By Shuvranshu Sekhar Kar
3rd Year, B.Tech (CSE)

You are just done with your 12th grade and are about to enter university. There are a lot of things going on inside that head of yours. What university life is going to be like, what challenges you are going to face and how you must prepare yourself are just some among the many questions you must want answers for. Now, let me tell you straight up; it is not going to be a cakewalk. But now that you’re here, read on to find out how you can make the next 3, 4 or 5 years some of the best of your life.

First, I want you to hit the reset button. Take all the thoughts, ideas, and notions you had until now and keep them aside. You are about to enter a whole new phase of your life, and it’s best to enter with a clean slate and an open mind so that you are ready to accept all the new things as they come. University life is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you definitely don’t want to miss any of it.

University life is unique and unlike anything you’ve experienced so far. You and you alone are going to be responsible for your fate. Here, the choices you make will play a massive role in deciding who and what you become. The decisions you take in these 3, 4 or 5 years will define the coming 30, 40 or 50 years of your life. And not all of those choices and decisions will be straightforward. You are not going to have your parents as a cushion to fall back on anymore. Your judgement will be tested every step of the way. So, there is hardly any room for making the wrong call. Now when I put it like this, it does sound terrifying, doesn’t it? But don’t worry. Even though all that I said just now is 100% true, it is not that perilous. Now let’s jump into how you can make the absolute most of your university life.

Get to know the place.

You might be going to university someplace familiar to you or someplace completely new. In either case, it is very important to know the place well enough. Use your free time to explore the campus and the places surrounding it. Pick out the spots you’d want to go to at the end of a long day and just stretch your legs and relax or have a chat with your mates. Find places to eat that seem nice to you. Discover places you can escape to on weekends. Your university will be your home away from home for the next 3, 4 or 5 years, so make sure you know the place like how Captain Haddock knew the seven seas, like the back of his hand!

Make friends but wisely.

University is a place where you will see a ton of new faces from a lot of different places and backgrounds. It is imperative that you make a lot of friends, but more importantly the right ones, because in the end they are the ones you are going to lean on when things go south, turn to when you need advice or a different opinion and share your successes with. If you’re not very good at socializing or making new mates, this is the time to change that. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to be stuck on this road having no one in your corner. The company you keep will influence how you turn out, so you have your first decision to make in front of you. Make the right friends!

Join student societies or clubs.

Every university has a lot of different kinds of student clubs and societies, be it photography, film, music and dance, etc. Find out the society of your preference and enrol: this is a great way to meet people with interests similar to yours. You’ll make new friends and find something productive yet fun to do in your free time. This is also a great way to add value to your resume in extracurricular activities. Who knows, you might even end up wanting to make a career out of it.

Don’t miss out on any events.

If there is one thing you should not miss at any cost during your university life, it is university fests and events. Participate in events, be a part of the organizing team if you get the chance, be a contestant on a quiz or debating contest or be an anchor for your university fashion show. Being a part of such opportunities will help you grow as an individual and help shape your personality. Don’t be the bloke who sits in his dorm room watching Netflix instead of being in the crowd at your annual university fest or taking part in the next Model United Nations. Believe me, the experience is surreal and adds to your memory bank. It is totally worth the time and energy.

Get out of your comfort zone and try new and different things.

Stop taking the easy way out. Start experimenting. Stop being afraid of trying new things. If you think your English speaking skills aren’t good enough, take part in a speaking contest. If you have stage fear, try and be part of an anchoring gig. Start a blog, maybe even a YouTube channel. Try things that scare you. It’s the best way to conquer your fears. Don’t be afraid of making the occasional blunder. Mistakes help us learn what not to do and how to do things right. So stop being in your shell and start doing.

Stay focused and stay positive.

All the sweet stuff aside, the ultimate goal is your career. Enjoy and have fun along the journey but never lose sight of the destination. Be active during lectures. Be on the lookout for new opportunities. Stay up to date with new developments in your field of study. Always stay positive. Don’t let tough situations get the better of you. If you ever feel down or out, just remember this is your life and that there is
light at the end of the tunnel.

Don’t just look to survive. Look to thrive.

Don’t look at university life as an obstacle that needs to be overcome. Look at it as a scenic stretch along the long road to becoming the best version of yourself. Look at it as an opportunity to shape your life the way you want it to be. Enjoy this phase. Meet new people, make new friends, do silly and stupid things, take a lot of pictures and make awesome memories you will look back to with a smile. Do things as they come. Don’t stress out. Let things matter, but don’t let things bother you. Plan for the future but don’t forget to live in the moment. Always keep an open mind, have room for improvement and be open to new possibilities. And in the words of Tim Bergling a.k.a Avicii – One day, you’ll leave this world behind. So live a life you will remember.