Gen Z Student: Here's my advice to anyone starting their first few weeks of college

The lecture hall is where they tell you what they expect to see in your assignments and exams. Anyone that does well, is going to class. I’m not going to pretend I never missed a class in my time
Gen Z Student: Here's my advice to anyone starting their first few weeks of college

Jane Cowan: "Your first few weeks of college will be daunting. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It means you’re probably going through a period of growth and learning." Picture: Moya Nolan.

Today is my last first day of school, as I write. In other words, I’ve started my final year of college. And while I’m feeling a little nostalgic about the fact that I’m coming to the end of my time in education (it’ll be a few years before I have the stomach for postgraduate study), I’m mainly excited to be nearly finished.

The barrage of enthusiastic first years scuttling around campus, using Google Maps to find their way to the engineering building, makes me feel like I’m a little too old to be here.

I’ve never related to angry old men everywhere more, full of disdain for young people and their ways, moving around the world with such carefree exuberance. I’m the grumpy final year student, tut tutting at the first years giggling in the library. I have back pain from being hunched over my laptop.

And I will be avoiding those people handing out pens and tote bags, begging people to join their society, like my life depends on it. I’ve served my time when it comes to being harassed in Trinity’s front square, to become a debater. I’m too old for this nonsense. I’ve been around the block; I’m not buying whatever it is that you’re selling. I’ve got shit to do. I’m very busy and important now.

But I am also very generous. And it feels pertinent to pass on my university wisdom to the next generation. As a self-proclaimed nerd, I’ve spent the past three years refining my approach to college. If it’s your first week, and you’re still working out where the bathroom is, I urge you to heed my academic advice. I’m about to save you a lot of time and stress.

Firstly, there’s no substitute for actually attending your classes. In my experience, even if the lecturers are posting their slides online afterwards, you will be missing out on information that they don’t include in the slides. 

The lecture hall is where they tell you what they expect to see in your assignments and exams. Anyone that does well, is going to class. I’m not going to pretend I never missed a class in my time. 

Of course, it’s tempting when you know that no one is going to call your parents if you miss a lecture. But the feeling of freedom you have when you lie in until noon on a Wednesday won’t be enough to compensate the feelings of regret, when you find yourself sitting in an exam hall, wishing you knew how to answer the questions in front of you.

And while I like to complain about societies harassing us to sign up, they are a great way to meet people outside of your course. But you don’t need to join 10 societies.

Once semester begins, you won’t have time to be involved in them all. You’ll be kept busy enough with two or three society’s events to attend.

Also, you don’t have to worry about finding the perfect group of friends in the first week. Be open to the people you’ll be put into project groups with, or meet in someone’s grimy kitchen during pres. Those can be the best friendships.

Now is also a great time to take advantage of the resources offered by the university. Tours of the campus, webinars about using the library catalogues or navigating the digital systems, peer mentors: they’re all there to make the transition to college a little easier. 

Find the area in the library that is devoted to your subject of study as soon as possible. Sweating over an essay you have due the following day, is not the time to figure that stuff our. You can thank me later.

You might also find yourself freaking out about your course, wondering if you made the wrong choice. Chances are, you won’t enjoy every aspect of it. That’s normal. No one enjoys their course all the time. Give yourself a few weeks to settle. And remember that university enrolment isn’t a death sentence; you can change your mind at any time.

Your first few weeks of college will be daunting. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It means you’re probably going through a period of growth and learning. You’ll find your footing soon. Friends will come. You’ll be navigating the library with ease by your second semester. 

And before you know it, you might be like me, raging against the machine in my fourth year. Feeling like an OAP on campus, wondering when the first years will figure out that they can gossip outside of the library.

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