#IBelong Q&A with Shaan Saharan

About Shaan 

As a former first-year student at the University of Guelph during a pandemic, Shaan Saharan has experienced first-hand what it’s like to be put into the new environment of learning online. Shaan is a Computer Engineering Co-op student who enjoys putting his creative thinking to use in group settings. By realizing that he wasn't entering this new environment alone, Shaan was able to adapt by putting himself out there, meeting new people, and creating valuable memories. He is now entering his second year at the University as a representative of the Engineering Society of Guelph and excelling in all of his classes. 

Any advice for incoming students? 

So, you are a Gryphon now! Welcome to the family, I can say without a doubt that you won’t regret your decision. 

Now, I know you are probably over the moon excited, nervous, anxious, and overwhelmed all at the same time, and that is normal. I know what it’s like coming out of high school as a top student to being the freshmen on campus. It can be a huge feat to face – but doesn’t need to be with a few helpful tips and tricks to help you make these few years the best of your life. 

Let’s start with my experiences to give you some first-hand insight! I’m entering my second year as a Computer Engineering Co-op student. I chose engineering at the University of Guelph because I enjoy putting my creative thinking to use in group settings by bouncing ideas back and forth to form the best possible solution. 

Coming in as a first year, I was so nervous – not only was I entering a completely new environment, but I was also going to be the first to ever experience it online. These thoughts crowded my mind for weeks on end. I was scared to put myself out there despite all my involvements in high school. Then it hit me – I’m not alone! Not only is it my first time doing this, but professors and faculty were also going to face this pandemic with me. I instantly let these feelings diminish and went in with a content mindset. 

After attending club fairs last year, I applied for and was elected as the 1st-Year Representative of the Engineering Society of Guelph and have once again been voted to be 2nd-Year Representative as well, so there are still so many ways to get involved in University be it in-person or virtual. All in all, this year was one of the best experiences I have ever had. 

What’s one piece of advice you would give to your first-year self?  

I would definitely tell myself to have more fun. I constantly found myself not taking breaks and completing homework throughout the night. Doing this only made things worse. When I gave myself more time to think and made time for hobbies, I ended up performing better in classes and enjoyed it more than I had before. 

What makes you feel like you belong at U of G?  

Time and time again, I have told many people that being part of the Gryphon Family is a literal meaning! We are a family of 30,000 students, always having each other’s backs. Even if you don’t know the person you crossed as you head to class, that person will go out of their way to help you if they saw you struggling to figure out a question in the library or coding a program in the lab. U of G is easily one of the most inclusive places ever. 

Who was your favorite professor?  

This was a hard question. With the remote environment, there was one professor who did go out of her way to make it feel as if we were sitting in class with her. Math professor Kim Levere is the sweetest person you will ever meet. She made extra videos and held extra sessions for students to make sure you do well in her class. 

What is one of your favourite U of G experiences?  

If I had to pick one, I would have to pick the day before the ‘killer chem’ exam. My friend and I ended up helping many other students understand concepts and we forgot to study ourselves! So we both grabbed a cup of coffee, called on Zoom until 8 am the next morning, cramming in all our notes. Believe me, we were both very stressed, but decided to give it our best shot. The next thing we knew, we both ended up acing the class and looking back, it was a very funny experience! Besides this, I have had many other great memories like playing a game of Among Us with my friends after every test. 

What are your current and future plans?  

Currently, I plan to get as much work experience as I can and work on personal projects to better prepare my resume as I complete my degree. On a lighter note, I want to take part in more clubs and become more involved to expose myself to people with similar interests as myself. In the end, my goal is to work as a project manager in a company my three brothers and I are planning to create. The business model is based around helping the less fortunate learn despite their boundaries. 

How can you make the most of your experience? 

My biggest tip for incoming students is: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. There are so many different clubs that it is almost impossible not to find one that matches your interest! Look out for emails and announcements, go out there and be yourself. Don’t try to blend in when you’re born to stand out. 

My next tip would be to reach out to people. Even if you decide to take courses online, many others are going to be in the same situation as you. I was able to make an amazing group of friends online and we have all already had some great memories. This will help you both mentally and academically. Whether it be going to study groups, or even taking a break, your pals will help you take a load off when you need it most. 

I hope this piece has brought some good to you in terms of preparing for university. Everything put together, U of G is a place to have fun, learn new things, make new memories, and be yourself. So go out there, and if you want to move mountains, you move mountains. If you want to explore your boundaries, you do it. You do what you do best because you belong here, so from one Gryphon to the next, welcome to the family. #IBelong.