Beer, Morning Classes, and Stupid Decisions: Make University Count!

Close your eyes (metaphorically of course- you have to read this somehow!) and picture something: it’s Friday night, you’ve had one too many beers, and someone starts running their mouth. What do you do? Do you:

a) Laugh it off and call it a night – Obviously the alcohol has gotten the best of everyone at the party, so you might as well kick it and hit the sack.

b) Tell them to leave you alone – After all, why should they ruin your night?

c) Punch them in the face and kick them while they’re down – Hey, no one messes with you… right?

Why is this important? You could say that the inspiration for this article came from the recent stabbing of two of my fellow students over who’s Coke and Rum was on a table. Such a lame argument resulted in hospital time and near-death. This brings to light something that not a lot of fresh students realize: university is a very different place than high school.

New students, especially ones that have changed cities or places of residence in order to attend university, tend to forget that, despite the new amounts of freedom that they have, their actions still create reactions. Despite everything that you may see in the media, being a student forces upon some rather harsh realities:

• Life is expensive ¬– Bills, rent, tuition, textbooks, and food are things that need to be paid for, and unless you’re parents are handing over the cash, you can expect to be the one having to shell out the dough. What does this mean for you? NoName macaroni and cheese.

• School is difficult – Have a bad habit of not attending your lectures? Don’t be surprised when you wind up flunking out of university. Numerous studies have confirmed a direct link between attendance and academic performance- cramming the night before is not the way to get through university (okay, maybe first year classes).

University level courses are much more difficult than their high school prerequisites as they require more study time, more knowledge, and a higher level of commitment.

• People move on ¬– Partying is great (and a necessary part of the student life), but eventually people move on and focus on what’s important: graduation, good grades, and the rest of their lives. Getting caught in the moment and forgetting about the future is a surefire way to shoot yourself in the foot.

• You are not invincible ¬– Things can happen regardless of your age or your profession. Be smart and make the good years count!