|
It is every school student's dream to become a
university student one day. However, some dreams
are not realised due to poor academic
performance. For those who achieve their dreams,
they will face challenges in university. Being a
university student demands a lot of of hard work
and perseverance. Students are also on their own
and have to manage their affairs independently.
For example, they need to manage time, decide
who they want to be friends with, manage their
money and cope with emotions. Sometimes
conflicting issues
impinge on their study time, so they
should know how to handle these wisely. Being
able to adapt to university life helps students
focus on their studies. There are many ways that
students can adapt to university life. First,
they should know that they are not the only ones
facing a new environment. There are others, too,
who are trying to cope with a strange
environment. For example, those from big cities
with lots of entertainment will have a tough
time adjusting to a new place with less
entertainment. Students from faraway places
especially foreign students from overseas also
have to make huge adjustments. Almost everyone
on campus is in a similar situation. Students
should tell themselves they are at university to
study and acquire knowledge for a better future.
They should also know they need to go through
tough and challenging situations before
achieving
success. By thinking positively they can
overcome feelings of homesickness.
Next, students should consider socialising.
They should not let feelings of homesickness
prevent them from socialising with fellow
students. Socialising with others enhances soft
skills and eliminates feelings of boredom and
loneliness. It can also
foster new friendships with
students from different backgrounds. Stories can
be shared and learning from each other's
experiences will gradually eliminate negative
feelings. Furthermore, there are many clubs in
the university that organise activities that
students can join in and participate. For
instance, the debate club, the cultural club or
other sports and recreational activities.
Participation in these activities helps
kill time.
These activities also give opportunities for
students to represent the university at national
or international levels of competitions.
Furthermore, students need to behave
responsibly. Since they are no longer school
students, they are now responsible for their
actions. They are in a position to determine
their own destiny with the help of people around
them. People merely guide and give advice but
the decision is theirs on what to do and what
not to do. Their choices determine their future.
They are also responsible for managing time
because they have to meet assignment deadlines,
be punctual for group meetings and discussions,
and also have time for recreation and self.
Parents have limited control over their
children once they are at university. Students,
therefore, need to have a sense of
responsibility and commitment towards their
studies as this will ensure success in projects
and assignments. They also have to be regular
and punctual in attending classes and tutorials.
Having a good attitude and putting in effort go
a long way in securing
good grades and doing well academically and
socially.
Lastly, students should develop both soft
skills and hard skills as these ensure better
job prospects upon graduation. To acquire good
hard skills, students need to work hard to
achieve good grades. To
polish soft skills, students need
to socialise with others. Participating in
activities organized by the university such as
community activities and also contributing ideas
to discussions will further enhance
problem-solving and decision-making skills as
well as critical thinking skills.
To summarise, student life at university is
challenging and requires a lot of adjustment on
the part of students. In order to survive and
stay competitive at university, students must
adapt to the new environment and develop a
positive outlook. Years later, when looking back
at their university years, students will
treasure the time spent there because these are
the best years in one's life! |
