The hallways were jam-packed with students returning to St. Clair College Campus for the Fall 2026 semester – a familiar September sight with thousands of new Saints exuding a sense of optimism, readiness and perhaps a dose of nervous excitement for the year ahead.
"I feel amazing, honestly," said Celine Grenier, a 30-year-old who has dipped her toe in the working world and is now back at the College studying in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, delivered in collaboration with the University of Windsor. "I'm coming back. If you want that golden ticket, you have to go chase it. So here I am."
Grenier said she's ready to spend the next four years studying to become a nurse so she can make an impact in the community.
"When you want something in life, you just have to go get it. And if it's worth having, then you'll have it," she said confidently. "Don't be nervous. Chase your dreams. You have one life. It's short. If you want something, go get it."
Sage advice for her peers who spent much of the first day at St. Clair walking the hallways, finding their classrooms, meeting professors and making new friends along the way.
"Honestly, I feel energized. I feel ready to take on the year," said Isabella D'Angelo, who graduated from the Fast-Track Hairstyling program, and is now enrolled in Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees, with the goal of enrolling in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. "I'm just excited for what's to come next. I'm just feeling inspired."
"I actually like being at school," D'Angelo added.
Ali Hadwan, the President of the Student Representative Council (SRC), knows what the first week of school means to incoming and returning Saints.
"We love to see new faces on campus. I assume everyone has those first-day jitters, everyone's a little nervous, but we're here to reassure them that it's nothing to be afraid of," Hadwan said. "It's a chance for you to make new friends and make new experiences."
Hadwan also highlighted the importance of going to class and not considering it a lost week.
"Meet your profs. The first week is the most important week. It's the week of first impressions, and those last a lifetime," Hadwan said. "You can make new friends in the first week. You can meet some professors that you'll be with for years, creating memories and enhancing your college journey."
The SRC has a series of events planned for the first few weeks of school to get students engaged and introduce them to college life.
A full list of upcoming events can be found here.
"Come have some laughs, you get to relax and we'd like to help students realize that colleges can be fun sometimes, too," said Hadwan.
"It's not all about schoolwork, right? There's another side to it."
