A post is going viral offering some great advice to Matriculants

Photo Credit: On File

From loneliness, to becoming just a number… a post is going viral offering some great advice to Matriculants heading into their first year.

A third year student has taken to Facebook to share some advice to the Matriculants of 2017 about varsity life after school.

The post was originally shared by Stellies Rage, but has quickly started going viral with thousands of tags and shares.

See the full post below:

Dear Matrics

I write to you as a third year student, one who has learned quite a bit in my undergrad. Allow me to share some realities with you that your parents, teachers nor older friends/siblings at varsity would usually share. It might help you out a bit.

1) Whether you’re moving into res, a commune, a flat or staying at home, the feeling of loneliness can find its way into your heart quite easily. You’re coming from a place where you were a name and one of a few hundreds, to a place where you are a number and one of a few thousands…you can really feel lost. It’s up to you to find something that will give you a sense of purpose. Don’t let the enormity of varsity make you feel like nothing…because it can if you let it.

2) Making good friends is difficult. In the beginning, you become so caught up in the excitement that you attach yourself to anyone who shares a friendly smile or common interest. However, after a couple of months of spending time with these so-called friends, you may realise that you have very little in common and that they’re not actually growing you. Don’t stick to a crowd because you are afraid of being alone…Robin Williams highlights the reality of this, “I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up alone, but it’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel alone.” Stay true to yourself as you persevere through this stage of fake friends and continue on your mission in seeking true loyalty.

3) Nostalgia is a real thing. Suddenly, when your grades are 30% lower, your friendship circle has quartered and mom isn’t just around the corner…you begin to long for how things used to be during the good ol’ school days. Try and not be consumed by this. Things suck at first but you grow used to the change and you learn to make the best of it and find the joy in what’s new.

4) You have left the bubble of safety and comfort. Alcohol, drug and sex are no longer swear words. Culture shock is a reality. Your lab partner could be Jewish; your neighbour Islamic, your lecturer an atheist and your roommate a Christian…and that’s perfectly normal. It’s something you need to accept, don’t be intolerant.

5) Don’t waste your time trying to stay connected with every school friend. If the communication is only initiated by you, you are going to end up bitterly disappointed. Effort = interest…if there’s no effort on their side, there’s no interest either. The good ones who are meant to be in your lives will always gravitate back to you.

6) You only truly get a taste of your degree in second year. First year is all the mandatory introductory crap. You will find yourself in classes that you hate and are in no way relevant to your degree…but are still damn difficult. This can be extremely frustrating and discouraging. Don’t allow this to sway your judgment, as it’s an unfair representation of what you you really applied for. Push through and decide if it is or isn’t for you in second year (unless, for example, you’re absolutely hating and sucking physics and you’re doing a BSc in physics…)

7) The workload is going to triple and the standard of difficulty quadruple. It’s completely overwhelming at first but you learn to handle it. Don’t make rash decisions when you’re feeling overwhelmed by the academic tsunami. Keep pushing on.

8) Don’t degree shame. Just don’t. You! YES YOU, YOU ASSHOLE studying engineering and claiming everyone to be less than you if they are doing something else – You are no better than the guy studying teaching or english or arts or philosophy or accounting or math or genetics or investment etc etc etc . We are all called to different things in life and thank God (literally) for that. What a boring (and completely dysfunctional) world it would be if we all had similar professions.

9) Despite all the challenges your first year brings, there’s a lot of magic that comes when you learn to love your varsity. Get involved.

10) Most important point: Varsity is not for everyone. Do not feel ashamed if you’ve given it your absolute all and you’re still not making it. Yes, you can always change your actual degree. But, sometimes you just have to realise that you’re not cut out for this path…and that is okay. You can make a success out of yourself if you do what you love. It may sound like a cliché, but it is true. Know your options.

That will be all from me.

Good luck

Kind regards
A hopefully-soon-to-be-graduating student