3 Things to know to survive life in university

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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.