The Laker Life

Many of you come to us from near and far but I am a little closer to home than most, 15 minutes away in fact.  I love this city and love this University, but I wasn’t always so amiable towards North Bay or Nipissing.

A few years ago, I was sitting in the Canadore gym for an OFSAA sports banquet when a handsome pair of boys behind me asked me if I would go to Nipissing for school. Being the youngest of three sisters, and seeing what life was like if you stayed in town after high school, I replied with a firm: “NO”. Fast forward to senior year of high school and what was once an anti-Laker had evolved into an anti- Gee Gee. At my high school, 75% of graduating classes go on to Ottawa University and another 15% go on to Laurentian. So my choices were to be a part of the same group I had been with since junior high or live in a city surrounded by rocks. Neither choice seemed appealing.

I had become the ultimate cliché of all teenagers: no idea what to be, what to do or how to pay for University. After many sessions with career councillors, University reps and a healthy amount of parental nagging, I had decided to take English at Nipissing. My indecisiveness almost pushed me to go back for another senior year, but that seemed even more depressing than going to Nipissing.

During the summer, my friends started gathering everything they needed for their new life.  They couldn’t stop talking about their roommates they added on Facebook and how they couldn’t wait to leave home. Meanwhile, I’d be in the same room, of the same house, on the same street that I had been for the past eight years and would remain for the next four. I started to feel depressed about going to Nipissing and didn’t feel very optimistic about starting school.

Things brightened a bit when I came to NSO and met some people in my program.  During the day, I made my schedule, made some new friends and heard a lot about this awesome first week of school called “Frosh Week”.  “Kits are going fast,” they said, “It’s going to be the best week of your life!”. Everyone at NSO seemed to be interested in this Frosh kit and I didn’t want to be missing out more than I already was, so when I got home I pulled out my mom’s credit card (with her permission of course!), and bought my Frosh kit online.

Leading up to the big first day, goodbyes were said, tears were shed and promises of phone calls and Skype dates were made. None of my closest friends chose to stay in town, so I was venturing off into the unknown alone. The first day of Frosh came, and we were all huddled outside the gym, nervous with anticipation and excitement. We were led in, given our kits and ushered into corners with our teams. Some important people spoke and welcomed us to the school but those words have been lost to me over the past few years. I will, however, never forget the words of one particular person on that first day, he said: “Look at the person beside you. That person will be your best friend for the rest of your life.” I looked at the girl next to me and we laughed and introduced ourselves. Her name was Mary and she was from a little town called Stirling. The rest of the week was, as promised, the best week of my life! I made some great new friends, drank a little too much and fell in love with Nipissing.

Although it can be hard at times living with my parents, I can’t say that I would rather go to any another University after my amazing first week at Nipissing. At Nipissing, you aren’t a number or just another face, but a familiar friend and a part of a big family. I am happily in my third year of English, a two time Frosh Leader and an employee of The Wall. Oh, and that girl Mary I met on the first day? She is one of my greatest and closest friends, and now your VP Student Life!

By: Janelle Martin