Stepping up: From high school to university
From Mod Mania
A first hand opinion
As many students tend to feel when transcending into a new social and academic environment such as university, a lot of pressure from lecturers, assignments, class timetables and even that of meeting new friends, all are pilled on top of each other, and with so many new things and experiences, this process can be quite nerve wrecking.
For those coming straight out of high school, this process becomes an entirely new world, no more teachers, less supervision, more independence, and greater commitment. Within the high school social and academic grounds we as previous students had greater availability to support, help and advice on work, constant communication on assignments and homework with teachers, all without the pressure and stress of such independence as found within university.
NOW, university has become an entirely different experience both academic wise and socially wise. Assignments are handed out around three to four times a week, each within a week of due date. And then what, you receive the assignment, talk about it and have a bit of head start on it during class time and then…nothing really, once you leave the classroom its all up to you. There are no reminders the next day from teachers “remember you have so and so homework due in next Tuesday” or “how are you coping with your assignment?” it really is all up to you. University truly allows you to excel into a greater future and into a greater career; it helps you get exactly to where you want to go in life. But how well you do to accomplish this rests on no ones shoulders except your own.
Now I’m not saying this is a bad thing, however with such little change process, it jumps on you by surprise, and within such a little time period, such as you don’t even realize till your there, your up to your knees in assignments, and have no where near the support of teachers and peers as what you would of had back in high school. If you want help, support, or even just someone to talk to, you need to do it yourself, and most of all, for yourself. There’s no teachers coming past to check on you and talk to you about how you’re coping, nothing of what you had back in high school, so if you want it? You need to do it.
University really gets you out of your previous comfort zone, and into real life, as such in real life there are rarely people to hold your hand and remind you of what is needed of you and what you need to remember to do. University isn’t a stepping stone from high school; it’s a stepping stone into real life, and into the rest of life. And although there is no easy way to succeed in Uni life, it gives you all the skills, independence, confidence, and intelligence you will need to succeed in life, and in your chosen career path. And although university may not be for everyone, there are however plenty of other opportunities to get to where you want to go in life, and achieve what you want to achieve.
Chris..
