That was my first thought when I got out of the cab on MtA's campus during the Fall. I heard multiple times that the winters here were incredibly cold and yet, no one had warned me that Fall wasn't as warm as I believed the name described it to be. Coming from the Caribbean where we enjoy a hot, tropical climate all year round, this weather was definitely a new experience. Anyway, there I was, walking to my dorm room in my not-so cold-appropriate shirt, finally beginning this new - apparently freezing - chapter. 

I believe we've all browsed through articles and watched YouTube videos on going into freshman year. Settling into living in Sackville was kind of intriguing, as this town reminded me of home so little and so much at the same time. I'm originally from Les Cayes, Haiti; it's a small community where generally everybody knows everyone and similarly, Sackville had that welcome home feeling that provided a certain comfort and familiarity. I was instantly excited to learn, meet new people, and try new things that seemed engaging now that I was in this place that felt so familiar. It was a new environment and maybe because it was a small town or perhaps because the people were so friendly, it strangely felt right. 

Truth be told, I still wasn't entirely sure what I expected university to be like, I would say that the resulting freedom is both satisfying and frustrating. No one to stop you nor warn you. At first, being this free appears to be a blessing, until you realize that it was actually kind of nice to have someone watching over you, making sure you stay on track with your life. I guess at some point, we all experience this nostalgia that follows this long-desired autonomy. Don't get me wrong, making friends is awesome, and it's certainly a whole new level towards our goals in life, but home wouldn't be home if we didn't already miss it. 

My favourite part of being a student has been the opportunity to interact directly with and learn from my classmates and instructors, which with Covid was different but still present. There were writing centre appointments, office hours, international, wellness, and course help centres. I received support from Mount A departments and offices that focused on the specific challenges I was likely to face. I found resources to assist me along the way with the help of passionate people who genuinely cared about my success. You might not be surprised to hear that it got way colder, but MtA certainly helped me navigate my first year of university life and I confidently look forward to making more memories. 

Djuvency Duverné is a first-year Commerce student from Les Cayes, Haiti.