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Let’s face it. There is a peculiar mixture of excitement and anxiety when you have to leave your hometown – or travel daily – for university.

It’s totally understandable. The lifestyle of a high school student can be a fun experience for the most part. For one, there are fewer responsibilities to handle to make sure that you graduate successfully.

In high school, there might be a guardian who oversees your academic needs and helps you keep focus. In university, you are the guardian that you need to rely on.

You might experience the following mindsets when you set out to tertiary school:

• Excitement
• Self-doubt
• Freedom
• Fear of the unknown

Another element to focus on when you attend university is that there might be changes in your relationships. This means that the people in your life might interact with you differently as you undergo the transformations brought on by university life.

Well… it’s largely because you’re in the process of becoming a different person. You are an adult taking charge of your life!

Now let’s explore how you can best prepare yourself for this exciting stage of your life:

Give yourself the space to adjust to adulthood

Adulthood comes along with new responsibilities.

As a tertiary student, you’ll have to adopt life skills such as taking care of a home space, discipline, performing assignments to the teacher’s or employer’s standard and much more.

Newfound independence presents a good opportunity for self-development. It’s a perfect time to learn to make money, organize and execute a daily schedule, and keep appointments.

Managing adult responsibilities can be intimidating and tiresome. But it is an indispensable life skill that you need to create the life you want.

Manage the expectations of family and friends

When you venture into activities that promise to deliver personal (and eventually, financial) growth, it is easy to be hard on yourself. It is equally easy for your loved to place pressure and expectations on you.

How can you handle this challenge?

• Talk to your parents often about your studies. Discuss your studies with loved ones. Discuss your subjects, the workload, the pressure and how your work is evaluated. It’s helpful when the people in your support system know the important details around your studies. Making transparency a top priority will help your life even after graduation; your loved ones will learn to support you to achieve top grades without unnecessary pressure. Instead, they will learn to adjust their expectations and offer you the necessary support.

• Set realistic goals and communicate them. Talking openly about your tertiary life will lead to an improved ability to discuss delicate topics like finance. And when you graduate, there might be expectations from the people in your life to lend a financial hand to them. When not identified and communicated openly, such expectations can pile pressure on you. Or worse, they can totally undermine your relationships.

Also, healthy support systems inspire accountability and can empower you to break away from unproductive habits and achieve your goals.

Anticipate your life after graduation

The transitioning from being a student into a full-on professional contains unique challenges.

In one moment, your confidence might be at its highest, and in another you might be anxious as you attempt to determine the next move.

It’s totally normal. It’s called Adulting. And it can be confusing and overwhelming.

That’s the reason it is important to seek out and talk to people who are ahead of you in their own journey. People who once decided to walk the same path that you are currently on can give you a fresh perspective.

Keep growing your support system. It’s also the professional network that will carry you in times of professional need.

Competing in the job market today often requires tertiary education and other skills that are valuable outside of the school environment.

Verbal communication, digital literacy and time management are only three of the key skills employers look for in entry-level candidates.

For example, it’s important in the professional world to have a driver’s license when you submit job applications.

In this article, we explore the impact that a driver’s license can have on your employability. Plus, we discuss the importance of financial literacy as you enter life after class.

The importance of having a driver’s license after you graduate

• More job prospects

Many job opportunities require a driver’s license in order to be eligible for them. Hiring a candidate who can perform their duties and transport themselves to meetings saves the need for a designated driver.

A driver’s license will help you compete for the jobs you apply for.

With that said, remember that there are companies that will require you to own a vehicle.

• Mobility

Public transport presents great financial benefits, especially for people who need the time to build their careers after graduation. However, the biggest downside to this benefit is that public transport systems can be unreliable.

That’s how a driver’s license easily becomes an asset in your life.

When you are mobile, you can travel to social gatherings/networking events. You can attend evening classes, travel for practical training outside school, and be punctual for exams and job interviews.

• Dealing with emergency situations quicker

Think about this for a moment. What if something terrible happened in your space?

It might seem a little insensitive to ask that question. However, our lives are unpredictable and the ability to (legally) drive a vehicle can determine whether you are able to help someone else in crisis situations or not.

While we’re at it… here are three personal finance mistakes to avoid after graduation

• Don’t be a negative credit risk

When poor financial habits and consumption are not kept in check, they can often lead to crippling debt.

