Graduation Bucket List
By Danika
Here are some activities unique to the University of Alberta that I want to do before I finish my undergraduate degree, to make the most of what campus has to offer. These could also function as fun hangouts on campus, study breaks, dates, or solo adventures! You can still have a fulfilling experience without doing any of these things, but if you’re looking for ideas, this is for you.
Here are some bonus items I have already crossed off of my own bucket list:
- Be a mascot at Open House
- Study abroad
- Take part in the Red Eye Games, where teams compete in physically active events all night long, once per semester.
- Make a friend in an unusual place. (I once ended up befriending someone from the locker rooms… but even striking up a conversation with the person next to you in class is an accomplishment!)
- SUB Farmer’s Market — sample the unique foods, like baked goods containing crickets.
- Publish your work, perhaps through a guest blog post on YouAlberta? ;) Some student-run options include The Gateway campus newspaper, guest blog on the Work of Arts blog, and Green Medium.
- Take a selfie in the SUB basement bathroom — the lighting is prime!
Places to Visit
1) Visit the FAB (Fine Arts Building) gallery
Support U of A students by checking out their artwork. If you want to take it even further, support a Studio Theatre production at the Timms Centre for the Arts on campus, or a concert put on by the Department of Music.
2) Attend a climbing Wall Brawl
The first step is to try bouldering at the U of A climbing wall (access is included in your student fees, and you can rent shoes there). They hold monthly wall brawls where you can compete for prizes, or just challenge yourself for fun. Bonus: you can get top rope certified so that you can belay climb on the second floor of the climbing area (i.e. so that you can climb with a rope on the really tall walls).
3) Check out the Bruce Peel Special Collection
Located in the basement of Rutherford South, they house rare and unique books, such as a book entirely made out of fur, a tiny book collection, and even a fruitcake from when the railways were built. Note: to ensure items are available to look at, you need to request them online 24 hours in advance.
4) Visit the U of A Observatory
It is free and open to the public on Thursdays for solar and evening observing, and is on the 5th floor of CCIS.
5) Take in the view from RATT
RATT is the Room at the Top, on the 7th floor of SUB. While you’re there admiring the panoramic view, you can order food and drinks, take part in weekly trivia nights, karaoke nights, or monthly Latin dance nights.
Services to Use
1) Use a treadmill desk
Treadmill desks are available in Cameron and John Scott libraries, bring your notes and get active while you study!
2) Have your tarot cards read
The Wiccan Chaplain offers free tarot card readings to get you thinking about spirituality. You can catch them on Wednesday afternoons on main floor SUB.
3) Try a physical activity class
There are many ways to be more active on campus besides working out at the gym. Try out a group fitness class, test the waters in a synchronized swimming session or paddle board yoga class, take ice skating lessons or go to a free drop-in skate, or try dance classes. If group settings aren’t your style, try the Workout Buddies program or borrow a physical activity lending kit from a library.
4) Bring your ideas to e-HUB
e-HUB is an entrepreneurship centre in HUB that provides support and mentorship for students to work towards their entrepreneurial goals.
5) Free mental health workshops
Counselling and Clinical services offer free drop-in workshops throughout the year on various mental health topics and relevant helping strategies. Some workshops include managing stress, addressing anxious thoughts, and improving happiness.
Experiences
1) Work experience programs
There are work experience programs in every faculty, which give you the chance to gain experience and test out a potential career area as you study, whether that’s through a practicum, internship, or co-op. Community Service Learning courses also give you hands-on experience in a community as you receive course credit. If you’re looking for a shorter time commitment, job shadow week offered by the Career Centre is another way to gain insight into the workplace. I highly recommend exploring these opportunities while you’re still a student!
2) Apply for grants
If you have an idea for making campus a better place, or for your own personal learning and growth, consider applying for grants such as the Heroes for Health grant or the Green and Gold Leadership and Professional Development grant. There are also faculty and program specific grants that encourage you to engage in experiential learning, such as attending conferences.
Show that school spirit!
4) Terrarium Night or Paint Night with LiveWell
Registration for these nights fill up fast, but you can build your own terrarium with a succulent or be led through the painting process to de-stress after classes.
5) Try undergraduate research
Research can be in any field, whether you’re in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities or fine arts. You can apply for funding through various programs, including the Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI).
6) Utilize student discounts
There are many places throughout the city that offer discounts to students — take advantage of this while you still can! There’s also the classic 50% off Domino’s pizza with the code “uni”, discounted Cineplex tickets or WEM passes from InfoLink, as well as coupons in the free student handbook given out at the beginning of the year.
Remember to take grad photos to commemorate your soon-to-be-had degree.
And the last step… graduate!
This isn’t a fully comprehensive bucket list by any means, but hopefully at least one thing piqued your interest and has inspired you to try something new to enrich your university experience!
