A World of New Opportunities, Experiences

Cianna Choo attended her St. Mike’s orientation in the fall of 2018 and never looked back. “I fell in love with St. Mike’s instantly. The pride you feel walking along Bloor St. screaming cheers,” she recalls. “I knew I wanted to be involved.” Soon she found herself immersed in activities and has done everything from sitting on a search committee to serving as one of two orientation coordinators for incoming students this past fall.

Today, the 3rd-year Neuroscience, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology student has just finished her term as president of the St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU).

“Whether during COVID or during regular, on-campus times people are looking for a place to fit in while also looking for people who challenge them to think differently,” Choo says in explaining the attraction of St. Mike’s for students. SMCSU wants to engage St. Mike’s students no matter where they are studying on campus, and we have a goal of seeking collaboration. We have around 5,000 students and not all are on the same path.”

One of the places where SMCSU is seeking that collaboration is at the St. George Round Table (SGRT), a student union comprised of divisional student society heads at U of T.

“I feel I’m being heard at St. Mike’s,” Choo says, but with so many students studying across U of T, it is important that she, as a student spokesperson, raise St. Mike’s students’ ideas and concerns to U of T’s community as well.

At St. Mike’s, SMCSU continues to brainstorm and talk to President Sylvester on important issues such as increasing health and wellness supports for students.

“When you’re struggling academically or personally, it is really important that wellness services are accessible and that St. Mike’s can respond immediately,” she says.

SMCSU’s eye on collaboration also means being conscious of the balance of caring for both residence and commuter students.

“We are passionate about ensuring that what we give to residence students we give to commuter students too. We are hoping to balance these plans by increasing gathering spaces for commuters, such as creating a larger commuter lounge.”

While attentive to traditional student activities such as Friday night socials to bring students together at St. Mike’s, the student leadership team is also focused on issues such as carving out more support for international students.

“International students pay high fees and are often far from home. They are our students and we need to help them feel welcome, feel at home.”

Whether speaking with commuter students or residence students, those from across the globe or from suburban Toronto, Choo says her advice to new students is the same: “Try as many things as you can. Explore and be open to opportunities you might not have considered before. Each experience is a chance to learn more about yourself.”