First Year Experience with UJ’s student coordinator, Ms Paulina Makibelo

Participate in orientation – a lot of your questions will be clarified.

Attend classes– students need to attend classes because not everything has been indicated in their orientation, some information regarding their modules they will receive during their first classes.

Ask for help when you need it – as they encounter issues they must ask for help and not wait until it is too late.

Make friends – befriend classmates so that when you miss out on a lesson there is a fall back and someone you can ask questions.

Explore – get involved in different programmes and clubs, that’s where you won’t feel alone. The social element is covered, it can’t be all work and no play. You can study and have a social life, you just need to find the balance.

Studying at tertiary level is a learning curve and it takes a little bit more effort before one can settle. When you find yourself in a new environment, you need to discover more about that environment.

Don’t be too hard on yourself – students may fail a module and think it is the end of the world but they can still pull up their socks and do better. They need to find the balance to adjust between the new environment, the new way of doing things and finding themselves. They are still trying to understand themselves in a new environment, and some away from home for the first time.

“Get organised and plan but at the same time it’s not all work and no play, involve yourself in activities outside of academics, that will refresh your mind and help you focus.”