What I Wish I Told My Freshman Self
By Taylor
I have less than two months until I graduate and to put it simply, time has flown by. I remember entering my first year of university at the U of A and thinking that I would be on this campus for what would feel like forever. But, it has actually been the exact opposite. Starting my undergrad was one of the scariest, most nerve-wracking experiences of my life. I had absolutely no idea what it would entail and because of that, I experienced a great deal of anxiety during my first year. However, as time went on and I got more and more used to the university “lifestyle”, I began to relax and learned to enjoy my time here a bit more. Here’s what I’ve learned (and wish I’d known):
Trust the Curve
Entering into university, the whole concept of a curved grading scale was so foreign to me and I always thought it would work against my advantage and lead me towards failing a course. However, I quickly learned it’s the opposite. It can sometimes be your saving grace. My favorite story to tell is how I failed both my midterm AND final in an intro Biology course (I’m REALLY bad at biology), but managed to get 100% in my lab and thus somehow ended up with a B+ in the course. That curve really saved me. So, don’t stress too badly about the idea of failing a class because of the curve — you never know what will actually happen.
Find Your Perfect Study Spot
Libraries aren’t always the best study places. I grew up imagining myself as the typical university student. I would stay up all night with coffee and energy drinks studying in a quiet library, surrounded by students doing the exact same thing. But I quickly learned that doesn’t work for everyone. You need to find the perfect study zone for you. In my case, that turned out to be an empty classroom where there wasn’t a single person around to distract me and I could take up all the space I needed. You can check out my favorite study spots here.
Don’t be afraid to ask your Prof for help
As much as I hate asking profs for favors, sometimes it can really benefit you. I had a midterm for both my BUEC course and my Finance course on the same day, right after one another. Three hours of straight exam writing in two totally different subjects would have definitely been a hindrance and a struggle. Plus I had a Business Conference to attend the weekend before in Lake Louise. So, I decided to ask my prof if I could write them on a different day and to my surprise, he agreed. I ended up getting 95%, which I doubt I could have done if they had of been on the same day. You never know unless you ask!
Step out of your comfort zone
In my first year, I found myself very scared to join any clubs or extracurricular activities that involved branching out of my comfort zone. But then one day, on a whim, I applied to a Business Conference, planning to go with my friend. When she didn’t get in, I just automatically decided I wouldn’t go either. But on second thought, I took a risk and went to the conference alone, not knowing anyone, and it turned out to be incredibly rewarding.
Don’t stress yourself out before the course even starts
It’s so strange. The classes I am always the most worried about are the classes I usually do the best in. Funny how that works, huh? I stress myself out for absolutely nothing and then end up with an awesome grade because I persevered and put my full effort into the course. Moral of the story: Don’t stress out. Just try your best and you will succeed. This post might help you have a little bit more faith in yourself.
Go to class
It is so easy to skip classes at university. Nobody will notice and nobody cares. However, I find that going to class is really beneficial. It forces you to keep on top of all that new information and you can hear the profs explain things, which is usually pretty helpful. Plus, you can ask questions if there’s something you don’t understand. And it will save your classmates from being annoyed when you beg them for notes.
Breakdowns happen
During my second week of freshman year, I had the worst breakdown at 3 a.m. I had a lab the next morning at 8 a.m. and I was trying to finish the pre-lab assignment. I literally lost my mind. Here I was, sobbing and planning to withdraw from university. I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it past that moment. But I did. Breakdowns are a part of life. There are going to be times in your life when you feel like everything is falling apart. But, take a deep breath and move past it. You’ll be fine. And if you do need extra support — that’s okay. There are plenty of services on campus that are here to help.
Nobody knows what they’re doing
As much as I like my pity parties, I have to realize that I’m not alone when I realize I have no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life. Everyone is in the same boat. We are all going through this four year (or more) journey of discovering what interests us and what we want to pursue. Very few people know exactly what they want to do as soon as they first step onto campus. Don’t be afraid to take classes that interest you to find out what you actually like and what might turn into a career for you one day!
Don’t be afraid of failing
You’re going to fail at some point. Maybe you will fail a test, maybe you will fail a class, maybe you will forget to hand in a project. Maybe there’s going to be an assignment you just don’t understand. As much as it sucks, it’s going to happen sometime in these four years. (If it doesn’t, congrats! And how did you do that?). It’s not the end of the world and you will still survive, I promise. It ain’t the worst thing. If you’re unsure about what can happen if you fail, check out Aala’s tips.
Don’t study 7 days a week
This is one of my favorite pieces of advice and probably one of the most useful things I have learned. I think it’s so important to have a set day every week when you don’t study or do homework. You need a day to recuperate. For me, it’s either a Saturday or Sunday, or both depending on my work load. This way I can get well rested on the weekend and drain my body of all its stress and then I am all ready to hit the books during the week. If you study 7 days a week, you’re going to get run down really fast. I’d rather not study one day and study extra well the rest of the week, than study exhausted and mediocrely all week.
Live a little
I know that the academics should be the most important part about university, but do you really want to spend these four years just studying? When you exit university, you are going to be an adult and you are going to be in the real world. These are the last few years before you actually start “adulting.” So why not just relax a bit and enjoy your last years of freedom. Sometimes you need a few nights (or more) out of a month to enjoy what else life has to offer. University is supposed to be one of the best (and most challenging) times of your life so take advantage of it! University holds so many fun and exciting opportunities. So, go to parties, hang out with friends, join clubs, have the time of your life!
I am so sad to be graduating at the end of this semester. I have learned so much in my short time here and it’s truly helped shape me into the person I am today. As clichéd as it sounds, I wouldn’t change one thing about my university experience. Sure, there were times when I was so stressed and confused about where my life was headed but my undergrad has allowed me to figure out exactly what I want to do in life and has taught me things I would have never learned on my own. For example, who would have ever guessed that five short years would have the capability to transform a wannabe paleontologist into a future Human Resources businesswoman? Wow, life is crazy.
