For many students at U of T, university life is defined by schedules, deadlines, and an almost constant awareness of how much there is to do. Between lectures, essays, and readings, it’s so easy to feel like you’re just moving from one obligation to the next, ticking each box as the days pass. Amid all that, it’s important to find a place that doesn’t feel like work — a space where you can learn by doing and push yourself without worrying about grades. 

For me, that place was CIUT.FM, the campus radio station located on the third floor of Hart House. I first heard about it from a flyer at the club’s fair, and since I was planning to major in English and hoped to work in media, I saw it as a chance to try something practical and different from my usual academic work.

At the time, I remember feeling uncertain about how and what I could contribute, but my mentor Ariel was patient and intentional in showing me the ropes. He taught me how to write scripts for live segments, how to approach local artists for interviews, and even how to promote CIUT at live music events in Toronto. 

One afternoon, I attended a small indie show in the city with Ariel to promote the station. I spend most of the evening introducing myself to performers and guests, handing out flyers, and answering questions about the station. Some conversations went smoothly, others felt awkward, but each gave me insight into connecting an audience with media content. 

As I became more involved, I met Henry Lewis, a recent U of T music alumnus. Henry studied Jazz Piano, Music and Technology, and Psychology, and he got involved at CIUT after seeing his older sibling run a show at their University. Even though he was already performing in jazz clubs around Toronto, Henry said the station introduced him to artists, genres, and communities he never would have discovered otherwise. “Every week I find new records to check out and artists to analyze,” he told me. “A lot of being a musician is also being a music fan, and there’s no better place for music fans than CIUT.” Hearing him speak made me realize how student-run spaces can link campus life with the larger city arts scene, providing opportunities to discover and engage with Toronto’s creative community. 

Balancing CIUT with coursework wasn’t always easy. Some weeks, I spent ten or more hours at the station on top of a full course load, trying to make sure essays were done while preparing for interviews or editing audio clips. Henry’s schedule was even more demanding as he had to work twenty hours a week, performing live music shows around Toronto, and directing a dance company. When I asked whether it affected his studies, he said the experience he gained at CIUT, connecting with artists and producing shows, gave him knowledge and skills he couldn’t have learned in class. This made me think about the ways student life extends beyond just lectures and essays, into spaces where you can actively practice skills and explore interests.

I learned to notice the small things that make the media work. Writing scripts for advertisements required thinking about which words would resonate on air and how to structure each segment so it flowed naturally. Scheduling an interview meant understanding a musician’s priorities and building trust, not just sending emails. 

The hours I spent at the station gradually became a part of my routine, but they felt different from classwork. I was invested in something tangible, something I could see and hear taking shape beyond a grade. 

That investment grew to the point where I was asked to run tutorial sessions for new volunteers learning Adobe Audition, an audio editing software we used. Teaching those sessions changed my place in the station. Instead of just showing up to complete my own edits, I became someone other volunteers came to for help. 

Over time, these interactions helped me see the station not just as a workplace, but as a place shaped by many perspectives. The awareness made me more confident in my own judgments and more deliberate in how I collaborate with others. 

For students who feel lost in the size of U of T, CIUT is a hidden corner where efforts are actually shown. If you like music, writing, media, or even event planning, it’s a place where curiosity drives what you do. You have all the space to experiment and meet others who share your interests. 

As Henry stated: “Getting involved with the many creative projects on campus is one of the most fulfilling things you can do while in University. If for nothing else, you will find likeminded and passionate people who might just be your next friends and collaborators”

Being involved at the station gave me the chance to learn valuable skills, but it also meant meeting people who shared my interests. Working alongside them, troubleshooting together, and discussing creative ideas created a sense of understanding that made the environment feel welcoming.

As many of you are seeking your own place on campus, I think about how strange it can feel surrounded by thousands of people, but still unsure of where you fit. The station made the campus feel smaller for me. It became a place where people actually looked out for each other, where you could walk in after a long day of class and immediately fall into conversations about a new album or a show someone was producing that weekend. 

I want to be someone who can give even a small bit of direction to people who feel stuck and unsure, especially those who care about pursuing a career in media. I think what keeps me coming back to all of this is the feeling that learning doesn’t have to be something you do alone. U of T is known for its diverse opportunities, and even though the station is located where most students don’t walk past, I want to use this moment to make you aware of it. Not, in the way a brochure lists clubs, but in the way a friend might nudge you towards something that helped them. 

Many of us walk around campus feeling like we are missing a map that everyone else seems to have. I felt that way for most of my first year. If anything in my experience can make your path feel less confusing or less isolating, then sharing this is worth it. Even if you never choose radio or media, I hope you find a place on campus that gives you the same sense of momentum I found, one that truly connects with your interests and makes you feel comfortable exploring them.