- Victor Ochieng’ says joining university requires more than celebrating admission; students must learn how to manage freedom, responsibility and academic demands.
- He argues that first-years should combine disciplined study with upskilling, mentorship, networking and practical exposure to prepare for life beyond campus.
- Victor also advises freshers to remain alert to harmful influences while deliberately building habits that support academic and personal growth.
Most public and private universities in Kenya have admitted first year students. In America, a first-year student is called a “freshman”. Here in Kenya, a first-year student is simply a “fresher”. As a peripatetic speaker in several schools in over 40 counties, I received avalanche of messages from both students and parents notifying me about this major milestone in academics. These are students I talked to or trained while they were in high school. Some were in our Penman Online during school holidays. Then, some of the students were beneficiaries of our What Next After KCSE Programme for Form Four Leavers. Therefore, how will “freshers” survive and thrive in universities? I thought. Just to sit, ideate, and write about: Transitioning, coping, learning, studying, upskilling and Apprentising.
- Transitioning
Now, the young adults admitted into various universities are going through an important transition period in their education. They are matriculating into universities to pursue degree and diploma programmes. Therefore, I also felicitate them for making it to that lofty level of learning. Transitioning from secondary to tertiary level of education is no mean feat. It is a great achievement worth inspiring effusive praise from the pen of a man of letters.
Ideally, university life is rife with freedom. Therefore, every “fresher”, must know that every freedom comes with responsibility. For absence of sense can lead to anti-social behaviour such as abuse of drugs, crime and immorality. In universities, first-year students may meet “gold-rush”, a dangerous phenomenon where some wayward continuing comrades take advantage of ignorance and innocence of the newbies who are “fresh” from home and high schools. So, first-year students must remain alert and vigilant. For in rituals such as “freshers’ night”, it is where some “freshers” are introduced to bad and aberrant behaviour.
- Coping
Then, university life will also be rife with challenges. There will be challenges in raising fee, managing upkeep, footing bills, paying rent, et cetera. Some challenges will be purely academic. For instance, attending long lectures, reading and researching in library, writing term papers, sitting to write exams, et cetera. Some units and courses will be challenging. So, adversity in university will call for understanding what Napoleon Hill called “The University of Hard Knocks”. In case you have read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, then you must have seen the line, every adversity, every failure, and every heartache, carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit. Through it all, comrades must cope with every challenge of course until they complete the course. Coping refers to how people handle difficult feelings, various vicissitudes, and stressors of life.
- Learning
As “freshers” join universities, they must yearn to learn and be open to the wide world of opportunities. Every first-year student must know, mortal minds of men and women are akin to umbrellas. They work well when open. Meaning, to survive and thrive in university, first-years must yearn to join and learn. Universities are fresh and fecund fountains of knowledge. Students will meet and interact with books and people with plenty of knowledge. Then, universities are not like high schools where bells blare marking brief breaks. Therefore, to survive and thrive, every first-year should develop a strong sense of self-drive and self-discipline. To thrive academically, they must attend all lectures as stipulated on the timetable. Likewise, there will be Term Papers and CATs to be written, which will contribute to the collective course work. Withal, in those Temples of Knowledge, there are libraries replete and complete with heroic books of all variety. Therefore, it will be important to create more contact hours with books: to visit the library to read, research and write right.
- Studying
In 2 Timothy 2:15, Apostle Paul of Tarsus, who inspires me so much, advised his mentee Timothy. Just to paraphrase the sacred scripture. He instructed him to study and show himself approved. A good workman that needs not to be ashamed of himself, but rightly dividing the Word of Truth. In that context, Paul the Apostle was trying to save a young pastor from dismal disgrace that follow preachers who are not serious in studying scriptures the way Bereans did it in Acts 17:11. Preachers who do not spare some time to study, can easily slide into heresy.
Likewise, “freshers” who will fail to study will suffer shame. How? By failing in exams at the end of the semester. In some instances, a comrade will be compelled to repeat a unit. Maybe, comrades who have not read will attempt to cheat. Yet, at this level of learning, consequences of compromising exam integrity will be dire. It will be disgraceful to be suspended from campus for 1,000 academic days due to lack of exams integrity. It will be a sad state of affairs to have missing marks denting graduation. Or leave the institution with weak papers that cannot give you a competitive edge, advantage. Ugh!
