Wednesday Wisdom

One of the most important (and least taught) university skills is self-advocacy—knowing what you need in order to learn well, and being able to communicate that clearly. This becomes important when you're trying to set up your ideal learning environment.

Many students assume that struggling in a lecture hall, study space, or group project means they’re “not cut out” for university. In reality, the issue is often the environment, not the student. Universities are set up for one type of student, and in fact the majority of students are not cookie-cutter replicas of that!

Here are some questions to help you evaluate:

• What conditions help you focus and feel regulated?
• What conditions quietly drain your energy or attention?
• How do different spaces (lecture halls, libraries, tutorials, online classes) affect your participation?

Being able to name these factors is the first step toward making informed choices—about where to study, how to structure your schedule, and when to ask for support. This skill becomes especially important in university, where independence is expected but guidance is less explicit.

Taking a few moments to think about these questions can help you set up the best class schedule as well as an ideal study situation. And if you want some support figuring this out, check out the resource below!

Resources

One of my entrepreneur contacts, Lacey Artemis, has developed the Solace Model, a research-informed framework that explains how sensory conditions in shared environments influence comfort, strain, and participation.

Although the model is primarily used in event planning, it translates extremely well to academic settings. I often see students struggle because they lack the language to explain why a space or format isn’t working for them. Frameworks like this help students move from “I just can’t focus” to “Here’s what I need in order to learn effectively.”

The Solace Model can also help you better articulate your ideal study situaions and advocate for yourself!

ChooseYourUni News

I recently followed the social trend and shared a “2016-style” carousel on Instagram reflecting on my career path, and one theme stood out clearly: non-linearity.

Looking back, many of the building blocks that shaped my work today were laid long before I understood where they were leading. At the time, they didn’t feel strategic—they just felt necessary.

This is something I remind students and families of often: you do not need a perfectly mapped-out plan for your choices to matter. Skills compound. Experience compounds. Confidence compounds.

If you want to start building your confidence for university, keep an eye out for University Launch 2026: A Virtual Readiness Summit. This 5-day event will be held in May and will feature experts presenting on topics like study skills, career prep, and important "adulting" topics like budgeting and meal prep. I'll be sharing all the details here on this email space first, so keep an eye on your inbox!

I'm also offering my first webinar of 2026 tonight, and there are a few seats left! If you want to learn more about How to find and apply for more scholarships, you can still sign up here:
​