If it’s your first time living away from home, you may be a little anxious and unsure of what to expect. With school starting in less than a month, concerns about whether you will be able to live a vibrant student life or if having one would in turn cost you your studies might have started flooding. So in this senior’s guide to living on campus, we address some worries you may have and give you some insight into what student life is really like.
Balancing student life and academics
One of the greatest things about living on campus is the community that you will be a part of. Literally living with your friends, there’s no doubt that you will be spending a lot of time with them.
However, this can be a double-edged sword as while it makes for a fun once-in-a-lifetime experience, you may also get sucked into the whole social aspect of residential life and neglect your studies.
A piece of advice would be to take advantage of those little pockets of time to get your work done, especially during the day when campus isn’t as bustling with social activity as it is in the night. Write out your goals for the semester and create a schedule centered around it to help keep you on track. Time really does fly by a lot faster when you’re living with your peers. So before the semester even begins, it is crucial to reframe your mindset so you will be able to find a balance that works for you.
On the flipside, having many connections with your peers on campus can also be beneficial towards your studies. Get to know seniors who have already gone through modules you’ve signed up for and ask for advice on how to ace them. Some charitable seniors may even pass along their own handwritten notes, so don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. After all, there are many seniors who still boast a vibrant student life all while upkeeping stellar grades.
Getting to know your neighbours
As somewhat of an analogy, living on campus almost feels like a long summer camp that lasts throughout the semester. Just like being assigned to a camp group, you never know who your batchmates might be or whether you would get along with them. But for the most part, people who stay on campus are generally a friendly bunch!
Taking the initiative to reach out is always helpful. With the convenience of living so close to your peers, you can easily plan impromptu BBQs, study together, or even have wholesome cereal parties at night. But just a tip, if you agree to accompany your friend down to the Ameen supper stretch with no intention of eating, you will probably end up getting a Milo drink and that would probably spiral into a binge fest. Monitor your habits well!
For the more reserved or those who just enjoy more alone time, it’s perfectly alright to go at your own pace. If you generally prefer making friends on a more personal basis, getting to know people one on one or through any interest groups you join, that’s fine as well. You will definitely be able to find like-minded individuals so don’t stress too much about it.
Take this precious phase of your life to appreciate the relationships with those around you. While you will have many seasonal friendships, there will also be many precious gems – and important life lessons – that will stick with you for life.
Source: Tan Cheng Bock
Final Tips
At the end of the day, your journey living on campus is what you make of it.
University life might feel like a rollercoaster ride at times – as you will definitely go through many highs and lows – but just remember that you’ll grow from all these experiences. So treasure each day as it comes as these will one day become fond memories to look back on!
Lastly, do remember to take your temperature daily and download the TraceTogether application so that we can all stay safe and united in this uncertain time.
If you would like to read more, do check out our post “How To Combat FOMO In Your Life” or follow our Instagram page (@nusresidentiallife) for more life hacks to living on campus.
