As an orientation leader, Rahul Gopeesingh was eager to lead the next class of St. Michael’s students in the Hoikety Choik. But his enthusiasm for his college runs deeper than its legendary cheer. He hoped to instill in first-year students a sense of St. Michael’s community, which he gained for himself through his involvement in intramural sports.
Now in his final year, majoring in mathematical applications in economics and finance, Rahul decided to kick off his final year by serving as an orientation leader to make up for missing his own. He came to U of T in 2021 when there were still COVID lockdowns and assumed orientation would be offered exclusively online. Later he learned that he missed out on an “epic” week.
Rahul is an international student from Trinidad and Tobago and was unable to visit the different college campus before deciding which one he would like to attend. Instead, he researched the different colleges online and chose St. Michael’s based on a Reddit post that described St. Mike’s as very accepting.
“Coming to university can make you feel so alone and it’s a problem that many people have where academically they’re doing fine, but mentally they’re out of it because they underestimated how much as humans we need to be connected,” he says.
Looking to meet people and pursue his interests, he joined St. Mike’s intramural soccer team. He brought his laid-back nature to the sport where he appreciated the similar non-competitive spirt of his teammates.
He remembers one year when he was playing the final game of the season and St. Mike’s team was getting pummeled. “The other team didn’t have enough players, and they were still beating us!” he remembers. “They were beating us so badly that they passed the ball to me basically letting me score and only the goalkeeper stood in my way, and I still missed”. He was delighted to turn around and find that rather than his teammates being disappointed, they were cheering and laughing.
“Even when we were losing everyone was in it together. It was a fun atmosphere,” he says.
“I always thought St. Mike’s was similar to U of T where you’re like a drop in the ocean and you can walk by a thousand people in a day and not know any of them. It can make you feel small. Once I became involved a bit I could walk into the COOP and see someone I know, have some fun and share a laugh. St. Mike’s provided a community that I feel connected to, and I don’t want to take it for granted,” he says.
Having learned the importance of having a community, he wanted to introduce first-year students to the warm and welcoming St. Michael’s community as an Orientation Leader.
He remembers how the orientees were really shy at first and he felt it was his role to break the ice. Understanding that they may be feeling out of place he would check in with those he thought needed it. By the end of the week, he knew his job was done when his orientation group was making jokes and hanging out on their own. “They didn’t even want me there anymore as I was like their leader or boss. It was heartwarming to see their progress,” he says.
As he embarks on his final year, he’s trying to find a balance between his career ambitions for after graduation and staying connected to the amazing people he’s met. For now, he’s looking forward to another season of intramural soccer.