Belonging Before Arrival: The Peer Coaches Who Taught Me I Was Already Part of SMU
By Ritika Sharma
Thumbnail and Banner Photo by Mykyta Kravčenko on Unsplash
You're reading this in your childhood bedroom, SMU’s New Student Checklist glaring from your screen: Register. Pay. Join. Belong. How? You’ve never walked the walkways of Saint Mary’s University. Never smelled Atrium coffee. Never hunted for “Sophie’s Lane.”
Because sometimes, belonging isn’t about geography, it’s about being understood. It’s when your nerves are mirrored in someone else’s smile, and even silence feels safe. You don’t have to prove you belong to be included.
A week ago, that was me—heart racing, convinced I’d drown in the unknown. Then I clicked "Join Meeting" on Zoom for my first peer success coaching session, and something quietly shifted; the unknown felt a little less distant, and I felt a little less alone.
You already belong—because someone shows up before you even ask.
From Panic to Polls: The Zoom Call That Changed Everything
The session began in quiet hesitation—muted microphones, flickering webcams, and that uncertain stillness every first-time Zoom room knows too well. Then, with an inviting ease, the peer coaches launched a simple poll: a set of questions that could have come from a campfire conversation under the stars.
“Your favorite season?” Without planning it, we aligned—autumn had our hearts, and winter had our unified disapproval.
“Pineapple on pizza?” Surprisingly, most nodded yes—a moment of unexpected consensus.
Then: “What superpower would you choose?” Suddenly, the tone shifted. The screen became a circle of twelve-year-olds again; wide-eyed, wondering, choosing teleportation to skip morning classes or freezing time before deadlines hit. For a fleeting moment, we weren't uncertain first-years. We were children again, curious, dreaming, and laughing together across the distance.
Not polite laughter. Real laughter. The kind that stretches shoulders and softens walls. The kind that whispers, ‘you belong here.’
And in that moment, I knew I wasn't alone.
Building Schedules (and Sanity) One Click at a Time
There’s no drag-and-drop magic like you'd find in games—but yes, course registration can feel like solving a mildly stressful puzzle. Thankfully, the Peer Success Coaches didn’t just tell us what to do, they showed us. From choosing the right classes to previewing your weekly schedule, everything started to fall into place. Suddenly, I knew which days would be heavy and when I might have a breather, as well as how to manage both my time and expectations.
We were also guided through the Student Finance Portal, where fee payments and due amounts live in plain sight, an essential stop on the road to financial adulting. And all those “silly” questions you’re too shy to ask? Asked and answered.
Then came Brightspace. The virtual platform where grades whisper, assignments hide, and half your academic life lives. I sat cross-legged on my carpet, miles from Halifax, but mentally, I was already on campus—slightly panicked, highly curious, and maybe just a little excited. It wasn’t just about accessing a course site, it felt like unlocking a new chapter of life.
Inbox Survival 101
“Check your SMU email daily,” one of the coaches advised,not with urgency, but with the quiet authority of someone who’s watched too many opportunities slip by unopened.
And just like that, my inbox, once ignored, dismissed, and cluttered, took on new meaning. Emails from the Financial Aid Office, updates from SMUSA about part-time work, housing, and deadlines were all there, waiting like doors half-open.
University isn’t conquered by brilliance alone. It’s conquered by your presence. In your inbox, in classrooms, in conversations, this is where success is found. What once felt like a task began to signal what lay ahead, whispers of the life already unfolding in my name.
The Orientation Prophecy: From Strangers to Study Buddies
Next came stories of Welcome Week, shared with a kind of reverence—the coaches told tales of games like Two Truths and a Lie, evening socials, name tags, and awkward beginnings that somehow transform into lifelong group chats and midnight study sessions in Patrick Power Library.
At first, it all sounds unlikely. You may feel like just another name in a crowd, unsure where you fit. But the university already knows, and more importantly, the Peer Coaches know, that belonging isn’t left to chance. That’s exactly why these moments exist. These events aren’t filler. They’re invitations.
Because when connection is intentional, even strangers become your people.
Homesickness & How To Not Let It Win
Adjusting to a new country, a new city, and a new academic life comes with inevitable waves of homesickness. At SMU, this reality isn’t overlooked. Through the Student Success Centre, students have access to academic advising, peer mentorship, career development, and wellness support that help ease the transition, not just academically, but emotionally.
Belonging is also built outside the classroom. With over 40 student societies, SMU creates space for cultural identity, shared interests, and professional growth. Whether it’s the Pride Society’s Queer Coffee Hour, the Indigenous Student Society’s smudging ceremonies, or CPA prep workshops hosted by the Accounting Students’ Association, these groups offer more than activities—they offer connection.
In unfamiliar environments, it’s easy to feel like you’re on your own. But at SMU, community is not a coincidence. It’s something you step into—with your questions, your hopes, and your story—and find that others are already waiting.
Who’s There When It Gets Hard?
University can be confusing, overwhelming, or just plain weird are all the printers named after sea creatures?),but the support structure at SMU is real—and not just for show.
At the heart of support at SMU is the Student Success Centre, a hub designed to help students not only transition smoothly into university life but thrive throughout it. Whether you’re new to SMU or returning for a second year through the Year 2 @ SMU program, the centre offers guidance every step of the way. Services include Peer Success Coaching, Learning Support, and resources during Student Success Week—all aimed at building academic skills and personal confidence. Beyond the classroom, Student Life and Leadership initiatives help students engage with the community, grow as leaders, and make meaningful connections that last well beyond graduation.
And when you’re not booking appointments or panicking over a due date, you’ll find real support in everyday places.
The Truth I Carry to Halifax
In four weeks, I’ll roll my suitcase off a flight and breathe in Halifax’s ocean air for the first time, but I won’t be arriving empty. I’m bringing something more important than extra-long twin bedsheets: the belief that I already belong.
This isn’t just a new chapter; it’s a continuation of preparation, connection, and the small moments that quietly became the big ones.
What I’ll Remember as I Arrive
Preparation isn’t just packing—it’s asking questions out loud.
Support isn’t something you find—it’s already waiting.
Belonging doesn’t begin with move-in—it begins when you say yes to showing up.
So when I finally walk into the Atrium and smell that very real, powerful espresso, I won’t feel like a guest. I’ll feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.