Somewhere on campus, second-year Civil Engineering student Hasveen Arulrajan is sitting in one of his five classes this semester, mapping out what assignments and exams await him in the upcoming week.

It's important for Arulrajan to stay on course, especially with history attached to his name.

Beyond the borders of his demanding class timetable is a uniquely challenging schedule that comes with being a part of the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold's track and field team. 

Arulrajan has mastered the intricate balancing act that other student-athletes are familiar with. 

Budding student by day. Dedicated athlete by night. 

"I'm more confident now because I'm more consistent," said Arulrajan. 

His command over his craft and his relentless academic pursuits have yielded early accomplishments. Arulrajan became the first athlete in TMU history to compete in the men's shot put event. 

But he wasn't always like this. The transition to university life was a learning experience.

"I didn't balance my time well," said Arulrajan. "My first semester was definitely an adjustment from high school." 

Arulrajan chose TMU for the flexibility in its streaming options for engineering students. Understanding that his track and field responsibilities would have to co-exist with his studies, Arulrajan made a plan. 

"I put together a weekly schedule, especially if I have assignments or quizzes," explained Arulrajan. "That way I have time to properly throw and train." 

The burden attached to being the first in school history to compete in any event or sport means that setting personal bests equates to establishing school records. With his class routine developed, Arulrajan next leveraged his attention to detail in his pursuit of greatness.

"My ultimate goal is throw over 50 feet," said Arulrajan. 

Arulrajan threw a Bold record of 13.4 metres (43.9 feet) at a recent event. With the OUA Championship scheduled for Feb. 21-22, Arulrajan has been laser-focused during practice. 

Training sessions on Thursdays focus on technique. Fridays typically highlight his distance. Arulrajan then weight trains during the weekends. With the help of coaches like Will Lanktree, Arulrajan also includes film study during his routine. 

It's a straightforward schedule that Arulrajan has unwaveringly committed to. His efforts behind-the-scenes has resulted in him occasionally throwing over 14 metres during training sessions. 

"I know my competitors are bigger and stronger," said Arulrajan. "But if I remain consistent with my training, I can get to that 50-foot mark." 

Arulrajan feels undersized at his current height of six-feet, but when he first began his shot put journey, it helped that he had a slight physical advantage. 

"I was pretty good at it when I first started because I was a little bigger than everyone else." 

Two years after his family moved from Scarborough to Brampton, Arulrajan picked up a shot put for the first time. He recalls falling in love with it while in fourth grade. His interest in throwing events further calcified when Arulrajan tried his hand at discus and javelin. 

"I used to get nervous because there are so many people," said Arulrajan. "But now I just stay calm during meets." 

Unlike some of his peers, Arulrajan takes a minimalist approach to his game days. Many athletes have superstitions they adhere to. Others have a non-negotiable playlist of songs designed to achieve a specific mindset. But Arulrajan doesn't subscribe to these methods. 

Instead, he simply walks up to his event an hour early. Arulrajan warms up for thirty minutes and throws for another half-hour. 

Arulrajan's tranquil demeanour makes sense considering his lineage. Long before he ever picked up a shotput, Arulrajan's father thrived on the track. Back in Sri Lanka, his dad excelled in running events and the long jump. 

"He was pretty good at it," beamed Arulrajan. 

In many ways, Arulrajan's path was preordained by a patriarchal trailblazer. His father not only introduced Arulrajan and his siblings - brother and sister - to the track and field world, but later became their first coach. 

"He took us to every single meet and always paid attention to us," said Arulrajan. 

With three events remaining before the provincial championship, including the Windsor Team Challenge (Feb. 6-7), the Hal Brown Last Chance Meet (Feb. 13), and the Guelph Last Chance (Feb. 14), Arulrajan now has the attention of those waiting to see what he authors next in TMU's history book.