How to survive University

We are not all fortunate enough to have older siblings or relatives who can tell us about the ‘university life’, sometimes all we have is a bunch of international college movies, and unfortunately there is a huge gap in between a movie script and reality.

This Blog may be titled How to survive University, but it applies to all Tertiary institutions. How to survive Tertiary Education did not have a good ring to it. So, this Blog applies to You - Whether you are in high school looking to get into a tertiary institution, whether you are in first year and still clueless, or whether you have been at university for some time now and you are struggling to get by. If you are trying to get the best experience while studying or doing this life thing, you are in the right place. Tertiary institutions (university, college etc.) hereinafter referred to as ‘university’.

I am not an expert; I have had my fair share of kicks during my undergraduate years. Different things work for different people, but I am pretty sure that the following can be applied globally. Here are a few tips on how to survive University:

Before going to any tertiary institution, do your research. Whether you look it up online, or ask someone who has enrolled there before. Doing your research helps you feel like you know the place when you get there, this reduces anxiety and gives you a sense of belonging. If you are already enrolled, still do your research, you can never stop learning new things. You would be surprised at the numerous facilities available to help you. Dedicate some time to go through your institution’s online portal and you will be surprised at how little you know. “Research is formalised curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.” – Zora Neale Hurston.

Do not limit yourself. Let us be honest for a moment, Albeit Einstein was not born with equations tattooed to his arms, he was very curious and hard working. The worst thing you can do to yourself is tell yourself that you are not smart enough, or you are just not built for a certain task. Never confuse your inability to do something with the lack of passion – If you want to become a mathematician, and university mathematics is more difficult than you had expected, do not simply give up. Nothing offered at university is easy, not even a degree in fine arts, are you willing to learn about ‘the development of visual research methodologies’? Doesn’t sound so easy now does it? So, leave something just because you do not love it, do not leave it because it is hard. “The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.” – B.B. King.

Be optimistic and Never give up. When asking other people about life at university, you will get different views: some people will tell you that they had the best experience at university, others will tell you that it was the hardest thing they ever had to do, unfortunately others will tell you that they either dropped out or were excluded. Take into consideration all these different views, but always remember that in the end you will also have a different story to tell, it is up to you to write that story. During my undergraduate years, university was hard for me, especially the first two years. I lacked motivation, I was too distracted (I had just discovered Wi-Fi and YouTube) but, as hard as it was, I was disciplined enough to keep going every time I was knocked down. University has managed to give me traits that I will forever be grateful for. “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller.

It is not a competition. University is different from high school in that, there is no need to compete with others. Most times you will definitely need help from other people to get through university. Help those around you, do not be selfish; ask for help from your lecturers, tutors and classmates. Group work will be your best friend, make use of platforms designed to cater for group work, WhatsApp, Microsoft teams etc. The most beautiful thing about university is that, no one will judge you, well openly, so do not be afraid to ask for help and guidance. “The only one you should compare yourself to is you. Your mission is to become better today than you were yesterday.” – John C. Maxwell.

Attend classes. Whether you have the privilege to watch your classes online or not, go to all your lectures, because sometimes we lack the discipline to watch videos afterwards or ask for notes from a friend. The beauty of attending your classes is that, whether you understood half the work or not, when you study, the material covered in class slowly creeps into your head and stays there. It is important to briefly go over the material after class and make sure you understand what you learnt on that day, so that it does not accumulate and overwhelm you in the future. “Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” – Dwayne Johnson.

Have fun while at it. Yes, in as much as going to a university might be about learning, graduating, securing a great job, if your social life is unstable this will show in your grades. Take care of your mind and smile, and that in turn will take care of your books. University forms the basis of your whole life; it is at this stage where you will meet people who are going to stay in your life for the longest time. Universities are diverse, make friends, and learn about different cultures. Some days you will feel like you are losing your mind, do not be afraid to take a break, reach out to your loved ones and get your sanity back. Continue to play sports, and join societies/clubs/committees, these are your home away from home. “There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” – Alan Cohen.

Try enjoy what you study – make an effort. It is easier for you to dream about being a lawyer, and when you are lucky enough to carry out that dream at a university and actually get to study law, you are slapped into a coma by the size of the textbook, then you get nervous and think that pursuing a law degree might not be for you. It is normal to be scared, but you need to know that nothing is impossible in this world, nothing beats passion. When you feel like giving up because something is hard, look at the bigger picture, the final destination, that fire burning inside of you, it is called passion, and that alone is big enough to devour an elephant. “Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in.” – Leonardo da Vinci.

Budget. People who have been in university for some time now will tell you how you can easily become friends with instant noodles, and canned beans if you do not budget. There is always the temptation to go out with your friends every weekend, but we do not all come from families that are financially stable. If your friends do not understand that you cannot afford to eat out every second day, or that you do not have enough to pay for certain activities, then maybe they should not be your friends. Do not be afraid to pack your own lunchbox because you cannot afford the food from the cafeteria. Save, write down grocery lists prior to shopping, and smile. “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn.

Do not be distracted. Unfortunately, as carefree and as free-spirited as the university community might seem, just like high school, you may end up hanging around the wrong crowd. By wrong crowd I do not just mean people who will pressure you into defying your principles, but also people who will try to come in between you and your studies. It is your responsibility to stay focused and submit your assignments on time. You will have a lot of freedom at university, too much freedom that it will be so easy for you to slack off. No one forces you to attend classes, or to do your work, it is solely up to you to be your own guardian. “Starve your distractions, feed your focus.” – Daniel Goleman.

Do not be afraid to start over. Sometimes we study certain things because we were pressured by our families, or we do not want to disappoint our parents. Do not be afraid to change what you study when you feel like it is not for you, I am not saying change because it is too difficult, but change because you might have found something that you are truly passionate about. Speak to student advisors, faculty staff, and remember that even though these tertiary institutions may not always feel like home, they are equipped to help you make the toughest decisions. “Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” – Carl Bard.

Take care of your Mental Health. Sometimes you may miss home and feel alone. You may be overwhelmed by a sudden feeling of anxiety. The saddest thing about our world is that, sometimes if you choose to lay low and disappear for a while, no one might even notice, especially when you naturally isolate yourself from others. These days, checking up on others is just a simple text message away. So, it might be difficult for people to help when you keep a barrier between you and the rest of the world. If you are not well, seek professional help, do not be ashamed. Everyone goes through a hard time, some people are just good at hiding their problems, and we think that they are doing just fine. “You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.” – Timber Hawkeye.

Stay true to yourself. I know that not all of you are Christians or religious, but God played a big role in strengthening my academics, prayer has bailed me out too many times. So whatever religion you follow, do not lose yourself when you get to university, stay true to your beliefs and principles. “Always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody says distract you from your goals.” – Michelle Obama.

I know this was a very lengthy Blog, but I felt it was important for me to share every single detail. It is unfortunate that COVID-19 is delaying the academic year, our daily routines and overall progress, but what is a few more weeks when our health is on the line? Do not feel pressured to make new plans during this time, it is okay that you might not be as productive as you want to be, but school will resume in the next few weeks for some of you, and you will wish you had taken a break. So, if you feel guilty for not doing anything, just dedicate at least an hour to looking at those books, and trust me you will go to bed with a SMILE.