Dearest First Years

Dear first-years,

November 11: Remembrance Day. What does it mean to you? How have you, your family, or your school remembered the wars that have been fought, the soldiers who have given their lives, the families that have been affected, and those who come home, but are never the same? In Canada, the day is generally marked by ceremonies including wreaths, veterans, possibly the reading of “In Flanders Fields,” and the playing of the last post.

Hello everyone, thank you for being a monthly reader of Dear First Years. I would like to shake things up a bit by writing about love. I’ve already been confronted by a good friend and told that I should probably get someone else to write this article. Thanks, Emma-Jane, for the vote of romantic confidence. I’m one of Redeemer’s token feminists. Equality, that’s all I ask for.  And world peace.

They tell us, dear first-years, that blood is thicker than water. That of course refers to two facts; 1) blood is full of iron and hemoglobin and red stuff, and 2) family is important. First year away at university can be hard. Some of you might be calling home every day, nostalgic and gloomy. Others of you might be asking, “What parents?” Nevertheless, your family matters. Even my parents matter to me. They’re nutty and crazy but I love them. You probably aren’t wondering how bizarre they are but I’m going to tell you anyway.

At this time in a first year’s life, so many changes are occurring (e.g. sleep patterns, otherwise known as “excessive napping”) that it’s a good thing faculty at Redeemer are pleasantly consistent. Between Faber’s charm, Needham’s sweater vests, Slade’s cookies and Chiang’s British-accent, they all make you feel at home and safe with their unique character traits.