A week ago, the halls of St. Clair College were quiet, the classrooms were mostly empty and professors were busy preparing for another new academic year.
But on Sept. 2, 2025 – the official first day of school – campus buzzed back to life as students returned for the Fall 2025 semester.
From wide-eyed freshmen navigating their first college classes to returning students reconnecting with friends and faculty, the first day marked a fresh chapter filled with new opportunities, academic challenges, and the excitement of campus life in full swing.
Aisha Haley, a first-year student at the College, was calm, cool and collected, even though it was a big day.
"That key thing is just kind of navigating around people, because there's a lot more bodies, a lot more personalities," Haley noted.
Haley and fellow first-year student Kiara Stewart are enrolled in the CNC Machining Pre-apprenticeship program. They were introduced to the program through their relationship with Women's Enterprise Skills Training (WEST) of Windsor and they're very happy with their decision.
"I searched for it because I was interested in the trades," said Stewart. "I kind of took a gap year after high school, and I heard about WEST, and I heard what they offered and how they were working with St. Clair, and I thought that was a really cool thing."
For second-year students Evan Johnson and Wyatt Rapson, coming back to school was a little bit less stressful.
"It's business as usual. It's like riding a bike," said Johnson, who along with Rapson is studying Esports Administration and Entrepreneurship.
"We spend a lot of time in here," Johnson said from the middle of the eSports Nexus Arena at Main Windsor Campus. "We want to make this a place where a lot of people can come and just hang out and chill, and that's really the goal of this space – to make it somewhere where people can be comfortable."
"I think that makes college fun. Obviously, you're here to learn, but at the same time, it's a really good opportunity to meet new people, learn a little bit about yourself, try new things and have some different experiences," said Johnson.
Rapson admitted coming to St. Clair last year was a nerve-wracking experience that took him outside his comfort zone. But with a year under his belt, he's now focused on enhancing his connections and making the most out of student life.
"Get out there and do as much as you can. The volunteer opportunities here at St. Clair are endless," he said. "You just have to take that first step to say, hey, I want to do this."
