Written by Cairen Velasquez
I always had this expectation that university would be a journey of self-discovery, improving one’s skills, making life-long friendships, and having an active social life. Well, after 3 years of being a university student, I can confidently say that this is both true and false. However, my experience would definitely have been different if I had utilized the following three tips from the very start. If you’re a freshman starting out your university life, these tips could help you in one way or another.
Talk to your professors
If there was one thing I have learned being a university student, it is to not be intimidated and actually converse with your professors. They are there to teach you and help you understand concepts that you may not fully understand! A university is a place of learning, and these professors help you to do exactly that. I remember my first class ever, my professor would teach concepts in Political Science and I did not understand these terms whatsoever. I made the mistake of not reaching out and solely relying on my misunderstandings, rather than going to my professor’s office hours and asking them to re-explain concepts that I did not fully understand. As such, I did not do as well as I could have in that class. From then on, I made it a habit to ask professors to help me understand concepts that I didn’t understand initially.
Attend social events in school
I always thought making friends and having an active social life would come to me naturally, especially when I first started university. As I approached my final years of university, I realized that it is quite the opposite. Making friends and going out to socialize is a constant effort. That is not to say that it is difficult per se, it just simply means that you have to be willing to socialize! I’ve found the best way to make friends is to attend social events, especially as many are already held in school. I recommend checking out events hosted by SFU LYFE, as they host both professional and social events—their events are usually attended by a diverse student community! It seems scary at first attending events where you are not familiar with anyone, but it is worth it to get yourself out there. You never know, you can meet your best friend at these events!
Become an executive in a club or student union
The Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) has a wide variety of clubs and student unions to join. From student groups about sustainability, like Embark, to clubs about professional and personal development, like SFU LYFE, there is a club or student union for you! It seems intimidating being an executive of a student club but it is quite rewarding! You can first start out as a general member of that club and apply to become an executive when you feel ready. Not only does being an executive help you develop team skills outside of academia, it also helps you become more involved with your student community. Clubs either hire or elect their executive team. For example, SFU LYFE were recently hiring for new executives to join their team, and I became an executive for SFU NDP during my second year of university. From there, I was able to meet many new like-minded students through the club.
In conclusion, those are my 3 tips I would recommend to people just starting out university. If I could re-do my university experience, I would definitely utilize these tips to make more out of my experience!