5 Things I Wish I had Known Before My First Year of University!
Authored By: Manvi Pant, May 29th 2021
It's currently May, which means a lot of post-secondary students have just made it through another gruelling year of university. Looking back, I was a part of this batch as well! As a student who just completed their first year of university, I can vouch for the stress and craziness that many students face in this environment. Additionally, I experienced my first ever year in university completely online, which introduced a new set of obstacles—I will definitely be touching on these through this blog-post. This year-long adventure taught me quite a bit about myself and about the contributing factors of a fruitful university experience. Listed below are some of the most important lessons I learned through my journey.
1. Motivation is a Luxury
University is a taxing experience for many. The pace varies a lot from high school and students are often under-prepared for the demands of a traditional university workload when they first enter. The vicious cycle of readings, midterms, deadlines, and the expectation to do well can really take a toll on a student’s mental health and their motivation to keep going.
While it is hopeful to assume that you will always feel motivated and prepared for your tasks, it is easy and natural to enter a cycle of burnout or even, procrastination. Even as a freshly inaugurated university student, there were weeks when I simply couldn't conjure the motivation to work. My first-year taught me that this is very normal! Motivation is more of a luxury than a normality—you have to actively work to build upon your motivation by accomplishing smaller, everyday goals. It is important to keep pushing in some capacity, even when you feel discouraged. A good way to do this is to break-up your day in clearly defined periods of work, sleep, study, exercise, clubs, and relaxation etc. While it may feel pointless in the moment, your efforts will build up and culminate into your larger goals, which is the definition of “worth-it” for a student.
2. A Goal without a Plan is just a Wish!
Planning holds an incredible importance in a multi-layered experience such as university. Students have to juggle a variety of commitments and goals at once, and the only way to achieve some sort of structure and organization is to plan. It is very normal to not have a clearly defined idea of what you want to achieve in university—that is how most students start out this crazy journey! Try taking Open Studies to discover your interests! Furthermore, the habit of planning ahead helps you achieve your goal eventually. The process of planning ahead effectively allows you to:
Prepare for upcoming obstacles, both expected and unexpected
Actively engage with your future
Develop a routine early-on
Apply and commit to many different opportunities
3. Opportunities come to those who Express Interest
University is meant to be a constructive learning environment for students right before they venture into the working world, and what better way to learn than to gain some hands-on experience? There are unique opportunities and experiences waiting around every corner. However, students often pass up on them because they are unaware, lack experience/confidence, don't know who to ask, or are afraid of rejection.
There are countless students and professors with ideas for extracurriculars, clubs, research initiatives etc., and a strong desire to assist you in making your ideas come to life. While it may feel intimidating to reach-out and express your interest at first, it is important to understand that these students and professors are often seeking people to bring new skills and join them on their endeavours—the same way you are seeking to gain experience. Sometimes getting involved is as simple as introducing yourself and expressing interest in available opportunities. For example, if you are seeking research opportunities, you can email a professor conducting research in a related field regarding your are of interest, and the skills you can bring to the table. Get out there! It is better to have this initial interaction in-person, because you can convey your gratitude in a more authentic way. However, if your circumstances don’t permit that, this year online proved that a well written e-mail is also very effective. Simply expressing your interest in an opportunity goes a long way!
4. A Hobby a Day keeps the Doldrums away...especially during Online School
University can easily turn into a monotonous experience. The repetitive and rigorous academic routine pulls you in and, before you realize it, you start to have a hard time maintaining balance in your life. Usually a good fix is to meet with friends, or make plans to go outside, however that wasn’t a viable option during a pandemic. Somewhere along the road, I learned that picking-up and sustaining interesting hobbies are great ways to preserve a good balance between your academic life and personal life. I took on a variety of hobbies such as cooking/baking, growing plants, walking, writing, and even knitting! Not only did the aforementioned hobbies break the spell of monotony and boredom in my life, my mood also improved as reflected in my academic performance. Truly a win-win situation. I recommend exploring your hobbies and interests—everyone should have at least one creative outlet!
5. Enjoy your Time!
Above all, it is important to enjoy your time at university! A whole year flies by in the blink of an eye and, at the end, the truly enjoyable moments are the memorable ones. University is a place and time when you are given a chance to learn about yourself and the world around you in a constructive environment, which is often a very fun and empowering experience. Make the best of it!