- Upskilling
In Proverbs 22:29, the wise man asks a quality question. Then, offers an apt response: “Do you see a man skillful in his business? He will stand before kings. He will not stand before mean and obscure men. That portion of the scripture talks about being able to upskill. Therefore, apart from discovery of in-born talents and divine-driven gifts, “freshers” should hone several stupendous skills, which will help them while in college and beyond. Again, universities and colleges will equip them with hard or technical skills. Additionally, they must strive to arrive and thrive by honing other skills such as soft skills, employability skills, transferable skills, 21st century skills, people skills, life skills, et cetera.
As I pen this piece, I am reading Grit: Why Passion and Resilience are the Secrets to Success by Angela Duckworth, a Professor of Psychology at University of Pennsylvania. So, grit is about finishing what you start, it is staying power, showing up, deliberate practice, purpose, hope, interest and effort. With effort, talent becomes a skill. Effort makes the skill productive. Talent times effort is equal to skill. Skill times effort is equal to achievement.
Therefore, it is important for “freshers” to know, people go to university to increase their chances in life, and to be open to world-wide opportunities that follow competent and confident people. Likewise, there will be acquisition of hard skills or technical skills. The number of numerous years taken in university will depend on the course and programme pursued. Then, at the tail-end of study, they are conferred with certificates during graduation, or commencement ceremonies as it is known in America. Afterwards, they should hone soft skills that can make them both valuable and employable. So that they can secure gainful employment. Or create jobs through entrepreneurship. Through it all, they say, new levels, new devils.
Still in the debate about upskilling, while still a “fresher”, it is important to start thinking about how to make money through legit ways. Advisedly, “freshers” can thrive when they discover, nurture, develop and make wise use of innate talents. Aptly put, while in university and college, you can learn a new skill that can help you make money for fees and upkeep. This will help you survive and thrive. Some simple skills that can enable you start making money. Think of skills such as copy-writing, editing, proof-reading, printing, public speaking, graphic designs, content-creation, video-editing, social media management, virtual assistance, web-designing, programming, data analysis, tutoring, academic research assistance, presentation designs, sales, digital marketing, photography, videography, event-planning, mentorship, coaching, hair-dressing, barbering, baking, et cetera.
- Apprentising
Somewhat, university life can be challenging, but with submission to apprenticeship, internship and mentorship (AIM) Programmes, the comrade can survive and thrive. In apprenticeship, a newbie or novice submits to a master or expert in a certain trade. As the beginner carries the toolbox of the experts, s/he can learn the ropes through observation and imitation. For in a heroic book titled The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, John C. Maxwell says that in the distant past, an apprentice was a name given to someone who selected a specific trade, then s/he would scout for a master in the village able to teach the useful skills needed in a chosen vocation. After learning from the local master, the apprentice would then travel to broaden the ken of knowledge. Why? Because life is a journey, not a destination. Life is a journey of self-discovery and recovery. Therefore, in case you want to know the road, you ask those who are coming back. Meaning, you look for people who have used that road for the umpteenth time.
Advisedly, for every course, there is some time set aside for internship. In the Careerpedia Volume 1 and 2, a publication of Story Moja, Muthoni Muchemi posits that in a laboratory, people put into practice what they have learnt in class from teachers and books. Therefore, she equates internship or attachment to laboratory of world of work. It precedes job placement and employment that brings enjoyment. The practical work experiences and connections that are made, are useful than money. More so, when you believe in the statement: Your network is your net worth.
READ ALSO: Climbing life’s floors: How to live wisely through your 40s, 50s and 60s
Finally, as we leap into conclusion, a mentor leads by showing a true example. A mentor does not tell you what to do, but shows you how to do it. In a heroic book titled Unstoppable: Achieving Excellence and Beyond, Rosemary Kibui and Timothy Kipchumba contend that a mentor is a trusted person who is more experienced in life that can inspire you to achieve your dreams. A mentor determines your mentality. What you fail to learn through mentorship, you may learn through experimentation. Then, in a heroic book from the Centre of Creative Leadership titled The Lessons of Experience, we read about people learn: 50% from life experiences. 20% from mentors and coaches. 20% from life failures. 10% from formal education. No wonder, no “fresher” should confuse schooling with education. More so, self-education.
By Victor Ochieng’
Victor Ochieng’ rolls out Upskilling Programmes in universities and colleges. He speaks to First-years and Continuing Comrades about How to Survive and Thrive in Universities and Colleges. He speaks to Continuing Comrades and Finalists about Soft Skills, Employability Skills and Job-Hunting Skills. He speaks during Graduation (Commencement) Ceremonies about World-Wide Opportunities. He trains University and College Comrades about Reading, Writing, Leadership and Public Speaking at the Penman Academy. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
Get more stories from our website: Education News
To write to us or offer feedback, you can reach us at: editor@educationnews.co.ke
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
