Only three more semesters and I am DONE my undergrad. Gotta say, it’s hard to believe. However, it is January and January is my favourite month. Why?

1.  It’s a brand new year!

2012. A fresh start. Farewell 2011!

2.  I’m back in Fredericton!

I had a wonderful break in Nova Scotia and it was great to see my family and friends. In fact, it was pretty hard saying goodbye the other day. Must be getting soft in my old age… BUT it’s really great to come back to my second family at UNB. I really missed my roommates and the city. I love Freddy. Plus, it’s refreshing to get to Wal-Mart in less than five minutes as opposed to my regular 45-minute drive…

3.  Classes have started back up!

VERY EXCITING NEWS. I have to admit. I love starting new classes. AND, to top it off, I have a pretty awesome schedule this term and my classes sound really interesting. Check out my schedule:

4.  It’s time for the Book Buy & Sell!

Hooray for cheap textbooks! The Book Buy & Sell is put on through UNB’s Student Union. It allows students to sell their used textbooks to students who need them. It takes place in our Student Union Building (also called the SUB) and its runs for the first full week of classes in both the fall and winter terms.

This is how it works:

Basically, I put in my used “Introduction to Psychology” textbook on sale for $70 and then someone who needs the book can buy it. The Student Union keeps a little profit from each sale but the rest of the money goes to the original book owners. This is a great way to get cheap textbooks as a student and WHO DOESN’T LOVE SAVING MONEY?

HOWEVER it’s also a great way to make money as a student as you keep the money from each sale!

You can check out the Student Union’s Facebook page for more info:
http://en-gb.facebook.com/events/306824622685803/

5.  Finally…

It’s almost my birthday!

I am a third year UNB Fredericton Arts student and I’m currently completing a double major in History and Sociology. I come from a very small rural town in Nova Scotia. So moving to Fredericton was a big change; suddenly I was in a big city. I had never been in a taxi OR on a city bus until I moved to Fredericton!

When I was in high school, I knew that I wanted to do an Arts degree, but I just didn’t know where. One thing was for sure, I did know that I didn’t want to stay at home. As much as I love my family, I needed something that was all mine. I needed an adventure!

I had heard that UNB was holding an information night, so off I went. I listened to the man speak about the programs, the scholarships, the city, the campus, the whole nine yards.

That’s all it took. My mind was made. I can remember getting in the car and calling my mom and saying “Mom, I am moving to Fredericton”. Her reply, “Rachel… slow down”.

I had never been to Fredericton and did not know a soul. But when I set my heart on something, there is no going back. And I had set my heart on UNB.

AND FOR GOOD REASON.

So, why do I take an Arts degree?

One word: FREEDOM

I get to study what I want. None of this “welcome to university, here is the next four years of your life planned out…” I get to create my own path. Study what interests ME.

So you want to take a course on 18^th Century British Society? Great! How about Intro to Economics? Why not? Atlantic Canadian Poetry? Sign me up!

With 28 subject areas that you can study, there is bound to be something that you are passionate about.  Also, I love that I don’t have to wake up for an 8:30 am Chemistry class because:

A)  That’s way too early for learning, and

B)  Chemistry is not for me…

Instead I get to take classes that I find exciting (and that start later than 9 am!)

So, as I sit here in the Harriet Irving Library writing my first blog post EVER, I am not only thinking about the British History paper I should be writing, but I am also thinking about my Arts degree.

I am a firm believer in studying what you are passionate about, and that’s why I love taking Arts at UNB Fredericton.