I've just graduated and I'll be going to university for the first time next month! I'm so so nervous. I'm a shy girl and making friends has always been so hard for me. What can I do to make my first year easier?
Hi! Congratulations on getting in to university, it’s certainly a hard process, and I’m proud of you for getting through it!
I’m just a grade 10 so I don’t have much experience with university, but I will tell you the same things I have been told and have done. Making friends can be tough, especially if you’re shy –like yourself– but trust me, there are hundreds of people just like you! In order to get comfortable, try to join little clubs that you have an interest in; for example if you enjoy writing, join a club based off free writing and sharing ideas. Let’s say you got in to these clubs already, how do you actually talk to people? Well you have to start somewhere. Personally, I’m an awkward human being, so I usually start off by commenting about the world around me to someone, or I compliment them, The latter offers them not only a sense of confidence but gives you a charming aura for others to subconsciously already like you, while the formal gives you something to talk about. Personally I suggest both. If neither of those suit you, then try the social media tactic. We have all this technology at our finger tips, so why not use it to our advantage? If you have Instagram, try finding people to follow and dming them! This could suit you more since you have more choice, and nothing starts a beautiful friendship like sending each other memes or dogs.
Some other suggestions I have just to make your year easier are some things I decided to put in to a list:
Sit in the front of the class, you’ll more likely pay attention and retain more information.
Stay organized. Get binders for separate courses, and color code notebooks if they aren’t stored in their corresponding binder.
Speaking of notebooks, get them, and get a lot of them. In university they will probably have lectures and powerpoints, so you’ll them to write down anything important. I suggest having one for messy notes and another for neater notes you can use when exams roll around.
DO NOT SKIP CLASS I DON’T CARE IF YOU WANT TO GET COFFEE OR WANT TO HANG OUT WITH BARBRA, BARBRA AND COFFEE CAN WAIT BUT YOUR TEACHER WON’T SWEETIE
Allow yourself to use breaks wisely. Be productive and don’t waste time, but don’t over work yourself and remember your mental health matters as well.
Have an agenda, bullet journal, or little notepad to write to do lists and what assignments or homework you have. This will induce less stress and a sense of organization.
Don’t feel the need to follow the “studyblr aesthetic” sometimes studying isn’t cute pastel stationary. Sometimes it’s chugging 2 redbulls and studying the whole day because you don’t understand a concept.
Do not pull nighters. If you don’t know the material by 1am then you don’t know it. Avoid them by reviewing what you covered in class the same day. Make notes about it and write down any questions you could have. When test time comes around, give yourself a 2 or 3 day head start on studying.
Parties are cool but staying at home with a book, Netflix and a good friend is even better.
Don’t get discouraged over a poor mark you got. One mark doesn’t define who you are; use that mark to look over what you did wrong and do better next time. University is hard and they will be tougher when marking.
I hope any of this helped to some extent. I apologize if this is a bit late or unhelpful, but just remember you will be okay, and that my messages are always open to talk! You will pass and get that degree girl! Have faith in yourself :)
