Navigating university, no matter what year you find yourself in can be a bit tricky, so I want to share the 5 top tips that have brought me university (and overall adulting) success!
1) Get a planner! I have tried oodles of planners, and physical ones just do not work for me. So I downloaded the app iStudiez and it syncs with all my devices and calendar so I can see what I need to do and when from wherever I’m looking at it.
2) Get involved with the university! Pay attention to the emails UVic sends out! They have some incredible opportunities, such as being a Notetaker for the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL), becoming an Engage Leader mentoring first-year students, participating in a workshop, and more!
3) Stay in touch with people you love from home! For me, moving across the country and being in a place I had never been to before was surreal, and sometimes it felt like it wasn’t even real. Phoning my parents or friends from my hometown was grounding, and it brought me a sense of familiarity that I was missing.
4) Get out and adventure the new place you call home! If you are like me, you most likely moved to the island to start your new adult life at university. It is essential to figure your way around the new place you live to feel connected to the location and the community. Getting out for a day of adventuring–or even just a walk–can become a much-needed break from your studies.
5) Don’t be too hard on yourself! University is tough! In my first year, I had a tough time getting over failed midterms or disappointing grades on assignments I had worked hard on. However, as you move along through school, you will find strategies that work for you, and there’s always room to improve.