Starting university is exciting...a new campus, new friends, and lots of new activities. First year is a time when you’ll be making some important decisions for yourself. This can be both exhilarating - and terrifying!
How will you manage this newfound independence? We’ve compiled some great tips and advice from current students below. Take it from them, university is all about finding the right balance.
Be mindful and disciplined
It’s your choice to show up for class. Unlike high school, no one is going to take attendance or call your parents if you skip. While it may feel good to sleep in and tell yourself you’ll catch up on readings or get notes from a friend, we all know that doesn’t always happen.
And come October when the midterms are happening, you may wish you’d attended a few more of those 9 am lectures.
"The joy of being independent is short lived by the tremendous need for responsibility. With this in mind, and a little bit of discipline, you will find pleasure in balancing the two."
- Clement Rugwiro, Year 2, Faculty of Science
Get involved
There are tons of ways to get involved in university life, and you might be tempted to try it all. Many students get so involved in their first year that their academics actually suffer.
You don’t need to do everything in your first year. Find one or two things you’re interested in, and learn the art of being okay with not doing it all. Trust us...there’s lot of time to try things out, and find your place.
“Get out more and get involved on campus with the various clubs - find your niche because learning is more than getting a degree. But don’t try running behind everything. I know FOMO (fear of missing out) is a real thing but use your time wisely. Write down your priorities.
In the end, if you find it hard to achieve balance, think of what is important to you and what you want to make of your university life. Finally, remember that there are resources available on campus to support you.”
- Simya Surani, Year 3, Faculty of Science
Be kind to yourself
With so much change and newness, university is a time to really take care of yourself.
Whether it’s to study or hang out with new friends, staying up too late can become an easy practice. The reality is that when you’re habitually staying up til 4 am, missing classes, and sleeping the day away, things can go sideways.
Getting rest is important for you to function well at,well, everything. So make sure to put yourself first, no matter how tempting it is to stay up all night.
“Freedom is not about having many options to choose from, but rather the opportunity to make the right decisions–choices that are aligned to the values and dreams you hold at your core. Learn to become your own best friend–ask yourself fundamental questions that give you insight on who you are, why you are here, and where you are heading; this will add depth in your relationship with You, give you clarity about what You hold at your core, and integrate your thoughts and actions towards your goal(s).”
- Yadu Baznath, Graduate, Faculty of Arts
Learn from others
You are not the first person to have to adjust to life as a new university student. Look to others who, in your opinion, seem to have this balance thing down. Ask what is working for them, and learn from their experiences.
“Thinking back to my first year, having so much responsibility and independence was definitely tough to get used to.
Something that really helped me was finding people who had already settled into this new, somewhat adult life and taking what they've learned into consideration. Once I observed what works for them, I try taking that and manipulating that into something that works for me specifically.”
- Vino Cuenca, Year 2 student, Faculty of Arts
Trial and error
They say with freedom comes responsibility. That responsibility in this case is to yourself and your goals as a university student.
We all have to strike the right balance - and it’s different for everyone. It takes trial and error, and you may not get it right the first time. Nevertheless, if you remember to make your choices based on your own needs and what works for you, you’ll find the right balance soon enough.
“Be kind to yourself and remember that you will always be enough.
As you aspire to lead your peers and rise to challenges, please be gentle with yourself; be proud of even the smallest achievements and appreciate every rough patch as its own learning experience.
And lastly, don't hesitate to explore new fields of study- it is through the process of discovering new terrain that we truly discover ourselves.”
- Grace Y.S. Kamara, Graduate, Faculty of Arts
