Everyone who ever went to campus was once a first year. If you are in your final year, three or four years ago, you were the newest and most confused student on campus. Today, with all your bragging rights, one would be mistaken to think that you were never a fresha as freshmen and women are commonly known in college. Are there things that will help you transit easily and quickly from high school to campus? Here is what every first year ought to practice:
Do not miss orientation
In most organized institutions, freshas have a whole orientation week. During this period, the university management organizes activities and talks that help freshas understand their new environment better. The purpose of orientation is to help you adapt to your new academic home. Attending orientation will help you know campus directions, timetables, rules etc.
Make friends
Your campus company from the word go determines the kind of person you would become at the end of your course. Do not be quick to choose friends. Take time to know your fellow freshas before hooking up. Remember, birds of the same feathers flock together.
Know your units and the timetable
Since you know your course, go ahead and find out the units you will be taking. Put down your timetable. This helps you organize yourself since no one will remind you to go for lecturers. Unlike in high school where the bell is a constant reminder of what to do, no one cares what you are doing in campus.
Do not miss classes unless it is unavoidable
Class attendance is so poor in campus especially where the university is not strict. So, what do students do instead of going to class and doing exactly what they came to do in class? Many just oversleep; others romp day and night while many resort to boozing and frequenting ‘mogoka’ joints for activation. On the other hands, some students miss class hustling and trying to make a coin from part time jobs. Regardless of the case, prioritize your classes before anything else.
Utilize the contact hours
Contact hours is the time to meet your lecturers. Just pop in their offices and have a chat. No big deal. After all, they are in office because of you. Check with their schedules to know when the white-haired professors are meeting students. The advice you get from these walking libraries could be what you need as a fresha to jumpstart your academic life.
Eat right and say no to junk
Students really eat poorly….more like pigs without really minding what gets into their systems. Fries or just chipo, smokies, sausages, hotdog, and burgers are what make their daily menu. Poor eating habits lead to either obese or underweight. You hardly find healthy students on campus. They are either skeles (emaciated) or momos (XXX-large). Eating right is not only healthy but also affordable. Nothing today is as pricey as junk.
Balance books and social life
A good student is an all-round student. Do not be a bookworm and forget other aspects of life. In particular, balance your college and social life. Do the right thing at the right time and for the right purpose. Hang around people who add value to your life and compliment your efforts towards achieving your goal.
Stay on campus; there is time for everything
Do not take advantage of the freedom on campus. Whatever it is; homesickness, job, sugar mummy or sugar daddy, always stay on campus as much as possible. After all, you will not be a student forever. It is just but a matter of time.
