Surviving the university lifestyle

LEAVING the nest for the great big world seems like the most exciting adventure ever.

But it also brings with it challenges that you are forced to face on your own without your parents by your side.

It is an incredible experience, but nothing like high school. This is something no one tells you, so I decided to be the one to enlighten prospective first-year students.

Firstly, remember why you are there. Coming from a sheltered community, it’s easy to get caught up in the partying lifestyle in an attempt to have the ‘full varsity’ experience. Becoming a full-time party animal will not only result in you neglecting your academic work, but it will leave you flat broke, which is awful.

Party in moderation and create a budget to restrain yourself.

Secondly, make good friends. Finding a good group of friends will prove to be invaluable to you.

Homesickness becomes real once you’ve left the only life you’ve known, so it’s important to make friends who are in the same boat as you are.

This will not only help you cope, but it will give you a support structure and people you can rely on.

Thirdly, you are not in high school anymore. Gone are the days of being a teacher’s pet. You are there to get your degree and that’s it.

Many people still try to get in the good books of lecturers in the hopes of being favoured over classmates.

I have news for you. Being in a class of 400, it is virtually impossible for the lecturer to remember names and faces, which simply results in wasting time you could have spent on understanding the course and giving it your best.

University is the best time of your life. You no longer have to be anyone else but you.

If dyeing your hair blue and piercing your nose will define your personality, then do it.

No one leaves varsity as the same person when you arrived, even if you’ve only been there for six weeks.

So, party hard, study harder and discover yourself. You will be amazed at what’s been hiding within you!