LA&PS Voices is York University's lifestyle blog inspired by our vibrant LA&PS community. The blog offers thoughtfully written advice, resources and opinions that centre around life as a LA&PS student- including the aspects of university life that don't always make it into the highlight reel. LA&PS Voices is written by students, for students and is led by an editorial team committed to producing content rooted in our shared community.
What I Wish I Knew Before Starting University: Discovering New Freedom and Adulthood
August 18, 2026
When I boarded the plane for the long, tedious journey to York, I was convinced I knew exactly what to expect. Having navigated private, public, and international high schools—and having been rigorously shaped by two years in the IBCP—I believed I had already survived the hardest parts of student life. I expected university to be ...
Why Your Voice Belongs on The LA&PS Volunteer Blog
When people think of “writers,” they tend to focus on bestselling authors, journalists, or academics. People who have done something extraordinary tend to stand out. It is an easy trap to fall into and leads ...
Tips for Speaking Up in Class
Speaking up can be scary, especially in class. Whether it's presenting in a big lecture hall, participating in tutorials, or even discussions in small breakaway groups, the pressure to articulate your thoughts can feel overwhelming. It's not uncommon to fear saying the ...
Leveraging Networking Platforms for Career Success
Due to advancements in technology, innovation and the integration of AI, the development of new tools has been growing at a rapid pace that has broadened the plethora of connecting with professionals, building relationships and mentoring opportunities ...
The Importance of the Study of Sociolinguistics in Helping ESL Speakers and Non-English Speakers in the Justice Systems
My academic journey as a Law & Society student has taught me that law evolves alongside society, underscoring their interconnectedness. For years, I have studied various courses, including “Sociology of the Law”, “Popular Trials”, “Public Administration”, “Paradoxes of Rights”, and more, all ...
I Dream of Colour: Learning to Advocate for My Health
Sweating is often dismissed as a minor inconvenience, but it has quietly taken over my life since moving to Toronto. Living with hyperhidrosis has altered every aspect of my existence. It dictates the way I dress, when ...
More Than First Impressions
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Never judge a book by its cover.” I’d like to add something to that. Most of us only give ourselves a few seconds to decide whether something impresses us or whether we should ignore it. In those few ...
Pretty or Smart? The Question We Only Ask Women
There's a particular kind of compliment that reveals everything. “She's brilliant…and beautiful too!” The surprise in the voice. The too. As if intelligence and a good face are two prizes that weren't supposed to land in the same pair of hands. As ...
Labour, Education and Image in Professional, Industry & NBA Dance
Balancing the Court, the Classroom and the Reality Behind the Glamour Under the bright lights of Scotiabank Arena, on a movie set, or in the studio, professional dancers move in perfect synchronization as thousands of ...
Dressed in Power
Does what we wear actually change how confident and ready we feel, or is it just in our heads? Fashion is usually defined as a popular style of clothing at a certain time. Trends change, colours rotate, silhouettes evolve. ...
The Quiet Work of Making a Story Legible
Every institution possesses its own grammar. Decisions that appear impersonal or opaque often follow a logic that becomes visible only once one learns how that grammar operates. A person may arrive with a story that carries the full ...
The Hustler’s Manifesto: Side Gigs as a University Student
Let’s face it–your bank account is crying louder than you did during finals. Between overpriced textbooks, emergency bubble tea runs and that one subscription you swear you will cancel, being a university student is a ...
Where My Thoughts Learned to Rest
This is the story of a teenager who always had something to say but slowly ran out of people who had the time to listen. That teenager is me. I have always been someone who ...
University Unfiltered: What the Brochures Do not Tell You
I started this blog to welcome lions to the space they did not know they needed. I have firsthand experience of how overwhelming university life can be – deadlines, resumes, finding your people, figuring out what matters. ...
Be a Divergent Thinker
What and who is a divergent thinker? Divergent thinkers are those who typically use a spontaneous and unstructured method of thinking that produces original ideas and solutions. To answer the latter of who is a ...
Health is Wealth: 5 Resources to Maintain Your Health
Have you ever been interested in how to promote longevity and live a healthy lifestyle? This blog is exactly what you have been looking for. From physical to mental health, we have you covered. Simply ...
Meet the LA&PS Voices Blog Team
Bhanu Priya Sharma is a Student Engagement Coordinator in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies at York University, where she works with LA&PS Colleges to coordinate engagement programming for undergraduate and graduate students. She enjoys reading and writing romance fantasy, baking pretty cupcakes, and building community through creative and collaborative initiatives. Through The LA&PS Voices Blog, she hopes to highlight the diverse voices of writers in the LA&PS community and encourage students to share their stories and perspectives.
Rubaljeet Kaur (Rubal) is a Senior Student Communications Assistant in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies at York University and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) student. Through her work in communications and involvement in student-led initiatives, she is passionate about creating opportunities for students to share their stories, experiences, and perspectives. She enjoys storytelling, content creation, community engagement, and supporting projects that amplify student voices. Through LA&PS Voices, Rubaljeet hopes to foster an inclusive and welcoming space where students feel encouraged to express themselves, connect with others, and contribute to meaningful conversations within the LA&PS community.
Questions?
Contact our editors at bpsharma@yorku.ca or rubal07@yorku.ca for more information.