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A Guide to Becoming a Student

How to excel in your education

By RiPublished 5 years ago 9 min read
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Photo by Jazmine Quaynor (Unsplash)

University isn't for everyone. University isn't the only way you can do great things and become financially stable. However, for some individuals higher education is what they feel is right for them—whatever the reason behind this may be, this one is for you.

So, 'what's it really like to be a student?' you ask. Well, it means all the boring stuff—hard work, long days and nights, sadness and happiness etc, etc. On the flip side, though, there are accomplishments, challenges, friendships, and finally, growing up. These are actually really important, it's what shapes you, and can help you become the best student you want to be! However, what it really means to be a student is the work you put in.

If you're reading this, I will trust my instincts and assume that you've either pondered about the idea of higher education, or that you've now made the decision to apply for university... or you're thinking of going back into education, have accepted your place, or are about to start soon. Whatever your situation is, I'm here to tell you—it'll be okay. Trust me, I know. I've been there and survived. Prior to becoming a real student of life and entering the world of university, I had no idea how to do it—how to ‘student’. There is no right or wrong way to be a student, and so, this is merely a helpful guide or push to help you feel a little less stuck. I know I was stuck in limbo—between the feelings of being excited and nervous. This left me in a state of 'I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!! HOW DO I DO THIS?! WHAT DO I DO NOW?'.

There are many things that come into play that will help you be the best you, and the best student, and how you can use these to your advantages. Not just in your studies, but in life. These include your well-being, organisation, goals, and your attitude.

Well-Being

Higher education can be intense, especially for new, young students. It’s imperative that you look after yourself! In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, well-being covers both the basic needs and psychological needs.

Basic needs include your physiological needs. These are food, water, warmth, and rest. This lies at the bottom of the pyramid. You must look after yourself, and ensure that you are not giving yourself a hard time. Make sure you are having a balanced diet, enough rest. If you feel physically ill or mentally unwell, listen to your body, and take this as a sign to take time off to recuperate. Without having the basic needs met, you will struggle to complete tasks to the best of your ability. If you aren’t your best self, how can you produce the best work?

The second tier that well-being covers are your psychological needs. These are the feelings of belonging and love needs. To look after your whole well-being is to look after the physical, mental, and emotional facets of it. Learn how to balance work and play. A routine is a good shout. Your body and mind will get used to it and know when the right time is to work, sleep and socialise. If anything jogs that routine up, you’ll be sure to realise that too. This allows you to have a clearer judgement on what has affected you, and you can address the issue. For example, if you are finding that you have a routine of sleeping at 11 PM and wake up at 7 AM, but one day you are sleep deprived, and the next day you find that all day you have been really snappy with your colleagues, it’ll be easier to realise that it may have been due to lack of sleep the night before. Thus, making it easier to see what you can do to solve that issue.

Balancing work and play can be hard sometimes, so making sure to take time off for yourself is key. Self-care can be done in a multitude of different ways, such as: physical, emotional, spiritual, personal, social, pampering, and even cleaning! Just find the best one that suits you at the time. More often than not, when looking after your well-being with self-care methods, you are killing two birds with one stone. For example, a personal self-care method for you could be to see a good friend, this also strengthens your psychological needs for belonging and love needs. Great huh?

If there is anything you must look after, it is your well-being. This comes first above anything else; you can’t expect to do your best if you aren’t your best self. Whether you need to take a day off or two, or suspend your studies for a year to look after yourself. Have no shame, OWN it! So, whatever it is you need to do to help you cope or manage it healthily, just do it.

Goals

We all have goals in life. Whether they’re small or big, they’re still goals that we want to achieve. We have goals in every aspect of our lives, may it be for our health, career, relationships to traveling, designing your own house, but for this purpose, we’re thinking of goals in your studies and future job. You might have big dreams for the future, a lifelong career you want, or you may have smaller dreams, for now, to graduate with a good grade.

Remind yourself why you considered attending university or college. Think of the bigger goals you have in relation to your studies and career. Once you have established this, write it down, and write the process to achieve this goal. Never lose sight of the goal. Work your way through that process, and make progress. Do some research, and add to how you can progress with the process of reaching your goal. For example, if you want to be a psychologist, your first step is to enroll in an accredited bachelor’s degree course followed by gaining work experience, etc, etc. Whenever you are faced with challenges, remind yourself of this goal.

To have a goal is to have meaning in the things you do. You will have self-inspiration and motivation. Another tip would be to have small goals in place to reach your ultimate goal, try setting yourself goals for achieving a good grade on essays. Having these goals set in place will keep you on track in achieving them.

Organisation

So, you’ve made it here, meaning that your well-being is looked after, and you have goals set in place. Well, to be able to crack on with being a student, you need to be somewhat organised. There’s no need to go full-blown, perfectionist-type organised. As long as you have a system that works for you and helps you, you’re more than good to go!

I would suggest, however, that at least having two notebooks will be useful. One for taking notes in in your lectures, seminars and workshops, and one for dates, deadlines, and your timetable. Even those who think they are not at all organised, do have some organisation skills. So, don’t fret, you’ll be alright!

To be organised, it is in relation to everything. Organised with your assignments, revision, to-do lists as well as your day-to-day activities from scheduling in time for friends, dinner, and a good night’s sleep. If thinking about being organised stresses you out, that’s alright. Think of it this way, it helps you. No need to put extra pressure on yourself to do things by a set time. Instead set yourself some goals, at least five things you need to do in the day or, the week. Allow yourself time, and be flexible with it. As long as it is done successfully, you’re the student you’ve always wanted to be!

Some tips are to work on one task at a time, and don’t multitask. Despite your aim of getting more things done at the same time, this actually takes longer. It’s more hassle, and you lose proper focus as you’re trying to pay attention to multiple things at once. Another tip is to create your own deadline prior to the actual deadline, this way you give yourself time to proofread work, and relax whilst everyone else is working the night before.

Being organised and having the skills for it will serve you in everything in life. From being a university student to an employee and for yourself. It is a well-desired skill for companies and employers, and will serve you well as it relieves the pressure of having to work on things all at once right before a deadline.

Attitude

Now, the last thing you need to become a student is the right attitude and mindset.

These are the components to be a well prepared and willing student—among all the other simultaneously great, boring, and amazing stuff! Don’t get caught up in the whirlwind of things. You will be surrounded by a plethora of other students, but you are all on different paths. Do not let someone else’s success make you doubt your abilities. As long as you have the foundations: managing your well-being, being organised, have achievable grades and a great attitude—you will harvest the fruits of your labour, sooner or later. Hard work really does pay off.

We all have values that we cherish, if these values are stepped over then we start to feel our boundaries being crossed. Remember what your values are, and this is what helps with your attitude. For example, if you value honesty, compassion, determination, and challenge then this will influence you to possess a positive attitude towards studying. This is because you like a challenge, and university will challenge you in so many different areas, i.e. socially, mentally, and physically etc. Moreover, if you value compassion you are more likely to be kinder to yourself when the going gets tough at university. You get the idea!

Having the right mindset about studying is one of the foundations to help build your accomplishment of achieving that degree. Without this, you might start to see yourself crumble under pressure, and unable to keep yourself afloat when things become stressful. With all of that said, good luck to you and your studies!

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About the Creator

Ri

I am a final year BSc Forensic Psychology student. I enjoy making art, scrapbooking and journaling! I often blog about university, student life, mental well-being and books!

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