a General Studies major and intended on becoming a teacher, now in my final year I am in the Honours of Psychology program and am considering careers I had never heard of before. My approach throughout university has been to remain open-minded to avenues that present themselves, and I would encourage you to do the same. Take classes that sound interesting to you, take advantage of opportunities as they come and see where it takes you!

If you are anything like me, part of your decision to attend KPU was because of its small class sizes. One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to utilize this privilege to the best of your ability. Connect with your classmates, ask questions, and most of all, visit your instructors during their office hours. The second piece of advice I would pass along to any new university student is to stay organized! I always print off the syllabus for all my classes so I have a hard copy with me and I use my calendar religiously to keep track of important dates.

As I reflect on my time at KPU, one regret I have is not getting as involved in any clubs or programs at the university. I know you will quickly find yourself overwhelmed with school assignments, work and other commitments, but I would encourage you to make joining a club or program that interests you a priority. Finally, ensure you strive for a healthy balance between school, work, and downtime. I found that scheduling time for breaks, along with school and work, was a great way to ensure I met all my commitments and still had some time off.

I hope these few pieces of advice can help you throughout your time at Kwantlen! Remember to enjoy yourself, it will go by quicker than you think (I promise!).

Congratulations again and I wish you well on your journey!

Jessa