Written by Malcolm Camilleri
Change is coming your way!
Being accepted as a student at the University of Malta is a great accomplishment, it is something to be proud of as you are one step closer to your dream career!
Nonetheless, this accomplishment brings along with it multiple changes; a new campus, a new method of assessment, new lecturers, new friends, and most of all a new learning platform. These might be overwhelming to most, and it is quite understandable. Self-doubt, anxiety, insecurity, and fear are commonly reported by those who engage in long-term change.
The below are a few tips which could help prepare you for University life, and most can be applied throughout the whole course.
Do not compare yourself to others
Although it might be a hard pill to swallow, there will always be someone who is better, faster, or smarter than you. Therefore, self-judgment should be based on personal growth and development, rather than comparing yourself to classmates’ progress. Life is not a race, some skills might be harder to develop for some, but as long as the effort is put in and improvement is attained one would be successfully progressing towards achieving the specific goal.
Document accomplishments
It is common to disregard or forget accomplishments, and instead dive right into the next task. Sometimes we do not even notice that we have accomplished something, and a lecturer or classmate might have to point it out. As cheesy as it sounds, journaling or documenting accomplishments allow you to monitor your self-growth. While down the road, describing your and others’ reactions to its completion could remind you of your accomplishment’s significance. Additionally, taking note of meaningful compliments said by others could also be beneficial, especially for those who struggle with self-acknowledgment.
Upturn downfalls
With an elevated volume and complexity of material to learn in various study units, it is normal to struggle with keeping up, especially in the first few weeks. While it is suggested to attend lectures and revise, lecturers might ask you questions that you might not know how to answer, this is perfectly normal and most probably the rest of the class would not have been able answer it either. In such a scenario it is suggested to be honest, admit that you do not know the answer. Upturn this scenario by creating a learning opportunity by; offering to look it up and perform further research at home. Later on when employed, researching when in doubt would be the responsible thing to do, as dishonesty can have negative impacts on clients.
Live your life
University will take up a significant amount of time with a research component, further to classes. Hence, it is important to remember that you are not only a University student, but also a friend, a sibling, an athlete, and a professional bathroom singer. Excellent time management is key to balancing the different aspects of life and preventing burnout at University. We at MHSA also suggest joining a student organisation or attending University-related events, as they make your overall University experience more worthwhile.
Should you feel that you are hesitant to join or are not coping well at University, kindly contact the University of Malta’s Counselling Service on counselling@um.edu.mt or on + 356 2340 2235. Their service includes a 15minute intake session, followed by a maximum of 15 complementary sessions.
cover image: taken by Gabriel Cassar