Establish a good credit record and purchase assets that are likely to appreciate in value. Effective debt management can help graduates have financial credibility when it is time to take out necessary loans or mortgage.

Establish clear timelines and a plan to reduce your debts. Develop a proactive attitude when you handle your school, car, credit card, home loans and more.

• Never pay the bills late

In the challenging economic environment that we live in, making ends meet can be downright tough.

However, continuously late and missed payments will cost more money and taint your credit record. A decent record, on the other hand, can give you lower interest rates on loans, lower insurance premiums, and open up prospects when you need to rent.

To achieve consistency, think about setting up automated payments for regular expenses like car payments, student loans, cell phone fees, etc.

• Don’t forget to set long-term goals

Accounting for your long-term expenses is crucial to building a stable financial life.

Planning and attention to detail are fundamental when you want to track different goals at the same time. For example, pay off student loans and save for a home.

The process involves proper planning in advance. And in this situation, you’ll have to create a debt payment plan or search for a house that you can afford.

Final thoughts

Obtaining tertiary education just might not be enough on its own to achieve your goals.

It’s also important to learn to take care of yourself in different capacities to become the person you’ve set out to be.

In addition to the education… a driver’s license and financial knowledge will increase your edge!

Taking responsibility for your life is the first step to achieving your goals and living a fulfilling life. It requires you to step up! Pay attention to tiny academic details and life generally; learn to ask for guidance, and manage your schedule like a champ!

You can think of this process as a tradeoff that will help you adopt a life of excellence.

In this article, we unpack the process through which you can become a better student.

Let’s take a walk through these essentials:

Be detail oriented

Not all modules carry the same weight.

One of the major changes at university level is that marking is performed differently compared to high school. For example, if you were to score below 49% for an exam, you cannot pass the said module. Any result below the D symbol at university level is considered a failure.

In high school, in order to obtain an A symbol, you need to get 80%+ for a subject. At university, you need a minimum of 75%.

In the event that you don’t pass an examination but fall within the bracket of a near pass (45% +), you’ll likely be eligible to sit for a supplementary exam.

Note: There might be additional factors that influence your qualification for the supp. examination. It’s imperative to learn about your school’s grading process.

Find out the kinds of courses available to you

Learn the difference between electives, core and compulsory subjects.

Let’s briefly go through each:

1. Core subjects are compulsory study in order to obtain a degree. These courses are significant to academic degrees. However, in some instances they might not necessarily be foundational to your major course.

2. Elective subjects are different to both the core and compulsory courses. It is the only adjustable part of your curriculum. You can pick the electives from a number of optional subjects.

3. Compulsory subjects are fundamental to your preferred field of study. For example, an accounting student would possibly have to attend classes such as Organizational Theory and the Basic Principles of Marketing. This is because the subjects represent an important portion in the study of commercial enterprises. In such complex cases, your academic advisor can help you discover which courses within your major are mandatory and help you plan accordingly.

Additionally, a study plan will list all the courses that you need to study to advance through your course.

Seek academic guidance early and often

Don’t struggle in silence

It’s important to speak up and seek help so that you navigate your school and get the best out of the learning experience.

When you need a soundboard, a fresh perspective, then an academic advisor can assist. They are trained to help you:

• Choose and structure your coursework
• Initiate your on-campus processes
• Manage time effectively
• Plan and achieve your academic goals
• Attending relevant workshops and events that will help you grow

And in order to prepare for your first meeting with your academic advisor, you can ask questions about:  

• Course registration
• Financial resources
• Strategies to study effectively
• The different major subjects and related careers
• How to get involved in various student organizations
• How to build and maintain professional relationships

Manage your time and projects like a pro!

“Punctuality is the best aphrodisiac.” – Louis Litt (from a television show called Suits).

Good time and project management skills are valuable to teachers and employers alike.

Never miss important dates and times. Here are a few ideas that may help, below:

• Use a calendar or a planner of sorts to keep track of deadlines, appointments, and other responsibilities.
• Break tasks into small and manageable parts. This simple strategy can help make a large project easier to digest and complete.
• Develop a timeline for the milestones that you need to achieve. Weigh them out and then decide which tasks are top priorities and get to work.

There’s no getting around it. The life of a student can be quite demanding to manage. That’s why it’s important to balance out the schoolwork with the other commitments in your life. Be a well-rounded person while on the journey to graduation and world domination.

Think of it this way. The time spent getting tertiary education is also a training session to sharpen your life skills.