Current Students

It’s that time of the year when the rain (sometimes snow) and darkness takes a hold on us. The cooler weather and shorter days feel extra draining on the soul. If you’re anything like me, the consistent clouds and regular rain showers can get you feeling the blues and full of gloom. Add the stress associated with physical distancing and keeping your mask on at all times due to COVID-19, and my somber thoughts and sentiments snowball more than average.

Happy New Year and we hope you had a good winter break. This is the first edition of the Student Pulse newsletter, your source for what’s happening at VIU. Our featured student this week is Kennedy Ordano, a Bachelor of Science student and Wellness Peer.

One of the biggest things first-year university students experience right off the bat is a certain newfound freedom. It’s a freedom that largely presents itself in the form of more personal responsibility and less structure than what many are accustomed to in high school. This is especially true for those students moving away from home for the first time. There are no set study times, no required mealtimes and no one to tell you when to sleep or when to get up.

Third-year Bachelor of Science student Kennedy Ordano says maintaining your mental health is the most important thing you can do for yourself.

“It’s the foundation of everything else that goes on in your life,” she says. “Taking care of yourself first isn’t selfish, it’s necessary to be able to help others. If your cup is full, you can pour out of it; you can’t if it’s empty.”

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology degree last April, Marissa Wright-LaGreca immediately began working in the Centre for Shellfish Research.

She is researching the first 24 hours of shell development in Pacific oyster larvae, hoping to find out how growth is impacted by changing seawater conditions such as ocean acidification. The results of her project could help hatcheries select oysters that are more resilient to harsher ocean conditions.

Our President, Dr. Deborah Saucier, hopes you have a safe, restful and relaxing winter break, and to get things started on a positive note, check out her holiday video. We also want to wish you all the best on your exams.

Emily Mahony is a second-year Bachelor of Science student who is focusing on Biology and Chemistry with a special interest in the brain and its functions. We asked her what her educational experience has been like so far and where she draws her inspiration.

Final exams and big semester-end papers are among the most challenging aspects of the university experience. There is so much to learn, keep organized and remember as you head into finals. Following effective study tips can help reduce stress and increase your grade point average. Not every studying technique works for every student, so experiment with a few of these strategies to find out which ones work best for you.

After being crowned the Royal International Miss Canada Pacific Role Model this year, VIU student Demitria Rounis will represent Canada on the international stage in Florida next year.

Currently in her final year of the Bachelor of Tourism Management program, the 22-year-old says she got into pageantry “almost by accident,” around the age of 16 when a friend of hers “had a friend who had a friend” who was doing a pageant.