It’s no secret that the transition to university can be a little nerve-wracking. It’s one of the biggest steps individuals take in their life, whether they’re moving away or living at home. New friends, new learning environments and new responsibilities offer significant moments of personal growth, but it doesn’t always come easy, and many people handle it differently.

That’s why Trent students who have been through it all started ‘Bring it On,’ an initiative that provides incoming students the chance to meet other people, spend time on campus and get to know the different opportunities and resources available to them, all before starting classes.

“At Bring It On, we get students who are anxious or super excited,” says Mirza Ushra, orientation facilitator at Trent. “Bringing these groups of people together and helping them make early connections with other students and staff is really valuable.”

On July 20 and 21, Bring It On 2019 will bring up to 150 students to campus to spend their first night in residence, participate in fun activities like canoeing, low-ropes, and rock climbing, and meet staff and faculty.

“In my first year, I wanted to meet new students and make friends before September, which genuinely happened at Bring It On. We kept in touch through first year and had classes together. When you meet students here, you’re all on the same page. Orientation can be a bit overwhelming, and Bring it On is a smaller group and it’s not college oriented so you meet students from across affiliations and programs. It’s a great introduction to all things Trent,” says Jaden Wood, fourth-year Sociology student and Bring it On facilitator.

For incoming students who have questions about residence; the cool places downtown; getting around the city, and many more, Bring It On is a great weekend to start getting answers and ease your way into university.

Learn more about Bring It On.