YouAlberta
| 📸 PHOTO GALLERY — Click any photo to jump directly to the student's story | |||
  Mel |
  Henry |
  Jean-Luc |
  Marlena |
  Teren |
  Harmony |
  Prabhnoor |
  Ashley |
  Gurleen |
  Terrence |
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Mel |
As someone who often cycles to campus, I’m always looking for the best place to lock up my bike. The racks near the Tory Building and Rutherford Library are typically pretty full, so sometimes I prefer the racks outside the Humanities Centre. Earlier in the semester, I was in a rush to get to a meeting when I noticed a little baby sunflower randomly poking out of the ground. It was right by one of the bike racks, tucked in close to the building and kind of in a strange spot. I don’t know how a sunflower ended up growing there, but it makes me smile. To me, it’s a simple reminder that it’s important to slow down and literally smell (or appreciate) the flowers. And sometimes, beautiful things grow randomly.
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Henry |
Outside my residence’s laundry room, there’s a staircase with a peculiar hidden space that I’ve come across. While I have yet to actually do this, I’ve often thought about how cozy it looks and how it might make for an interesting study spot (perhaps while waiting for my laundry to finish). Symbolically, I see this little space as a reminder of the importance of curiosity and the countless unexpected discoveries waiting to be made in the world around us.
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Jean-Luc |
Whether I'm standing underneath the orange glow of overhead space heaters or enjoying a warm summer breeze, for me the Health Sciences/Jubilee LRT Station shelter is exactly as labelled in this picture: a place of rest. After a long day of studying, this reminder helps me slow down and reflect on the work of the day. Every so often, I take a moment to observe those around me. I slowly recognize, through hopeful and satisfied expressions, that while we may not study the same thing, we share the joy of shaping the future one day at a time.
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Marlena |
This tree has become a landmark for me. I pass it every day when I step off the bus and again when I wait for my ride home. It’s a familiar presence in my university experience, becoming both the beginning and end of my day on campus. As the seasons change, so do its colours. It’s a subtle reminder of time passing. Amid the rush of classes and responsibilities, this tree makes me pause and appreciate the beauty of change.
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Teren |
If you’ve ever walked from Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science (CCIS) to the Biological Sciences Building (BioSci), you’ll recognize this zentangle. This is the corner of my favourite coffee shop, CCIS Remedy. The side of the shop is painted bright yellow and covered in art, luring me toward my morning coffee. I love the staff and enjoy the pop of colour in CCIS. When I first started at the university, I counted every source of caffeine simply because I was surprised to see so many options. With many coffee shops on campus, sometimes we just need a sweet treat.
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Harmony |
This is a view of the trees near the entrance of the Students' Union Building (SUB) in the evening after a long day of classes. It almost looks like a rainforest. It stood out mainly because of the bright colours and their contrast with the rich blue sky. I also feel sentimental because of how many times I’ve been down this path and seen it change and grow — and in a similar way, I’m doing the same thing. Every time I pass by it, I’m not the same as I was before, and I think that’s beautiful.
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Prabhnoor |
This is the curved corner of a study desk in the Cameron Library basement, a spot I’ve returned to more times than I can count. It isn’t exactly scenic, but that’s kind of the point. The basement has become one of those places I associate with long study sessions, midterm season, application deadlines and the random hours between classes when I just need somewhere quiet to sit. After enough time, even a plain desk starts to feel familiar. It’s funny how university turns ordinary corners into little landmarks you end up remembering.
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Ashley |
This is one of my favourite spots to work in the Tory Building, the "home base" for most classics students! The lounge is a space where students, faculty and other staff congregate and converse. This is where I got to know many of the friends I have in my program. The photo also features a GARCH sticker, GARCH being the mascot of the Graduate Association of the Religion, Classics and History department. It reminds me of the community that this department and grad program has offered me!
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Gurleen |
This photo captures the silence I experience when I'm alone in the elevators, along with funny adventures — like this randomly found glove, whose destiny I now hold.
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Terrence |
I like textures a lot — the variety of these bricks draws me closer. I get overwhelmed a lot on campus, and zooming into simple things can be very helpful. I really like how rough these bricks are, and the variety of colours is surprising. I didn’t notice how many colours were included in the “brown” of the building. This is the exterior wall of Triffo Hall, a place I’ve never entered, but which still interests me because of the bricks’ texture.