FIRST-YEAR 101: WHAT NO ONE TELLS YOU

Megan Grobler

@megan.gro_bler

 

Starting university can be overwhelming. From managing your time and handling a heavier workload to finding your people and staying healthy, there’s a lot to figure out. While there may not be a definite solution for this, there are certain precautions that can make the journey a little bit smoother.

Be prepared to change

University is a place to learn, but also to evolve. Kyle Visagie, a first-year North-West University (NWU) student, explained: “I think, really, that’s the point of university…getting your degree and growing as a person and finding yourself… I’ve learnt so much about myself.” 

Expect some indifference from seniors

Entering university as a first-year, you may not receive the warmest welcome, especially if you’re in a residence. “The moment that our parents left, everything switched,” Julianne Olivier, a second-year NWU student, explained. She went on to say that being a first-year amongst seniors may feel like “a first grader next to a seventh grader.” Olivier explained that this indifference may be a way for the seniors to help you find your place in university.

Know who your friends are

Another difficult aspect of university and life is to come to terms with the fact that certain people may not have your best interest at heart. Cristine Struweg, a second-year NWU student, explained this by saying: “Not everyone is your friend.”

Work hard, play hard

For many, the idea of university life is all play and no work, and while there may be a lot of play, you must prepare yourself to work harder than you ever have, all while maintaining your social life. Visagie stated: “University teaches you the definition of hard work. There’s a lot of time to have fun and do your thing and enjoy life, but you’re going to have to put in the work… slacking is going to be the reason you don’t achieve your goals.” He then goes on to say that a motto he has lived by in his first year has been: “Work hard, play hard.” 

Choose your friends wisely

The friends you make in university might last forever, so choose wisely. Visagie said: “I’ve made so many friends; I’ve met my best friend for life… it’s ultimately where you meet the people you are going to spend the rest of your life with.” Olivier also commented: “I met a lot of new people. Made a lot of new friends. Friends that I’ll never forget.”

Be prepared to work – a lot

One of the biggest adjustments at university is the increase in study material. Visagie told Wapad: “When you come to university, the first challenge that most people are going to face is the workload.” 

Manage your time

In addition to managing the amount of work, managing your time is another challenge. “With school you have such a set timetable, and with university you have so much more free time on your hands, but you’re going to have to learn to manage it. If you don’t manage your time well, you struggle a lot,” Visagie said.

Learn from your experiences

Another tip is to take the good with the bad. Olivier stated: “I’ve had amazing experiences. Good ones and bad ones, but they were all something that you can learn from and take with you in the future.”

Be okay with doing things yourself

Learning how to live and study on your own is also uncharted territory that comes with the university experience. Visagie told Wapad: “You have to adapt to doing things by yourself.”

Olivier concluded with advice for future first years: “Push through and believe in yourself. You’ll be okay.”

First-years at the annual NWU Registration and Orientation (R&O) Week at the Amphitheatre (Source: Megan Grobler)

Edited by Isabel Burgers