Katie

"The strike has had a surprising mental impact on me. The lack of work and social interaction is making my depression worse. I can't really go back to work when I don't know when school might start up again. Worrying about what is going to happen to the money I paid for tuition and residence is also aggravating my mental health. I just really want to go back to school now."

Tanner

"When the school year first started off, I imagined a list of experiences that I would take with me beyond my college life.  As week 4 of this strike passes, I find myself adding “feeling bitter and angry” to that list.  I spent several months waiting, terrified of having my OSAP application rejected for any reason.  My mother had to take a loan out of her own work place, just so I could stay in Residence.  I also have a mild form of autism, so I live by a principle of following schedules and taking on one thing at a time.  This strike messes all of that up for me.  I want to get the education I paid for, I want to be able to go home and spend time for my family.  I’m not the only one who shares this sentiment either.  I have a roommate who lives in Bermuda, and this strike is gonna screw him over, as well as any other international students, way more than myself.  So I am asking and imploring: Please bring this strike to an end.  We’re tired of waiting, we want to get back in the classroom and do what we came here to do: learn."

Anna

"This is my first year attempting post-secondary. This is my first year away from home. This is my first lot of things. In the beginning I was nervous, I moved from British Columbia without any prior connections here. But my classmates and more importantly, the faculty of my program created such an amazing support network that I knew I could handle this year. Then the strike happened and half, if not more, of my support network is gone. Let alone my reason for being in this province. I understand the lack of answers, however, it's extremely difficult for people like me who are so far from home.

Danielle

"As an international student, the strike has been a source of great stress an anxiety in a variety of ways. Firstly, with the uncertainty regarding the cancellation of the semester and any potential refunds, I am left in a situation where I have potentially spent over $20,000 for an education which I may not receive through no fault of my own. Secondly, due to the uncertainty pertaining to the length of the strike, I have been prohibited from working a sufficient amount of hours to sustain myself abroad. In addition, due to the immigration requirements set out by the Government of Canada, the strike has the potential to negatively impact any later decisions I may want to make with regard to immigrating to Canada permanently. 

Moreover, if the semester can be salvaged, being in a practical program, such as the Visual Merchandising Arts program, I will no doubt have to rush work that otherwise is give much more time and due consideration which no doubt will have a negative impact on my retention of the material to be learnt as well as the amount of practical work which I can complete. Furthermore, as an international student living on residence, the uncertainty about potentially having to pay more money or not having a place to live, through no fault of my own is a cause for great concern."

Madison

"It has made me less inclined to speak highly of colleges in Ontario. I have honestly become so unmotivated with regards to school it’s unbelievable. My loyalty to Sheridan alone has deteriorated. I was supposed to graduate this year, how am I supposed to remember college now? I was off for a month, one month in the big scheme of life isn’t much. One month at this age, at the stage in my life is a long time, especially when It has such an impact on my future. It may be selfish of me to say, but this stupid strike has had such negative impact on my life. It makes me wish I just went to University like I planned to. At least then I’d be getting the education I pay for. I worked long hard hours to make the money to pay for school, but that doesn’t matter to anyone. All the student that need to pay off loans now for an education they haven’t received. It’s pathetic. "

Karen

"First, we pay to learn. These weeks with no classes have affected my effectiveness on stay on track with work, and as a result, also anxiety. We go to school to be in an environment where you'll be encouraged to keep working and given feedback on your performance. Now that I haven't had that it's been hard to stay focused not to mention how it also affects mental health. It also worries the students on the economic part of this. I have a student debt because I'm investing in my future, we are losing TIME and money. Time especially that no one will give us back. They're planning to take our break or make it shorter, people now will have to change their plans, and have less resting time to start the following semester. This can affect so differently with each student, is very unfair that they have put us in this situation. "

Samantha

"I think the strike has impacted everyone in more of less the same negative ways. As a student who attends all of their classes no matter what, I am feeling useless and helpless in the current set of circumstances. I feel that no matter what I try to do, my voice doesn't matter enough to be heard. I want to be heard! I do matter, we all do. We deserve better than this. It isn't the students fault that the two sides cannot agree with each other. We lose out to no fault of our own. I feel like we are all being held hostage in this and neither side is willing to compromise to pay the ransom."

Niani

"The strike has been extremely stressful for me. As a first year, my work (readings and assignments) is something I focus most of my time doing so I will be able to go into university later on. The first week of the strike was calm, I continued my school work at home rather than go to the campus for my lectures. Unfortunately, more weeks started to pass by and I found myself feeling more anxious about how I will complete the rest of this semester without stressing out about it"