Written by Madalyn Wallace – Country To Canberra Teen Blogger
First Things First
It’s that time of the year again! Everyone’s finally recovered from O-week, made some new friends and now settling into the routine of university life. Before you start madly cramming for your first round of uni exams and then heading home for a quick break with the family for Easter, here’s some food for thought. I’ve put together 8 things I wish I knew before embarking on my first year of university – hopefully you will use them to have an amazing year!
1. Ask for help
Whether it’s learning how to use the university library, signing on for classes, or even where to catch the bus – your university has many facilities at your disposal which provide both information and services. Don’t be too proud to use them – they’re there for you.
2. Be yourself
If you’re hoping to become a queen/king bee when you get to university by faking it until you make it, I’m sorry to tell you, but this will always end in disaster – take a note from Kady in the movie Mean Girls and just be you. University is a whole new ball game and is nothing like high school. It’s a place where you can express your views and be treated like an adult. There’s no need to try to be someone you’re not to fit in, because nine times out of ten, the people you try to fit in with won’t be people who’ll support and love you like real friends.
3. Take safe risks
As a college freshman, I experienced everything this new life had to offer in O-Week. From events with new friends to boot camps at 5:30am, I gritted my teeth and went outside my comfort zone. In saying this I was never pressured by my college leaders do anything unsafe and nor should you. Ever. Although some harmless hazing occurred (and the leaders do seem pretty scary when they’re screaming at you to get your chin to the ground during push ups!) they are there to help you in anyway they can. Your first year at uni is about trying new things and bonding with your peers: so suck it up freshers and get comfortable with being a little uncomfortable and do some laps!
4. Get involved
I may have covered this a little in the previous point but participation needs to be emphasised. You won’t get very far in life in any area if you don’t participate and try new things. You may suck at sports, but you’ve got lungs so use them and support your uni at sporting events. You may be really shy and hate public speaking, but engage in class discussions during lectures and don’t be afraid to ask questions that’s what your lecturers are there for. Sign onto clubs and societies, make some friends and volunteer. Surprise yourself, if you don’t try you’ll never know, so get around it and participate people!
5. Manage your time
After the week long (or in some cases – weeks long) festival that is O-Week 😉 its time to get serious and embrace the workload. University is different to high school, you won’t get nagged to do your homework, so if you fail, it’s on you. Don’t leave your assignments to the last minute because your grades directly reflect your effort. So bingeing on Netflix then catching up on 12 weeks of lecturers in three days is frowned upon, right? Make a study timetable and plan your assignments day by day, the same goes for exams, a little every day makes SWOTVAC a whole lot easier and GO to lectures! But it’s all about balance, so throw in some time for Ben and Jerry’s and Modern Family too!
6. Keep up the routine
You might notice that by this point of the first semester, your study planner has gone into hibernation at the bottom of your draws and still has the dregs of the first week’s plan on it. There’s no time like the present, so get out the diaries and get back to your routine.
7. Call your parents
For those of you who don’t have the luxury of living with your parents a few extra years, it’ll get a bit lonely moving out of home. With teen depression on the rise it’s important to keep in contact with that person who’ll just listen and make you remember how awesome you are. By the way, they miss you too so it’s okay to touch base once every week at least.
8. Enjoy your first year you only get one
Live it up, you’ve done the hardest part already: you sent in an application and made a minimum three year commitment. From experience, your first year goes by so fast and before you know it, you’ll be throwing that graduation cap and holding that degree high!
So, they are my tips for having the BEST first year at uni – does anyone have a few more to add to the list?