Learning vital skills required for University and future job prospects is a fundamental aspect of
education. We are constantly being prepared and equipped for the next stage of our lives. For me,
Cegep was a place to cultivate the ideas I had for my own future. It taught me a variety of skills
and topics that I find myself now us- ing almost everyday in university, the most important of
which is undoubtedly, essay writing. Aside from term papers, my university classes contain many
multiple-choice exams. The issue with standardized testing, however, is that it is based almost
entirely on short term memory capabilities, whereas essays deal with a deeper understanding of
the under- lying concepts discussed throughout lectures. The courses I took at TAV had a large
focus on essays with very few multiple-choice examinations. This taught me how to under- stand
material, instead of memorizing it, which is proving to be the most effective way to retain knowledge.
If I could speak to my past self, I would probably suggest focusing less on simply getting my
college diploma and worrying about “R-Score” and instead, focus on what really matters: Learning
how to properly comprehend any given topic, and find ways to make it as meaningful as possible.
The most important thing I realized from speaking with any teacher was that it is much easier to
learn when you are passionate about what it is you're being taught. Finding a path is not so much
about discovering what you are good at, but what interests you and can bring you closer to your
desired future goal.
Another thing that I would tell myself is that an important part of Cegep is taking courses that
span a variety of topics. Electives are not designed to fill your schedule, for me, they are a way
to broaden my horizons and learn many things that may lead to fields of interest that I had no
idea about. These courses taught me topics, skills, artforms and disciplines that I constantly use
to construct es- says, build thesis arguments and cultivate my own perceptions of things I never
would have had an interest in, prior to taking these courses.
Looking back, there is very little that I would change from my TAV experience. I learned a lot of
useful skills, met many interesting people, discovered leadership methods by working on group
projects and most importantly, made sure to always keep things positive because when learning
becomes a burden, very little of what is taught gets retained.