Whether you are naturally introverted or extroverted, being social at our university is an asset. Acts of socialization can range from flashing a smile when walking by someone you’ve only met a few times to initiating conversation with classmates before the lecture begins. It may be genuinely asking how someone’s day is going, or heading down for a spontaneous Waterfowl walk with someone new. Either way, social interactions typically result in a positive exchange of energy between two or more individuals, which may provide psychological benefits as well as academic advantages.

Although many high-achieving students thrive when working independently, being social may offer an alternative academic strategy. For example: you slept through your alarm for your 8:30 class and missed important notes for the upcoming midterm. If there is no one in that class who you can comfortably ask for notes, you will likely not get them, and do poorly on your midterm as a result. By making friends within your classes, you can create a system where you share notes if one of you sleeps through your alarm.

The “swap and edit” tactic is another beneficial system for courses that require lab reports or papers. By socializing with classmates, you may find someone who is willing to review and edit your writing while you do the same for them. This is beneficial for both parties, as editing develops your ability to think critically about the project and allows you to bounce ideas off of someone and clarify the professor’s expectations, while you receive feedback on your work before passing it in.

For courses that require an abundant amount of memorization (e.g. psychology), having a study buddy or small group to verbally explain the material may activate auditory pathways of learning. Planning study sessions with others may also provide crucial motivation to get work done when we would otherwise stay in bed watching Netflix.

Clearly, being social has the potential to enrich your academic success. In addition, attending classes, labs and tutorials becomes more enjoyable when you can look forward to seeing familiar faces. Psychologically, having positive social connections with a wide range of individuals has a great effect on mental health. Developing strong ties to others diminishes the sense of loneliness we may feel, and expands the social support network that we can reach out to. Social connections made within this university may also open the doors for endless opportunities in the future. You may end up having lunch in a foreign country with an old classmate someday. You may be offered a job down the road because you established a friendly connection with someone in your biology lab this semester. By putting yourself out there in a genuine and kind way, others are more likely to respond to you in the same way. So, regardless of whether you categorize yourself as a shy or timid person, consider the potential benefits you may gain from pushing yourself to make connections wherever you go.

As someone who graduated high school in 2012, it feels like I’ve been in university forever. It’s not pleasant to watch old classmates delve into real life things – nursing jobs, pharmacy school, starting their own engineering businesses, getting accepted into Harvard Law and so on – while I continue to plug away at a comparably lame bachelor’s degree.

Starting out so hopeful, with a full tuition scholarship and a year’s worth of International Baccalaureate credits, I should have been able, in theory, to complete my degree within three years with no debt (rather than in six with student loans). But two drop outs, five program changes and two universities later … and I might actually graduate this spring!

While it has been a journey to get here, I know I’m not alone in this alternative undergraduate path. The term “victory lap” refers to taking an extra year (or years) to complete one’s degree, rather than following the traditional four-year route. Taking a victory lap often has a negative connotation, as it may imply that the student is less studious than their peers. However, many fifth- and upper-year students are completing honours degrees, working jobs while studying to pay for their degree, or wisely acknowledging their limits with heavy course loads.

Although money and time are limiting factors in the pursuit of education, remember that there are perks to running a victory lap if you find yourself in a position to need one.

First of all, how many high school graduates actually have a sweet clue of what they’d like to do with their lives? It takes time to figure this out. High school doesn’t expose us to all of the possibilities, and often students feel pressure to go straight to university afterward. Extra time provides you with an opportunity to learn what field truly interests you, and to gauge if this field offers the type of learning that you’re seeking.

Second, university is not an easy game to play. It takes time to figure out taking responsibility for yourself, living away from what you’ve been used to and adapting to such a fast-paced academic culture. Allowing yourself more time to immerse yourself into university is ideal.

Third, victory laps allow for life to happen. Most university students are at a delicate age of self-discovery, learning how to manage their mental health in a new environment and embracing an incredible stage of change in their lives. Sometimes a break from education may offer much more meaningful life experiences than university can.

University is a powerful journey that is worth extending. Each year builds onto the creation of your own personal empire, which includes the residence you live in, the clubs you are part of, the sports you engage in and the peers and professors you connect with. An extra year may bring about opportunities to take on leadership roles that you are passionate about, or even to take courses that actually interest you! Indeed, there is a reason we call them victory laps.