Most of us can agree that first two semesters in university are spent trying out a multitude of activities while setting down in university and finfing one's niche. The remaining years in my opinion should be used to focus on one or more big projects while helping out juniors and imparting "nuggets of wisdom". So as a dutiful graduate student here are 10 things that i've learnt in my four years in Punjab University.
1.Take up atleast one activity that gets you talking to people you don't know
Whether its joining some society or an university event , do something that forces you to call , email or have face to face conversations with as many people as possible. We're going to be doing alot of that for the rest of our lives , so we might as well get over the awkwardness that often comes with it.
2.From time to time attends events that have nothing to do with your field of study
Sit in the audience for that Quiz competition or IT competition if you're a Marketing major or better yet compete in one. Attend seminars that even are irrelevant to you.They are easy ways to get exposed to a wide range of topics and learn about new fields.You're in some place like PU where ther's some seminar , event or discussion going on every day - make full use of these opportunities.
3.The internet is beautiful.Try using it for thingd other than Facebook every now and then.
Yes its easy to get carried away while looking at the pictures of 200+ pictures from a party someone on our list threw(and didn't invite us to) , but it's a shame if that's all we end up using the internet for! Follow couple of interesting pages , groups and blogs reach out to alumini from your university through Linkedin or some other social networking site or Set up an alert to make sure you don't miss the dates for that fellowships you've been eyeing.
(And that's just the tip of the iceberg)
4.It's perfectly okay if you don't know what you want to do , but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do anything
Most of us (yes , even the specialization students) are still figuring out what they want to do.Univeristy gives you ample space to try out a number of activities.Even if haven't found "your thing" in university yet on't give up. Give multiple activities a shot, find what you like doing, and then get really good at it.
5.It may sound rather simplified , but you make your own experience.
Regardless of your university and the tag that comes with it, your attitude and actions create your experience, or atleast a major chunk of the same. Sure, maybe opportunities are more easily accessible for students of certain universities, but there is no dearth of opportunities for those who are willing to go the extra mile to seek them.
6.Help out your juniors and ask your seniors to tell you about their experiences.
Freshers are a rather enthusiastic bunch and always bubbling with a lot of questions about societies , internships , exams and further studies. if u know something useful help them out. Also take out the time to befriend a couple of seniors and ask them to tell you tales of what they've learnt.
7.Don't burn bridges unnecessarily and don't be "That guy"
Making mean and hurtful comments may seem like a good idea in the moment , but its best not to burn bridges if they can be avoided.You know how there's always that one person in every class who gets out of his/her way to get people feel bad about themselves? Yeah, don't be that guy. You don't have to be best friends with everyone , but maintaining a basic level of courtesy is never a bad idea.
8.Academics are important but to some extent
This largely
depends on what your plans for the future are (for example, if you want to get
into Harvard or research, then yes, academics are supremely important), but for
the most part, maintaining a ‘decent’ percentage while getting your hands into
other activities can help you lead a balanced college life. This target score,
of course, varies from course to course.
For example, most
entrance exams for post graduate courses require a bare minimum of 50% in
graduation, and some top notch companies only interview candidates with more
than 75% aggregate during placement. Keep all these factors in mind, and set
your goals accordingly.
9.Show up for your friends
If your college or school friend is acting in a play, go and support them in the audience. If they're organizing a competition or exhibition during a fest, go and attend it. These small gestures matter a lot, especially when everyone is always busy and has conflicting schedules
If your college or school friend is acting in a play, go and support them in the audience. If they're organizing a competition or exhibition during a fest, go and attend it. These small gestures matter a lot, especially when everyone is always busy and has conflicting schedules
10.Go on a trip with your friends..Atleast once
Depending on your
budget and how easily you can convince your parents, select a place and go
there with your friends. Whether it’s for a competition, or even a day a some
place, it’ll definitely be one of the highlights of your college life.
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