Lauren Keller recently graduated from Peter Skene Ogden Secondary; as part of a capstone project, she wrote a regular column with the 100 Mile Free Press, which caught the attention of the TRU Student Life team. Keller will be reporting on her orientation and transition experience throughout the upcoming year.

Having just graduated from high school, I’m about to move to Kamloops to begin my first semester at TRU. There’s a lot to be excited about.

After living in a small town my whole life, I’m looking forward to many new experiences and opportunities that a larger city centre offers. Also, being on a more populated campus provides lots of social options through sports and clubs.

But with the excitement that comes with any new experience or opportunity, there are many fears and doubts. I have a lot of questions about courses, supports and living on campus. Not knowing what to expect can often make you question whether you made the right decision. What if I get lost on my way to class? What if I struggle with a subject? What if my dog forgets about me?

As a new-to-TRU student storyteller, I’ll be documenting my first year in the Bachelor of Arts program. I’ll share the ups and downs of student life and explore services and supports to make sense of the university experience.  My goal is to help other students prepare for the school year ahead as best they can and benefit from everything TRU offers. I’ve gotten a sneak peek at the orientation communications plan and it’s helped me visualize my future at TRU, making the unknown less scary.

I am looking forward to sharing my stories with you as well as hearing your stories, too.

To learn more about TRU, check out YouTube, Instagram or Facebook.