So it’s your senior year of high school, which means it’s time to take that massive step into university that everyone has been hyping up for the past four years of your life. We’ve all been in the position you’re in now. Surfing the web, taking virtual tours and wishing your grades were higher than they are. If you’re anything like me you might be noticing that all these schools seem so similar. They all claim to have world-renowned this, or prestigious that, so what sets them apart? Well you’ve come to the right place, this is an honest account of how great Trent is from a first-year student who was in your shoes just one year ago.

Let me tell you about the three main reasons I made Trent my new home, and why I am happier with my decision every day.

The staff is committed to your success. There is no need to get flowery about it – Trent wants you to do well. The horror stories your high school teachers tell you about being just a number, and meaning nothing to your university professors aren’t true at Trent. It could be because of the small intimate class sizes here, or because so many staff members were involved at Trent before becoming a professor, but you never feel as if someone is out to get you while you’re here. You are still expected to work, this is no joke of a school, no charity marks. But if you have a question, ask it. If you need help, take it. The people of Trent University want me to pass and do well, that was something they and I had in common. So it was a definite positive for me.

The culture of Trent just has a certain feel to it. It’s a place to get better as a person. Did you know the founding president of Trent Tom Symons was only 32 years old when Trent was founded? That’s pretty young for a university president. Trent is a place developed and designed by young people, for young people. For me, that just makes sense.  I want my school to respect, understand and most importantly be willing to learn what it is I need in order to have success. Trent does this better than any other school.

It’s a home away from home. Likely many of you are looking for something similar to what I was. I wanted to be away, but not really far away. I wanted an option to come home at any time if I so desired. Now mind you once I got here, I never really want to leave, but it is comforting to have the option of hoping on the bus and going to see my family. Being from the GTA, Peterborough was everything a first year in university looks for, independence, something different, a fresh start. But please, don’t underestimate how big of a change going away to school is at first. Even if it’s just for a weekend, or to go out for dinner with your family back home. Something as welcoming and familiar as a trip home can do wonders on a stressed and over-worked mind. The location was what really pushed me to choose Trent a year ago when I was sitting where you’re sitting.

So there you have it – a few of the things that went through my mind when I was making the decision of where my future lay and just a few of the characteristics of my exciting new home. The things that changed the question from why Trent? Into why not Trent? The reasons that no matter where I am tomorrow, or the day after, I will be proud to say I chose Trent University.