Alyssa Marrelli recently joined SMC as a Front Line Advisor, bringing experience in student services, academic administration, and public health. She holds a Master of Health Policy & Equity degree from York University, and an Honors Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from the University of Toronto. She previously worked at the Michener Institute in the Registrar’s Office and is passionate about creating a welcoming campus environment. As a former SMC student, Alyssa is excited to return and support the community in a new capacity.
I can still remember moving into St. Mike’s Elmsley Hall and waving goodbye to my parents like it was just yesterday. It was my first time living away from home in a new city. I was excited, yet anxious, to start my new journey as a U of T student. Little did I know that the next five years would bring immense personal growth, many new friendships, and most importantly, teach me to be resilient. As I write this reflection piece, I am so honoured to now be a staff member at a place I once called my home.
I started first year in September of 2017, and I was enrolled in BIO120H, CHM136H, MAT135H, ITA100Y and MUS200H. The first three were typical first-year fundamental Life Sciences courses, and the latter two were taken out of interest. MUS200H (Music of the World’s Peoples) and CHM136H (Organic Chemistry) taught me some important life lessons and skills that shaped my academic career moving forward.
During my first semester, I found out quickly that writing an academic paper in university is very different from high-school style writing. First, because it requires thorough research from multiple scholarly sources, and second, because you need more than two days to complete it. I learned this lesson the hard way. After receiving a not-so-great grade on my first paper in MUS200H, I knew I had to look for ways to improve my research and writing skills in the next paper.
After consulting the Registrar’s Office, I learned that Kelly Library offers research and writing help appointments for students. I met with one of the librarians, who taught me how to use the U of T libraries’ catalogues to find relevant literature for my paper. I then met with a writing instructor for help with my writing style and revisions. Learning to research and write at a university level was a new challenge for me, but through this challenge I learned to use the resources available for students on campus. Sometimes, asking for help can feel like the hardest part, but it’s the first step towards improvement.
CHM136H brought its own set of unique challenges. I found that no matter how many times I reviewed lecture notes and practice problems, I still struggled to grasp some of the course material. Unfortunately, when the final grades were posted to ACORN, I was disheartened to see that I did not pass the class. I felt like my whole world crumbled all at once. I thought to myself, how could I have failed a course? With anxious thoughts spiraling in my head about how this would affect my future at U of T, I made an appointment at the Registrar’s Office. My academic advisor reminded me that one failed course does not mean that I am a failure. It does not mean that I am not going to graduate, and it does not mean that I should drop out and abandon my degree. This failed course was simply a blip in my academic journey, and I eventually retook the course in my second year and passed.
Now, seven years later, I advise Life Sciences students who call the Registrar’s Office and are in the same predicament that I was. I may not be alongside them in the Medical Sciences Auditorium taking lecture notes, but I can certainly empathize with the difficulty of the course. I wholeheartedly pass on the same advice that I was given, hoping it will inspire them to persevere and try again. Failing CHM136H taught me that failing a course is really not the end of the world, and I wish more students were aware of that. U of T is challenging in more ways than not, but by learning to overcome these challenges, you learn to be resilient.
When I wasn’t in class at Sidney Smith Hall or studying at Kelly Library, you could find me participating in extracurriculars. During my time at SMC, I served as a mentor in the St. Mike’s Mentorship Program and First-Year Learning Communities, an Orientation Leader and
Marshall, the Events Coordinator for the Italian Undergraduate Student Cultural Association,
Vice President of Sorbara Hall Residence Council, and in several student committees for the St. Michael’s College Student Union. I was so honored to receive the Father Robert Madden Leadership Award at my graduation in recognition for my contributions to the SMC community.
As I reflect on my extracurriculars, I realize that they played an important role in giving me a well-rounded university experience. All work and no play can create a very stressful and unenjoyable journey at U of T. By joining clubs and committees, you socialize with others, discover new interests, and take your mind off the books during stressful times. In my experience, brief time away from studying gives your mind a chance to rest, which helps you get back to studying with a fresh start. So, I encourage current students to discover their interests through on-campus clubs as a way to add some much-needed fun in between flipping textbook pages.
Every few months I find myself reminiscing with friends about our days in residence, meals shared together in the Canada Room, and late nights spent studying at Kelly Library. Although those days are behind me, I wouldn’t trade living on campus for living off-campus any day. As mentioned above, I lived in Elmsley Hall in my first year. My subsequent years were spent living in Sorbara Hall on the third floor, and I looked forward to move-in day each year. My dorm was my home-away-from-home. which I thoroughly decorated with photos and posters. While many of my friends were moving off campus in our upper years, I chose to live on campus because I wanted to feel part of a community. I found solace in knowing that no matter how stressed I was, my friends were just a knock away down the hall. I’m so grateful that I had wonderful residence dons who were always so supportive and fostered a safe and welcoming environment on every floor. From movie nights to Dean’s Cup intramural games, and everything in between, residence life was a memorable part of my time at SMC, and I would encourage students to live on-campus if they have the opportunity to do so.
Fast forward to March 2025. When I started my new job as a Front Line Advisor in the Registrar’s Office, I was unaware of how many different offices are interconnected. In my first month, I learned which procedures are completed in our office versus the University Registrar’s Office versus the Faculty of Arts & Science Registrar’s Office. U of T can feel like a labyrinth to navigate as a staff member, let alone as a student! Furthermore, I was always familiar with my own program requirements, but now I have been challenged to learn about many others. There really are infinite program combinations at U of T! Overall, this position presents new challenges and inquiries that have me learning something new each day.
Although I have grown and changed–and am no longer the 18-year-old who waved goodbye to her parents outside Elmsley Hall–SMC has remained a constant in my life. The beautiful flowers outside Brennan Hall, the ringing of the church bell at 12:00 p.m., and the sounds of students chatting in the COOP greet me each day. It feels nostalgic to walk up the Elmsley Place cobblestones each morning on my way to work. Instead of a backpack full of heavy biology and chemistry textbooks, I now carry my tote bag with my lunchbox.
My time as a student at SMC will always hold a special place in my heart, and I feel so fortunate to be able to share my experiences and advice to help the next generation of students navigate the challenges that U of T brings. To the incoming class: I welcome you with open arms as SMC once welcomed me many years ago, and I encourage you to get involved, meet new people, and enjoy every step of your journey. I hope that you too, will find a home at SMC just like I did.
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