20 Things I Learned in University

Dear college freshmen,

Welcome on board to the next journey of your student life! In university, you will see things you’ve never seen, hear things you’ve never heard, try out things you’ve always wanted to try out. You will have so much fun, yet you might also encounter ups and downs along the way.

Don’t worry! We have collected some tips from two college seniors, and are here to pass them on. With these advices, we hope that you can prepare yourself for the quest that has been waiting for you ahead, and make the most out of it!

1. Remember to spend time getting to know yourself better.
   We spend so much time getting to know other people, but so often we are strangers to ourselves.
   
   
2. Practice the art of being alone.
   You would make new friends, but for most of the time, you and your friends would take different courses and have very different time schedules, meaning you’d be spending quite an amount of time with yourself. It is then an opportunity to learn how to be comfortable with spending time alone.
   
   
3. Don’t be scared if you feel lost and confused.
   We’ve seen so many cases where university students have no idea what to do with their lives. It’s okay to feel this way, because we’re all exploring the world and trying to figure it out.
   
   
4. Don’t be scared if you are uninterested in something.
   If what you think is your thing turns out to be a miss, just keep on exploring something else; it is okay to turn down certain fields once you realize that might not be for you.
   
   
5. Always reach out to others when you need help.
   Sometimes life gets hard to weather alone, so let your friends and family help you out; never feel shameful for reaching out.
   
   
6. Have a goal that is to be accomplished.
   It doesn’t have to be big, but everyone needs a carrot in front to feel motivated.
   
   
7. Learn to celebrate the small wins in life.
   Celebrating the small wins in life will make you a happier person, and can furthermore keep you motivated to go after something greater.
   
   
8. Do whatever makes you happy in your free time.
   Sometimes university students pressure themselves to spend leisure time on learning something “useful,” but everything you do can always come to use later, perhaps in a way you didn’t expect.
   
   
9. Manage your time well.
   Compared to high school, you will have a lot more free time after entering university; wisely arrange it, as you might have your hands full with school work and extracurricular activities.
   
   
10. Keep yourself organized.
    Make to-do lists, keep a planner, or something, so that you can be on top of everything you need to complete.
    
    
11. Step out of your comfort zone.
    Take on a challenging course or join an unexpected society, because that’s how you can really learn and grow.
    
    
12. Learn to be open-minded and flexible.
    You will meet all kinds of people in university, where everyone has their own opinions on something. Stand in other people’s shoes and see things from their viewpoints; this saves you a lot of discomfort and helps you become more understanding.
    
    
13. Write down whatever comes up in your mind.
    Your crazy ideas might have the potential to be pushed further and grow into an innovative project.
    
    
14. Try not to scroll on your phone every time you’re bored.
    Take a walk, sing a song, or call a friend. There are so many other ways to make better use of your time.
    
    
15. Take on an opportunity to study or to travel abroad.
    Sometimes we are so caught up with the minuscule details of our day-to-day lives, we forget that there is a vast beautiful world out there just waiting to be explored!
    
    
16. Think deeper.
    One of the main goals of attending uni is to know how to come up with our own opinions. Critical thinking is essential; think more the world you live in and everything in it.
    
    
17. Ask someone you’re interested to grab a cup of coffee.
    Don’t be shy and don’t be scared, because we’re all souls trying to look for more genuine and loving connections.
    
    
18. Spend time with your family.
    It is easy to forget to do so while you’re busy with your new college life.
    
    
19. Focus on your own steps.
    After meeting so many new people, you might realize that no matter how good you think you are with something, someone will always do it better. Concentrate on your own improvements, and you will always be on the way to where you want to be.
    
    
20. Embrace who you are.
    Knowing yourself better and better throughout your time in uni, accept, love and be proud of both your strengths, your flaws, and all that you are.

These twenty things we have realized during our college years are suggestions that we think would guide you when you feel like you’re lost; college can be tough at times, but so are you.

So take your time, enjoy, live, laugh, and love. It’s your time to create a bunch of magical moments.

Yours truly,

Team Butter🧈