The practice of looking back in hindsight is very much a case of fifty-fifty. Sometimes, one
tends to recall past memories with fondness and joy, but one can also experience feelings of grief, regret, and/or embarrassment. Many people dismiss hindsight as an exercise in futility with a lot of “would have/could have/should have.” That being said, looking back also allows the individual to gain a perspective on what they’ve gone through. This is especially true with regards to education.
University is certainly no exception.
As a mature student, it is interesting to be able to return to my alma mater; the University of New Brunswick- Saint John (Class of 2011). While I’m not teaching English as a Second
Language to resident newcomers, my current focus is taking upper-level courses to prepare for a Masters’ Degree in English literature. Granted, some things have changed a great deal in recent years. These include the demolition of the old Ward Chipman Library building,
construction on the Health Sciences facility, several trees being planted in the quad,
expansions to the parking lot, and recent graduation pictures in the underground corridor. Several professors and staff have long since retired, but some of my former instructors are still here. Furthermore, the passage of time also helped me realize some important truths that I didn’t realize back then.
Now in my thirties (groan), I am able to put some distance between my university years and the present day. The undergraduate years are quite a transformative process for students. One can have a blast, or one might have times of struggle and hardship. Everyone feels sentiments of anxiety, uncertainty, and trepidation for many reasons. Perhaps it is due to the stress of the class schedule or preparing for a midterm test. Other reasons might be nervousness over impending exams, selecting a major, or not getting enough sleep at night to recharge the brain and body (a feeling I know all too well). However, some core basic truths are universal to the college student experience.
First, one comes to realize that college is not going to be like high school at all. During the first years of high school, one’s schedule has already been arranged, and students don’t get much say about their courses. As an undergraduate freshman, the student has to realize what courses they need and which courses they really want to take. It will help decide what major to declare by the second year. By the third and fourth year, the individual should be settled into their routine as a student and going through the motions. At least, that is the idea.
Second, everyone is treated like an adult in university. The professors are not there to babysit; they’re there to do a job. Students are expected to attend lectures and take notes. Yes, that is a given and one to be expected. If one is paying to attend college, it only makes sense that they actually go to class and put the work in. Furthermore, the student has to be responsible for any notes or events they might have missed on a day of absence.
Thirdly, one must choose courses carefully and declare a major wisely. A typical university
student should not sign up for certain classes just because their best friends are enrolled in
them. This is a very common mistake that freshmen tend to make during their first semester of university. It is also important to make sure one has all the required core courses completed during the first two years of study. When choosing a major, double-major, or a major and minor, the student should reflect on whether or not they are set to declare such- and if all the main criteria are fulfilled. Based on personal experience, this writer took more history courses than English courses in his first year and a half at UNB Saint John. As a result, the third year consisted of several English classes to match up with the level of history classes already undertaken for a double-major degree.
Finally, it is important to prepare well in advance. The average semester goes by swiftly, and tests and midterms crop up quickly. Students ought to start studying for tests at least a week in advance, especially if there is a wealth of material to cover. Ideally, one should prepare for finals in the two weeks leading up to examinations. By splitting up the material over multiple days, it is relatively easy to cover all the notes and supplementary reading without any hassles. Should the professor give a final essay instead of an examination, this writer recommends students start mapping their outlines well in advance during the semester. Leaving the essay writing to the last minute is a risky and even dangerous venture to attempt.
Looking back, I enjoyed doing my undergraduate years at UNB Saint John. I could have easily applied to one of the Ivy League schools, but I do not feel that would have been a good fit for me. Such universities have classes of hundreds, and the typical Ivy League student tends to feel like a statistic or number rather than an actual person. At UNB Saint John, the atmosphere feels very much like a community where everyone tends to known everybody else. In the city of Saint John, the university is very much a small community in itself.
Hopefully, the freshman of this year (and the future Class of 2028) will feel the same way. Yes, there will be struggles and hardships- mostly due to late nights studying, working on term papers, and bracing for mid-terms and final examinations. Perhaps there will be frustration over having to rewrite essays or research more materials for bibliographies. Or maybe finding an ideal parking space will cause one to become annoyed with the amount of walking to class time. Don’t worry: you’ll find a way to make it through. I managed to turn out alright in the end.
So can you.
