By Andani Thovhakale
[1] As the university academic year commences, I wish to offer some survival tips to first year as well as returning students. The tips to be offered are based on my personal experience and some are drawn from the interactions I have had with fellow students. I must caution that what I am offering is not a memorandum as university experience is relative based on personal circumstances. I will try my level based to touch on general things.
[2] To the crème de la crème of the country who have recently made their families and communities proud—former matriculants—congratulations on securing admission in university and welcome. Before we go any further, I would like to address you. I came to Wits with marks that amount exactly to the minimum requirements for the BA LAW degree (43 APS). To God be the glory. My peers came with flying colours and had many distinctions. Having learnt that my university takes the best of the best, I humbled myself before my peers as they had more distinctions than myself. I worked ten times harder than many of my peers in order to reach their level. I saw most relax because they knew they were the best. After our first test, most thought they were robbed. But I was long told by a veteran that test one will humble many and have them question their matric results. To this day, some of my peers do not believe that they have 7/7 or 8/8 distinctions in their matric certificates. Essentially, what I am saying is that humble yourself before the course for it will humble you. Ask for help if the course is starting to chow you, do not pretend as if you know it all. Do not go with the mentality that “I was best student from my High school” otherwise University will humble you in this coming year. You feel will very dumb.
“If you fail the first test (which is mostly the case), do not relax, go and seek help from tutors and Lectures because the second one might level you.”
[3] Back in 2018 when I arrived in the education suburb, Braamfontein, I was told that “Put all your focus into your books!” Such instruction needs to be internalized at an early stage and it is a good reminder to my fellow returning students. There are many activities that take place throughout the week that can defocus one from the academic agenda. I was advised not go to parties in my first year, though I am not a party person. I learnt that weekends are the best time to catch up everything and this trick has worked wonders since 2018. “Put more focus on your books and less on the other activities, because if you do it vice versa you will be home sooner than you thought.” I know to returning students, you have found that “balance” but I plead that we do not corrupt the first years and laugh at their dedication. Allow them to find their balance next year.
[4] As a first-year student, be careful of falling into the trap of being friends with seniors thinking that they will help you integrate well into the university space. They will make you to relax and you will fail. It is observed that seniors already know how the university space operates and know how to navigate within it, so hanging with such people when you (a first year) have not even settled in, is academically suicidal. There are appropriate structures in the university that help first years with navigating the university space or make friends with seniors with caution.
[5] Do all the work lectures give you. Even if you feel it is useless. There is a reason why the lecturer has given that work. After all, it is s/he who prepares the assessments. To keep up and track your pace, constantly check the course outline and announcements on the course online learning platform. Failure to do such results in falling behind and once you start chasing the lecturer it is difficult to catch up. Nothing is scary as going to class and find that everything that is being said is new or sounds foreign. That puts you in panic mode. Most people when in panic mode, opt for flight—avoiding everything related to that course and just waiting for the exam. On the other hand, there are a few people when in panic opt for fight—dedicating themselves to catching up and staying abreast with the course. If you fail to keep up with the course outline and the lecture schedule, I hope you fall within the fight mode cohort of people.
[6] A good practice is to either sleep having planned your next day or waking up 1 hour 30 minutes before class to plan your day accordingly. It is important to always remember to check the online platform for new resources before you sleep and when you wake up because some lecturers like posting resources late at night or early in the morning before class. You do not want to find out about new materials in class. Such a surprise might throw you off and have you thinking that you are so behind. Again, this might stimulate that panic mode.
[7] University is the best place to learn English if you are coming from a government school like me😃. If you want to quickly learn English, avoid using venac on campus with others. Polish your English during engagements with your peers. I am not denouncing the use of venac in varsity [I myself can speak about 5 South African native languages] but what I am advising is that if you want to learn better English, use it more than venac and not assume that everyone understands your home language.
[8] During holidays go home and do not make excuses that you have work to cover. Go see your family and village/township, you will come back motivated and rejuvenated after seeing how far you have come and how far you still need to go. Furthermore, going back home during breaks enables you to help high school learners from home with applications and informal career guidance based on your experience in the university space.
[9] Universities have fast and sophisticated WIFI’s, including residences. So, you will never worry about data anymore. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram will be readily accessible to you. You will need to exercise the highest form of discipline regarding time management when using these applications because you will find yourself having spent 5 hours on these apps during your study session. Time flies there. Returning students will agree with me that there is a culture in libraries or study spots where you find that you have spent 5 hours in that place but have only studied for about 1 to 2 hours. The rest of the hours went to the phone. Be careful of that type of procrastination.
[10] As we are transitioning back to face-to-face lectures, it is important to remember that lectures will no longer be recorded for some modules and so it is imperative to attend classes even though it may seem as if it is useless, lecturers normally give tips when the class is not full. Moreover, it is important to attend classes in order to assess the diction and tone of the lecturer. This helps when answering questions in the exam. Use the lecturer’s language when answering questions. Assess which topics where emphasised and given much attention by the lecturer and then go home res) and master them. You will thank me later.
[11] I would like to conclude on a lighter note by offering some spontaneous tips:
- Real love is hard to find in varsity. Do not go around chasing it. It will find you. Do not waste your time on wrong things 🤪;
- Have Friends from your class and create a WhatsApp group. This will help you know what is going on in the course and serve as an announcement platform to help you stay up to date. Moreover, some students do share topic summaries in these group chat;
- Use your money wisely and do not pretend as if you are from a rich family, you will starve. If you feel good after eating pap, chow that pap. I am not against change, but it should be financially wise to change your eating habits.
- I would caution against watching series’ during the course of the year because the episodes keep on coming. Rather opt for movies as the end is the end. With a series, it takes time for them to end. They are like an extra module.
I hope I did not threaten or scare the reader. My overall intention is to advise based on experience. I felt that as this is my 5th year in this education suburb, it would be an injustice if the year starts, and I said nothing to the new and returning students regarding survival in the university space as I have relatively survived better.