“When a door closes, a window opens…Or, something like that.” – Max Caulfield

This quote from Life is Strange (one of my favourite games of all time) came to mind as I reminisced about my time at Innis over the past four years. I guess I share the same feeling as Kyle, our IRC President Emeritus, once expressed: everything leading up to my memorable experience at the college feels like a progression of the butterfly effect.

To be fair, I wasn’t even looking forward to U of T for most of the summer before university. It wasn’t my top choice, and I only chose Innis because it was first on the list of colleges on the OUAC portal. I was anxious about not getting into Innis Residence, especially after U of T emailed me in late July saying that I would likely be placed in off-campus housing and “encouraged” me to cancel my residence guarantee by offering $2000 to find other accommodation. But on August 9th, 2022, the email titled “Innis Residence: Offer of Placement” lifted my spirits a little. At least there was something to look forward to at U of T, I thought.

However, this hopeful feeling didn’t last long as the first day of classes approached. I began to feel homesick. I worried about the academic pressure at “U of Tears.” I was scared that I wouldn’t make friends at all. Then I remembered the night before orientation, when my dad told me that “I make my own luck” is the way to approach university. And so, I decided to take the initiative to combat my pessimistic projections.

I met my first friend on the very first day of orientation, when I asked to borrow a pen and started introducing myself. We were thrilled when we discovered we were from the same city. She then introduced me to another friend, and soon another girl joined us, turning our trio into a group of four. We nicknamed ourselves the “Super Four” and stuck together for the entire three days. We stayed up late playing Animal Crossing Monopoly during orientation nights. We skipped the cheer-off to head to Chinatown for steamed rice rolls. We even sang karaoke at Harold’s House. (For someone who doesn’t like their singing voice, this was definitely a breakthrough for me.) The chant “Innis Loves You” wasn’t just a mindless slogan to assert dominance over other colleges, and from that moment on, I wanted to contribute more to the place I had (almost) immediately fallen in love with after just three days.

Nowadays, people often tell me that my name is widely recognized around the college. What surprises many, however, is that I didn’t begin my leadership journey at Innis until the end of my first year. While making housing plans after that year, I applied to return to Innis and decided to make my first meaningful contribution by joining the Innis Residence Council as a House Representative in my second year. This experience rekindled my passion for leadership that I had lost during the pandemic—I truly enjoyed planning and running events, mentoring my junior House Rep, and connecting with people across the residence. I became so attached to the council that I returned as VP Communications the following year, eventually culminating in my presidency today.

Being part of the council was also a stepping stone to getting involved beyond the residence. I had many opportunities to connect with student life staff. I still remember unexpectedly crashing a Principal’s Dinner, where I met Kelly, our Student Life Coordinator, for the first time. We had a great conversation, and I shared my desire to contribute more to student life. Kelly showed immense support and encouragement—something she continues to do today. Since then, I have said yes to every opportunity to contribute to Innis: I have been a Lead Mentor for the Insider Mentorship Program, a student representative on the Innis College Council, and a work-study student for the former Office of Student Life.

I have definitely been fascinated by the tight-knit nature of Innis. Yes, Innisians might be quirky, but we always have each other’s backs, and the wildest ideas for fun. Playing Mafia while sipping homemade boba? Celebrating potatoes at three Potato Parties? Hosting a formal on a boat? Count us in! It’s sad to realize that these moments are coming to an end. I’ll have to say farewell to late-night McDonald’s runs, Wii Sports sessions in the Video Games Room, and board game chaos in the student life office.

Looking back, this journey down Innis memory lane wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t accepted the residence offer, if I hadn’t introduced myself to my first Innis friend during orientation, or if I hadn’t submitted my application to the IRC. Like the butterfly effect, every small action I took led to something meaningful. I built valuable connections, grew into a more well-rounded student leader, and discovered that the most fun in university often comes from the smallest moments. I am incredibly grateful to everyone at Innis: my suites (606, 107, 315, 513), the Innis Dons, everyone in the Office of the Dean of Students, my mentorship team, Principal Charlie, and every Innisian I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. To the returning students reading this: Innis is truly an incredible place to live, learn, and grow. Whether it’s joining a club, attending a free food event, or simply greeting the Innisians around you—trust me, you never know what windows those small acts might open. You do make your own luck!

“I wish I could stay in this moment forever…But then it wouldn’t be a moment.” – Max Caulfield

First-year Wing, who arrived at Innis feeling scared and uncertain, would never have imagined that fourth-year Wing would want to stay here forever. As much as I wish I could, it’s time to move on to bigger and better things—carrying my Innis experiences with me wherever I go.

Please remember: Innis loves you, and Dog (my stuffed animal and the IRC’s tertiary mascot) loves you too!