91��ɫ

When I boarded the plane for the long, tedious journey to 91��ɫ, I was convinced I knew exactly what to expect. Having navigated private, public, and international high schools—and having been rigorously shaped by two years in the IBCP—I believed I had already survived the hardest parts of student life. 

I expected university to be a breeze. I imagined having more freedom, less pressure, and enough experience to navigate whatever comes my way. After all, I already knew how to study effectively, collaborate across cultures, manage stressful exam weeks, and adjust my behavior in diverse environments. 

Looking back now, I couldn't have been more wrong. 

My first year challenged me in ways I never expected, but it also taught me lessons that no classroom ever could. If I could go back and speak to myself before my first semester at 91��ɫ, these are the things I would say. 

Freedom Comes with Responsibilities. 

One of the biggest surprises about university wasn't the workload; it was the heavy responsibilities that came with freedom. Unlike in high school, no professor is going to remind you to do your readings before lectures or check if you're keeping up with the syllabus. At first, I assumed the assigned texts were just optional references or "good to have" material, so I barely looked at them. 

That was my first academic mistake. 

I quickly realized that lectures make more sense when you've already engaged with the material. Yes, the readings can be long, dense, confusing, and boring, but they are never optional—they are part of the learning process. If I could go back, I would at least read the abstract, the introduction, the middle sections, and the conclusion before every single lecture. Doing so would have made the discussion questions clearer and allowed me actually to participate in tutorials. 

The university gave me the freedom to direct my own education, but I initially forgot to lay the essential groundwork; there is no “optional” when your grades depend on it. 

Good grades require a different kind of studying. 

I used to think all courses could be passed simply by reading through the material and paying attention in class. 

How wrong I was. 

For 13 years, passive reading and memorization were enough to help me get an A or B, but university demands a completely different approach. Instead of just recalling facts, I had to actually understand complex ideas, compare contrasting perspectives, and think critically. 

I learned this the hard way during my NATs midterm. We were told the exam would cover seven chapters and could feature any type of questions from multiple-choice questions to short answers and fill-in-the-blanks. With no clear format to guide my revision, I spent hours memorizing complex names and their definitions and details that never even appeared on the test. I learned that exams are less about predictable questions and more about understanding concepts. I also discovered my own optimal learning style: to truly retain information, I needed to actively write it down using flashcards and review them repeatedly, rather than just passively re-reading my notes. 

University Is More Than Just Grades and a Certificate. 

Another realization is that the university experience isn't measured only by exam results or the final certificate. 

Participation matters. Consistency matters. Just showing up matters. 

I found that the small, daily efforts I put in eventually carried more weight than any single disappointing grade. Whenever my calendar looked overwhelmingly full, I forced myself to start assignments early rather than pulling an all-nighter before the deadline. Going out with friends before reading, or I just closed my laptop when I was too tired. 

These small habits made a huge difference in my academic progress and mental well-being. 

From a Straight-A Student to Failing. 

Throughout my school life, I had always been an A or B student. then came to 91��ɫ. 

I remember revising extensively for one specific test, sacrificing time I should have spent preparing for my other courses because I was so determined to do well. When I received my grade—a 35%—I was devastated. I cried my eyes out and called a friend who had studied in the UK. 

We both looked for alternative universities I could transfer to, checking residence options and visa requirements, because I felt like 91��ɫ was testing my sanity. 

Now I can laugh about that, but at the moment, it felt like the end of the world. 

Making Friends Is Not as Hard as They Say. 

Many people warn you that it's hard to make friends as an adult, especially in a massive university setting. 

Surprisingly, I met one of my closest friends during my first week at 91��ɫ. We happened to be sitting opposite each other in Curtis Lecture Hall; we exchanged a quick smile and started talking, and the conversation just felt natural. 

Building a meaningful friendship takes more time as we grow older and become more selective about our circles and have standards for what types of people we could be associated with; it certainly doesn't mean it's impossible. As someone who used to be quite shy, my advice is simple: step out of your comfort zone. Join a club, volunteer for a program, or attend campus events. Sometimes, a single conversation can completely change your university experience. 

It Gets Better at Some Point.

After surviving my first semester at 91��ɫ, I finally figured out how to navigate the campus, manage my workload, actively participate in class, and balance my responsibilities. 91��ɫ started feeling less like a place I attended and more like a community where I belong. 

‘My final takeaway is that university does not just teach us what’s written in textbooks or which author said what and when. It teaches resilience, independence, and confidence. 

Looking back, I don't regret my first year at 91��ɫ, and I wouldn't have wished for it to be any easier. I simply wish I had been more prepared for the realities of adulthood and all the responsibilities that come with it, but ultimately, all these experiences have shaped who I am now. 

By Aline