Congratulations. There are about 1.4 million young Nigerians who are waiting to hear that word; waiting to receive an admission letter that begins with it. Sadly, only about 700,000 of these students will receive the good news. But gaining admission is just a tip of the iceberg. (The Students’ Guide).
The sad fate of students who have been unable to complete their tertiary education for reasons ranging from peer pressure, cultism, drugs and alcohol abuse to sheer laziness should serve as an example to fresh students. Although this is not always the case, many fresh students still fall victims of these vices. Some other times, challenges could be as minor as the most affordable way to get food or the best ways to save your money. Whatever the case may be, this article is compiled to help new students thrive on campus.
Without wasting much time, let’s take a look at some of these things you must know as a fresh student.
1) Living Conditions.
Report say that only about 25% of Nigerian University students live on campus. This means that for every student who lives on campus, there are three others who face the stressful task of commuting to and from school every day.
Staying off campus isn’t just stressful, it could sometimes be dangerous too. Most incidents of campus violence usually take place off campus. But if you can’t make the 25%, and need to stay in an off campus hostel, don’t be alarmed.
However, ensure that you do your best to investigate your off campus hostel; hat sort of people stay there? What’s the security like? Be sure to begin searching as soon as possible to get the best deals available. If you need to share rent with someone else, do your best to find out about your future roommate’s character.
2) Choose Friends Wisely.
You have probably heard it time and time again that bad company corrupts good manners. It might sound like a cliché to you but it’s probably ageless because it’s true. No, you will not get special grades for making friends with the most popular people on campus. So don’t be so desperate that you can do anything for friendships. Take out time to pick friends that can spur you on morally and academically. Remember that although campus streets may sometime seem like a movie set, you are there to get a degree, not an ‘Oscar’ for ‘best friendship on set’.
3) Start Studying On Time.
It could be pretty overwhelming when you get into school for the first time. There are lots of new places to learn about…let the library be one of them. Apart from registration and some periodic orientation programmes, your first few weeks will be the freest you will ever be in schooling career. So, use it wisely.
4) Too Early For Trouble.
There are so many things you need to prove when you get into school. That you can break the rules and get away with it is not one of them. The thing about trouble is that your record tends to stay with you and put you into more and more trouble. If you don’t know the rules and regulations of the institution you are about to enter, find out, and if you can’t take the heat, don’t take the admission. Ask any parent; it’s more honourable to have a child stay at home than to have him expelled or suspended.
5) Watch Your Pocket.
Cut your cloth according to your affordable material. Don’t spend money because other people are doing the same. Budget properly before spending a kobo; appropriate for giving, spending and saving.
6) Activism With Caution.
Of course, you should not hesitate to fight for your rights but be sure to do so within the rules and regulations of your institution without violence and threats.
7) Socialism With Caution.
Of course, you have the right to socialize. Moreover, it’s your life and no one (parent or guardian) is watching you. After all, there is a saying that goes…“All work an no play makes Jack a dull boy”. But have you thought about it the other way round?…Trust me, if Jack should continue playing without work (study), not only will Jack soon be overwhelmed and forget about his primary assignment in school (to study), he will also be a dull boy and most likely remain a poor boy.
So, get your priorities right, and do the right thing.
8) Fellowship Activities.
Of course, you have to worship God. But you don’t have to participate in every church activity to do that. In some campus fellowships, you will discover that many units/cells/groups exist. Some of these groups engage in weekly activities which may sometime include social activities like get-together, dinner night, cell/unit meetings, etc,etc. It will be for your own good not to join more than one of these groups; else you may be overwhelmed and carried away to notice that you spent whole of the week on fellowship activities leaving out your studies.
9) Belonging To Many Groups.
On campus, you will find so many socio-culttural groups like ‘Red Cross, ‘Man-O-War, ‘Keggites’, ‘JCI’, ‘SAVAN’ etc. The choice whether or not to join any of these groups as soon as you get into school is yours. But bear in mind that you should get your priorities right, right from the start. So if you have to join them, join the one that promotes academic excellence and not social-vices.
10) Peer Pressure.
As a fresh student, you may be exposed to things that you’re unfamiliar with. Sometimes, this means that you will have to make important decisions regarding your own participation. Those around you will be on their own paths through higher education and will be encountering the same decisions – it can often be difficult to make up your own mind without being influenced by your peer group. Peer pressure can cause people to make choices that they would otherwise not make without knowledge and intent.
The desire to fit in can drive people to make choices that they wouldn’t normally consider. It’s the mistaken impression of some students that, unless they behave in a similar way to those around them, they won’t be accepted or will fail to fit in. Many students will take advantage of the freedom afforded when studying to let their hair down, experimenting with alcohol, drugs and sexual promiscuity. Just because your peer group is doing these things doesn’t mean that you have to do the same, and no one is going to judge you for making your own decisions in life. If you decide that certain things aren’t for you, don’t join in simply as a way of seeking approval from your peers. Most students will admire you more for being yourself than for going to great lengths just to fit in.
11) This Boyfriend-Girlfriend Thing.
On campus, you will most likely be surrounded by more members of the opposite sex than you have ever been in your entire life. The choice whether or not to enter a relationship as soon as you get into school is yours. But bear in mind that you should get your priorities right, right from the start.
12) To The Newly Admitted Ladies.
At this time, almost everyone is beautiful until the stress of being in a university starts and continues to creep back slowly but steadily. So many guys will be on the block to get these fresh, new ladies who were just admitted and could hold them prey in so many ways like showing them around school, helping them with assignments, telling them about tough lecturers and how to escape failure in their courses, and many more others but these guys (most of them) will have other motives.
So you should be able to know when a guy crosses his line with you and caution him politely. You might be young but your maturity in thought and decisions will earn you great respect from the old boys. Do not bow to pressure and lose focus in the primary reason you have to come to the university, and at the same time, except you want it, do not while away precious time with any guy in the name of a relationship. You might lose focus. Be careful and concentrate on your studies.
To the guys, sincere help wouldn’t hurt but looking for random beautiful ladies to deceive will really be a bad one. We can help each other but with sincerity of purpose.
.…You will succeed!
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