Congratulations! Late April has rolled around, and your term has finally come to a close. Exams have finished, and every required essay has been submitted; you’ve spent what feels like 50,000 hours studying at the Taylor Family Digital Library (TFDL). If you’re anything like me, you’ve also probably invested an estimated $50,000 on “study motivation” in the form of overpriced coffees and snacks. Now, you’re done. You can relax.
However, for many students, the end of the semester means, in addition to everything else, a return to home. You must pack up all your belongings, from clothing to tacky dorm decor, and journey back to where your life took place prior to university.
As a student who is not native to Calgary, I am a member of this happenstance at the end of every semester. Admittedly, I spend much of my time at university yearning for a taste of home. I miss my bed, my family, and the ability to sleep-in past 8 a.m.
I miss the friends that I have in my hometown, and the specific beauty that is exclusive to that place.
There are a myriad of advantages and excitements pertaining to this habitual return home, but while this transition can be viewed as a welcome break from academic responsibilities, it also marks a certain separation from the communities that students have spent the past eight months building.
For those who study far from home, the end of the academic year can feel like leaving behind an entirely different life.
While I value the opportunity to spend time with family and reconnect with my hometown, I am also keenly aware that I am leaving behind the friendships and routines that define my university experience.
The contrast between these two parts of my life becomes particularly noticeable during the summer months, when the community I have built suddenly becomes distant and, therefore, less accessible.
Universities love to emphasize the importance of campus culture.
The students at U of C are no exception, and we journey through our academic years encouraged to participate in clubs, attend campus events, and establish meaningful connections with our peers.
In all contexts, the term “community” holds diverse definitions.
Community encompasses much: friendships and organized campus involvement, yes, but also the everyday experiences that you become used to while spending time in Calgary. Professors who remember your name, a favourite path to reach your next lecture, a favourite place to grab drinks, a regular table at a preferred study-spot, a frequented restaurant in MacEwan Hall. These moments may seem insignificant, but, truly, they are what transforms a campus into a place of belonging. These opportunities foster a strong sense of community throughout the academic year.
Even if a student does not actively participate in clubs or teams, it is that routine and sense of place that are lost come summer. This community is not equally accessible to all students once classes end.
Many students return home because of things such as financial considerations, family commitments, or employment opportunities, making it impossible to remain in Calgary.
As a result, the campus communities that U of C, like many universities, promote become virtually impossible to participate in for nearly one-third of the year. Without this network of habits and spaces and people, we become somewhat afloat and forced to adjust for the next 125 days.
This period of physical limbo can also easily aid in the production of a sense of exclusion. Observing the experiences of friends and peers from a distance can create the impression that an important part of university life continues without those who have left.
Despite the fact that you may be leaving Calgary, university life itself does not pause.
Friendships continue to develop, and many campus communities remain active. Village Ice Cream continues to add new flavours every month. Any student who has returned home for the summer is left to watch these experiences from a distance. Herein lies the famous disease of the psyche: FOMO. For those who are (mercifully) unfamiliar, Merriam-Webster dictionary accurately defines “FOMO” as
“fear of missing out : fear of not being included in something (such as an interesting or enjoyable activity) that others are experiencing.”
In the context of university-life, this fear feels further emphasized due to just how much students invest in relationship-building during the school year. Furthermore, it is made extra tender due to the presence of social media, as the lives of our peers are constantly visible, yet impossible to touch.
I believe that this FOMO is legitimately revealing something about accessibility and belonging at university. Students are strongly encouraged to build community during their time at school, yet participation in these communities can rely on geographical proximity and personal circumstances. Students, like me, who must leave the U of C campus during the summer due to outside situational circumstances, are subsequently left-out of social life that continues to thrive in their absence.
This all being said, not all hope is lost!
Though the disconnect from U of C and from Calgary as a whole is certainly difficult, there are still worthwhile ways to maintain a sense of connection. Preserving this connection simply requires greater effort. No more spontaneous trips to Bake Chef. Instead, it is time to make regular phone calls, create shared summer playlists, be extra active in your group chats, and send a myriad of TikToks 24/7. You may maintain your involvement with students clubs or teams by participating virtually or keeping up with social media. Even simply reading the U of C newsletter and following local or campus news can help uphold a sense of continuity for those living away. We must reinforce to ourselves and others that relationships are not exclusively dependent on physical proximity.
Additionally, what I’ve found hugely helpful during this experience is planning for the upcoming term.
This may include: organizing hour schedules, reviewing rubrics and outlines for upcoming classes, getting ahead on required reading, and making a list of clubs you want to be involved in or places you want to visit. These are good reminders that you are a part of the U of C community, and nothing about that membership changed over the summer.
The break is not a period of total absence– you can look forward to returning! Everything will be waiting there for you when you return in September.
Though this distance is difficult, I believe that we should try not to let it be a total detriment to how we perceive our relationship with the community we have built in Calgary.
Although this separation during the summer months contributes to feelings like exclusion, FOMO, and disconnection, it also showcases just how significant these university communities are to students.
The discomfort is evidence of a genuine sense of belonging during the fall and winter semesters.
