Dear Freshers,

This is for you. We know that the first year of university can be incredibly daunting - you’re in a whole new environment, with new colleagues, new friends, and the like. Here are some tips on how to not just survive, but thrive:

Be committed to your academic success:

Be focused! Hit those books. Attend lectures regularly. Make regular appointments with your academic counsellors, TAs, and professors. The truth is, for the most part, the years you spend in university are what you make it - so make sure you invest in yourself and your success.

Make new friends:

Socialize. Make friends with your mates, as well as your seniors - who can fill you in on the ins and outs of surviving in university. Making friends can be difficult in your first year, so don’t be too hard on yourself if it takes you some time to find a trusted circle of friends.

Make time to chill:

Don’t get too preoccupied with your books, university is not only about learning and acing your tests. Live a little! Go to the movies. Eat ice cream. Read relaxing books. Take long scenic walks. Become a regular at the gym. Join student organizations. Life is short, so make sure you make every minute count!

Take care of your health:

University can be toxic, especially when it gets to stressful periods like exam season. Know that you are precious, wonderfully made, and always strive to take good care of your mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health.