How To Make The Most Of Your First Year Of Uni

Kim is an Arts/Law student at Monash University. When she's…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMJJ1GlgAtC/

Starting your first year at uni can be pretty daunting, especially if you’ve just finished what you thought was the toughest battle of your life, Year 12. But, fear not, jaffy (this is a term you’ll come to know soon!) uni life, if you play your cards right, will be one of the best, if not, the best years of your life! So, get excited as I present to you how to make the most of your first year of uni!

1. Go to a first year camp!

Congratulations, you got into uni, and that means it’s time to celebrate! And by celebrate I mean enjoy your newfound freedom and go to a first year camp where you can meet your fellows jaffys, and maybe even your potential friends! But remember to buy tickets early since it’s always sold out!

2. Join a few clubs during o-week!

By a few, I mean at least three or more, especially since joining a club if you’re an MSA member is almost always free. There’s also member bbqs, discounts on joint club events, and heaps of cool people, depending on what club you join. And, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can become a first year rep and learn how Clubs & Societies work, which is especially useful if you do decide to become a long-term club rep.

3. Learn the lingo.

While not the most fun tip I can give you, learning the lingo is definitely one way that can save you a lot of confusion later on when you’re wondering who Matheson is (clue: it’s a library), why you’re being referred to as a jaffy (just another fucking first year – sorry you’re not that important anymore), and why your sleeping photo has now been displayed all over Facebook. Don’t take it too seriously though, especially since that, and getting stuck in the Menzies revolving doors is a right of passage that all of us have gone through. We just rarely post it on Stalkerspace. Yup, your new best friend when you’re pulling another all-nighter. It will comfort you with a hundred relatable memes and might even give you hope that you can find love at uni.

4. Do your readings.

While drinking and partying is basically the essence of #unilife, don’t forget that you’re also here to get an education, and that means putting in a little effort in doing your readings and keeping up with the work during your first year of uni. Yes, it’s a little overwhelming, but trust me when I say that when you lay down the organisational groundwork, you’re going to be fine during the later years. Just don’t get too stressed out when you can’t keep up, or if you do, you can always find comfort in the universal motto of Ps get degrees.

5. Volunteer!

Uni life is time to get social and explore who you are, but if parties are not really your thing, then you can meet people by volunteering. It’s a great way to add experience to your resume and also a place where you can meet like-minded people who share your values and find a purpose in helping out the community. And, if you really need to count the perks, at least you’ll get a Coles/Myer voucher for helping out during Open Day, which is basically what uni life is about, right?

How are you going to make the most of your first year of uni? Comment below and share the article!

Featured photo source: favim.com

Kim Panti

Kim is an Arts/Law student at Monash University. When she's not dying from doing her readings, she takes photos of coffee, writes, and is constantly dreaming of owning a Chow Chow dog named Mr. Thornton.