A little rundown on how my Uni experience contrasts in many levels with the expectations I created from watching our favorite shows on tv
I grew up watching all the high school drama movies that we are all obsessed with, and deep in my mind I was building all these expectations of how college would be for me and I was so excited for it. Forward to the present, fourth year of university and the contrast between those films and real life couldn't be stronger.
I remember going into uni the first week and being super excited because I knew that it would be or become this amazing experience exactly the same as they show on TV. But all those expectations kind of fade away very quickly, or at least they did for me, and I never thought about them again. I guess I was drawn into being focused on studying very early on.
You kind of don’t have time to take care of other things in your life besides university. Sure, you make time to hang out with family and friends, and watch movies and cook. But you are never in control of those activities, rather they are in control of you and you make some time for them. You only truly have good proper rhythm with uni work, and it defines the time and space in your schedule where you are ‘free’. And that’s shit.
So much active listening to the teachers. In high school I feel like yes you had to listen to the teacher. But that was it. That was enough. Then you went and studied. Now in uni if you go home with notes or slides from a power point and try to study, it is almost impossible. That’s why it is so important to understand everything that the professor is explaining and keep up with the subject at an adequate pace.
Feedback. You are introduced to feedback and subjected to it. And we are not emotionally ready just yet to deal with it but the reality is that we have to, we have to be ready. At first it is quite shocking how a tutor is correcting you on your work, and as it is expected for you to change them you must learn to take that criticism very well so you can apply it for the next week. Sometimes when projects are more personal it can be tougher to receive comment, but we have no choice if we want to advance. And also, some people are just better at receiving advice than others.
You truly learn a lot of things. Which on a daily basis it may not seem like you are learning a lot, but when you go to the real world you do notice it, or even from year to year, you just know so much stuff now. And also, all the skills you develop. The skills, I mean you expected to know them at the end, but you didn’t really know that skills were acquired through practicing, So assignments basically, that you have to spend many many hours doing and that’s how you build up certain skills. By practicing.
So many classes. So many subjects. Same as in high school but now you have to keep up with all of them at the same time, and it is just like a huge organizing and time management exercise to be able to work a little on every subject every day kind of. And you spend so so many hours at home or at uni working on them.
Something very cool about uni I must add is the people. There are many different people from all over, so you get a chance to see different nationalities, cultures, attitudes, etc. And make deep connections with friends that hopefully last forever. This is also the time where you discover yourself and oh, something you don’t expect to happen in uni are the questions that every university student asks themselves every semester. Should I drop out? Why do I even study this? Do I really want to study this? Is it worth it? . But hey, that’s part of being a student and having a choice.
Of course there're the social aspects and fun and parties and weekends, but you kinda expect that perfectly. I would say that you expect that from week one, but that’s not entirely true. Friendships take time to build and fun comes around a bit later in the year, at least for me. But anyways, as that is the side that all the Hollywood movies and Netflix shows show, it is generally more expected.
But well although it is hard and a challenge, if you like what you study, it is the most rewarding experience ever and your whole life is enriched in so many new levels. Plus, this is my perception, but everyone has a different and personal view.
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