It was move-in day at Essex Hall on Sept. 4, 2000. I had no idea that by the end of that week, I would have created some of the strongest friendships of my life with the ladies on my floor, 3 South.
Though our paths have since diverged, the early pandemic saw us yearning for connection. We stumbled on an advent calendar inspired by our favourite TV show Friends but were sorely disappointed by the gifts inside. That’s when inspiration struck and in 2021, we decided to create our own.
We split up the days amongst us and mail the gifts to one another. Some of the most popular items are chocolate and self-care items, but my favourites by far are the ones that incorporate inside jokes from our university days. No spoilers are allowed in our group chat until everyone has opened their gifts, adding to the excitement.
The calendar has become legendary on my Instagram, with family and friends saying how much they look forward to seeing my daily video posts. It’s a highlight of my holiday season and a testament to the enduring bond of our university friendships, 24 years later.
Cynthia Millar
BHSc’03, BScN’07, current Master of Science in Nursing student
After a grueling 21-hour journey on just four hours of sleep, my sister and I made our way to the pickup spot for our much-anticipated Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai. As we waited outside a shop, a massive van pulled up. The driver stepped out and opened the door, revealing a gentleman already inside. We climbed in, and I greeted him with a smile and a wave.
As we picked up more passengers, the gentleman and I struck up a conversation about our adventures in Thailand. His name was Nathan, and he was living the dream, working remotely while exploring the world. When I mentioned I worked at Western, his eyes lit up immediately. “Oh, I know Western!” he exclaimed, sharing that he was an alum—purple and proud through and through.
We spent the rest of the cooking class together, touring the farm where the class was held and capturing the perfect photos. By the end of the class, we had forged a new friendship and now we stay connected on Instagram to keep sharing our adventures.
Cadie De Kelver
Social marketing specialist, Western
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