When you start university and embark on this journey, there are many things that people don’t tell you. Things that you go through, things that happen to you or simply things you might be exposed to as you are pursuing your academic degree. Whether we admit it or not, university is more than lectures and labs, assignments and presentations. So let me tell you the things that I wish someone told me when I was starting my journey. They may seem silly or insignificant but they make the biggest difference once you understand them.
Given that, here are some of the things that they don't tell you as you start your academic journey:
- It’s okay to be lost, it’s part of the university experience. Let me tell you that there has never been an undergraduate student who wasn’t lost for the first semester or maybe even the first year of university and it is okay. Give yourself this grace period of ‘figuring it out’, being lost on campus, asking others for help. It will encourage you to grow out of your comfort zone and build the confidence to adapt to the new atmosphere.
- You don’t have to know everything. Allow yourself to learn, admit when you don’t know something. Let me tell you a little secret, the faster you admit you don’t know something the faster you’re gonna learn it. Put that ego on the side, be humble when it comes to learning. Did you ever hear about the Dunning-Kruger effect? It is a psychological bias in which a person will overestimate their abilities or knowledge about certain things. Therefore, causing themselves a great loss when coming to learn new information since they speculate that it is 'common knowledge' or that they already know it. Keep in mind that sometimes looking at the same topic from different perspectives allows you to have a deeper understanding of the topic. Thus, open your mind to new ideas, topics and information because there are lots and lots of things to learn.
- Friendships come and go - know the difference between a friend and an acquaintance. Not every stranger is your friend, that one person that you sit next to in a lecture 2 times a week isn’t your friend that person is an acquaintance, of course unless you pursue that friendship. Being able to categorize and understand the different interactions that you go through will save you from the disappointment of putting expectations in the wrong place (or person).
- Sometimes (most of the times) things don’t go as planned and that’s okay. Whether its class registration or that exam that you studied for or that lab experiment that isn’t working or or or… there will always be something if you are looking for it. The amount of times that I was stressed out of my mind because of a class registration mishap or because of a ‘bad’ grade on an exam. I am here from the future to tell you that it’s okay, you are going to be perfectly fine and that it is just a bit of hard times before smoother times.
- Saying no because you have exams and assignments doesn’t make you rude. Yes and yes, do not entertain at your own expense unless you absolutely want to. I know that university is more than just lectures and exams but it also doesn’t mean that you totally dismiss them for ‘fun’ times. I know a lot of us find these clubs, events and social times fun and exciting but remember that your contribution to these extracurricular activities shouldn’t negatively impact your studies or your mental health. Try to find a healthy balance between them.
These are some of the things that I think every undergraduate student, especially freshmen’s should know and keep in mind when starting their university experience. I know that the transition from high school to university might be challenging, perhaps I’ll do another post on this specific topic.
Do you agree with these points?
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