4 Ways to Make the Best out of Your Student Life.

Entering the undergraduate stage of your life is one that encompasses so much and is honestly quite tough to define because every student is different. It’s the same here at University of Malaya as is all the universities around the world. It sounds easy enough - go to a few classes, study a little, complete a few assignments and you’re on your way to that office you’ve always dreamt of, in that suit you’ve had an eye on. Unfortunately though, a large majority of graduates (and even dropouts) will never agree with you. University is so much more than attending classes. You meet people, you challenge yourself and most importantly you have this space to learn about yourself. Here’s a light-read for young and fresh university applicant as well as those students who are still stumbling around (much like me!) to make the best out of your undergraduate life.

1. Attend Lectures

As obvious as it sounds, the main reason you actually go to a higher education institution is to study! Unfortunately though, many students fail to do this. Why go to classes when lecturers post everything online anyways, right? It is important to note that the learning experience a classroom offers will differ completely when you read distant words off a poorly designed PowerPoint template you see online. You get the ‘live’ option many of us millennials can’t seem to live without these days when you attend a class. You hear your lecturer stresses on certain topics covered. Most importantly, you get to ask on-the-spot questions in a (hopefully) interactive class. If you’re already doing this on a daily basis, why not take an extra step and skim through your notes before class? Trust me, attend a class and you’ll feel like a winner.

2. Eat right, stay healthy

Ever see those ads universities put up months before their admission date? (If not, refer to image above)Everyone’s smiling with clear skin and relatively toned figures, sat in a semi-circle facing each other while talking animatedly. Reality check, most students do not look like this. We’re groggy, slightly overweight or under for that matter and most of us are visited by the horrors of imbalanced hormones exhibited by the mountainous trains on red faces. Its expected with the stress of meeting deadlines while trying to maintain a relatively active social life. A problem that almost all students from average income families face. There’s never enough money to eat healthy when you have to split your allowances to pay tuition fees, rent fees and textbooks. Realistically though, why have a balanced meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner which costs RM5 on average when you can have a packet of hot instant noodles for RM1.25?

That said, think about your health in the long run. Look up for healthier and cheaper food alternatives online, like this site,

https://studentrecipes.com/. Invest your time to treat your body well. You’ll appreciate it in the future.

3. Prioritise, don’t procrastinate

Your lecturers announce all critical essays or projects are due at the end of the semester. You think, “Why start now? I have three months for that. I’ll start a month before” Abort mission, I repeat ABORT MISSION. Its never a good idea to procrastinate. Create a schedule or a checklist every morning before you start your day. Try to optimise each hour to make things easier for you on the long-run of the semester. Even better, every student should have a journal to keep track of your progress and keep things on the go.

You don’t want to be that student who breaks down at the end of the semester, pulling all-nighters, crying your eyes out and calling your mum telling her you want to quit your undergraduate program. Get a grip of yourself. Start now.

4. Talk to someone.

The great thing about life at university is that you get to meet new people and make great friends. There’s no pressure of being in the cool clique or dressing according to the latest fashion icons and most definitely there is no need for you to fit in. Campus life is a great place to truly be yourself because this is where diversity and individuality is greatly appreciated. Find someone with common interests. Attend out-of-class meetings, go to socials and try something new. There’s always a person out there, ready to be your friend. Life at the tertiary level will be stressful, there’s no doubt about that, but why not make the best out of it? Share your story with someone.

If you’re having trouble talking to someone about your problems, then go meet your school’s counsellors. Most universities provide trained personnel to help you with your life and most importantly to keep it confidential. Remember that you are never alone.

You spend the best years of your life within campus grounds. You learn about yourself, you learn new ideas and you learn how to think. I haven’t graduated yet, but from what I’ve heard, your sweetest memories are from those four years you spend studying. So, why not make the best of it ?