2015 is fast approaching, and with it, the prospect of beginning new
life chapters, fulfilling New Year’s resolutions (although, admittedly, my
track record with resolutions has been less than glowing), and setting out on
new ventures.
The most significant new venture for many high school graduates is the
prospect of beginning tertiary studies at university. This is viewed as a very
exciting time, when meaningful strides are made towards qualifying for a career
and becoming the person you want to become. However, at the same time, the
thought of committing the 3 or 4 years of hard graft towards attaining that
initial degree may seem daunting. It is the first true test of adulthood, and
how you manage this time, balancing the demands of study and social life, is an
important life skill.
So, how do you navigate this university life successfully? It’s as
simple as ABC:
- Attend
You need to set, as priority, the goal of attending all lectures. They
are the cornerstone on which your knowledge and understanding is based. While
many students are nervous about asking questions during lectures, if you are
not understanding work covered in lectures, make an appointment to consult with
a lecturer or tutor. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – this is the perfect
forum to do so as it is less intimidating that asking in a lecture hall full of
250+ other students. Lecturers and tutors are available to provide guidance,
provided that you respect the nature of their roles – if you make an
appointment, be on time, respect their position and rank, and come to the
consultation fully prepared with questions. Most lecturers and tutors will be
reluctant to assist students who do not attend the lecture (they will not
consult with you to reteach the work). Showing these courtesies will ensure
that lecturers will be more willing to help, not only in your undergraduate
studies, but will remember you and endorse you should you wish to pursue
postgraduate studies.
- Balance
In setting your working hours as falling between Monday and Friday, and
devoting that time to learning, what you will find is that you open up your
non-working hours, the weekends, to stress-free relaxation. Working over
weekends should be discouraged. It is usually a sign that your time is not
being managed effectively, and you are not using the time reserved during the
week for your studies, including working on, and completing, assignments and studying
for tests. If you aim to get this work done between Monday and Friday, the
weekends are free to rest and enjoy time with friends and family.
- Commit
Dedicate yourself to your new profession – you are a professional
student. This means establishing a routine of strict working hours as you would
in any job. Planning is essential, so my advice is to keep a diary or have a
wall calendar that shows lecture times, assignment deadlines, test dates,
consultation dates etc. In addition to setting specific hours that you dedicate
to being a student, also commit to working through textbooks, recommended
reading and prescribed reading lists. This means that you will need to develop
the discipline of reading as widely as possible. There are no shortcuts here.
Being a university student means that you are responsible for work input and
work output. Read plenty and read often.
Now that you have a better idea of what is required of you in your
tertiary studies, all that is left is to wish you all the best in your studies.
Attending university is a life-changing experience, and a wonderful adventure
awaits you. As Benjamin Disraeli once said: “A University should be a place of light, of
liberty, and of learning.” May it be that for you.
Author:
Mary-Anne Potter
