Uni 101: The Ultimate Experience (What Uni Should Be About)

Quick Question: What does University experience mean to you? Is it just the perfect opportunity to finally run away from home and be free from your strict parents’ grasp? Is it just all about the fun, partying and all? Or is it about getting to know yourself, striving towards becoming a strong, independent individual?

It’s so sad that, for some people, after spending years in Uni, they still leave without a strong sense of self. All your life, you’ve probably lived under some authority. You’ve lived a life that is influenced by the choices and lifestyles of your guardians and then suddenly you moved away to school, to be alone. The most important thing you should work on is discovering who you really are. Step away from the life you had back home and start building a new one – the one you’ve always wanted. Discover the REAL you. 

Form your own opinions about life; opinions that are different from the ones that your parents/guardians formed for you. THINK for yourself. The ultimate Uni experience is the FREEDOM to BE. It’s the freedom to fail, to make mistakes, to fall and rise from your falls and mistakes. It’s the long process of learning, of un-learning and relearning. We hear a lot about educated people without any sense. It’s not just about going to school to study the particular course you were offered. It’s about being well-rounded in other important issues that has nothing to do with your course. Mass communication students are often told that they’re expected to know a little about everything. Same goes for every other person. It’d be a shame to hear a graduate or undergraduate spew unintelligent opinions. Learning goes beyond one’s field of learning. So please EXPAND your academic horizons today.

The ultimate Uni experience is about deciding for yourself the kind of adult you want to become. You’re finally leaving home and teenage-hood behind. You’re growing. The choices you make at this critical point of your life will determine the person you’ll become. Your choices should be well-evaluated and examined. It’d affect you on the long run, remember that. Last year, there was a viral video of about four FUTA students beating a fellow, vulnerable student over some rumour they thought she spread about one of them. Unfortunately for them, someone recorded and posted the video online. It went viral and eventually resulted to their expulsion. At the time when they were planning and heading to the girl’s room to beat her, they never thought it’d result to their expulsion but it did. These are the kinds of choices one should be wary of. A young boy who decides to join a secret cult should be aware of the dangers of such decisions before embarking on it. Weigh your options always. 

The Ultimate Uni experience is all about making friends and forging lasting connections that’ll see you through not just college but life. School can be isolating. Friends and shared experiences are one of the things that can help you keep your sanity. So, go out and make friends. Live, enjoy. Acquire all the skills you need to improve your career. Uni experience isn’t just about drinking and having sex and partying. Remember that this is the penultimate stage of your life. Your life is just beginning. You’ll have plenty time to have fun later on in life so don’t do anything that’ll jeopardize your life right now. 

Of course, The Ultimate Uni Experience may differ for other people. I’d really love to hear what it means to you. So drop your comments below.