Dear dummy, I know the past week has been super overwhelming and you feel like you cannot quite get a hold of things. You feel like you are not in control of anything and are grasping at the straws of University. Do I choose a night at Boogies or do I commit to my 8 am class?

Do I prioritise studies, my health, calling my mom or making time for friends? Does what I wear to campus matter? Do not fret, by the end of this survival guide, you should with certainty be able to answer all of the above. Herewith is your four-step introduction to being an adult.

Step 1: Don’t be afraid to be on your own. Walking to class or sitting on campus by yourself doesn’t make you a social pariah, it makes you an independent person. Learn to be okay with your own company, because as much as you will be social, you will also have to do grown up things alone. 

Step 2: Care way less. Wear what you want to class, greet people who look interesting and put yourself out there. Let’s call it exposure therapy…speak to at least one new person everyday. Sit next to different people in lectures, wave at that person you think you might know and spark up conversations with randoms. If it scares you, do it. Make sure to socialise in non-party settings for lasting connections. 

Step 3: Find the balance between FOMO, YOLO and OH NO…I failed one of my modules. Going out and having a drink with friends is where some core memories are made, but don’t forget what you are here to do, study. Not many people in South Africa get the opportunity to do this.So if you are studying at a University, especially ones like Stellenbosch or UCT, appreciate that fact, utilise your privilege and make the most of it. 

Step 4: Health is wealth. Take care of yourself, your space and your mental wellbeing. No degree is worth the deterioration of your person. Make sure your room is a reflection of the type of person you want to be. Move your body in ways that make you feel settled. Exercise your mind with things other than school work. Take a jujitsu class, join a run club or do some yoga. Run clubs are the new dating apps after all.

These four simple steps will do wonders for your first year mentality. Disclaimer: you are going to stuff it up many times. You will learn the same lessons over and over again and there will be many embarrassing moments. 

Laugh it off and move on, as a third year, that’s still my motto. So…dummy, best of luck to you! May the tequila shots go down well, the supplementaries be non-existent and the lecturers be extra cute.