As final grades loom around the corner, most of us are finishing up exams. Messy rooms, messy mental states, dreaming about freedom, and being tired of doomscrolling; we find ourselves at the end of another semester. Although I’ve only survived two semesters so far, I have learned quite a bit from them and, more generally, from life. University is a whole new environment compared to high school, whether that be because of the events, people, or just the atmosphere.
In September of 2025, there I was, getting off my bus and heading to my first class at university. With my phone gripped in one hand and my nerves in the other, I kept looking down at my timetable, even though I knew my class number and building. And now? I walk to my lecture halls like it’s second nature: no double-checking, just instinct. Unfortunately, I’ve carried this attitude to various other places at university, like the bathrooms. I almost walked into the men’s bathroom because I didn’t check the sign and assumed I was walking in the right place. Take this as a sign to keep checking, just in case!
Although I do not have the multicultural friend group to sit on the grass and drink boba with, I’ve met some amazing people here who have transformed me in many ways. Some people made me realize what I should prioritize in a friendship, and others introduced me to new ways of thinking or study habits. Some inspired me to do better, while others enabled me in my procrastination. I’ve encountered people I can send a quick text and have the best time with. People I can study or laugh with. People I can have a deep talk or reflect with.
Many first years have found their group of friends or at least their kind of people. They know they have someone to walk with as soon as they step on campus and until they leave. Others flutter quietly through campus with no one holding their hand, disappearing without anyone knowing they were here. It’s funny, but I am both. More so, the latter. I do hope that you find people who give you a shimmer of hope on a dark, cloudy day at UTM.
Even if you see people always posting on social media about their hangouts and parties they go to, I assure you, the grass is always greener on the other side. You can post your friends, but a few months later, you might fall out with them. Honestly, with the amount of freedom one has in university, being on my own has allowed me to focus on my goals a bit more. Or at least, it has taught me the importance of prioritizing my values and time. I genuinely believe that spending every day on campus with your friends, having fun, can be a bit detrimental to certain aspects of your life. Especially studying. If you didn’t have to do some last-minute studying before a test or write an essay two days before it was due, did you really have the first-year uni experience? All jokes, but I sure do applaud you for being an organized student. At least it’s taught me what I will not be doing in second year: doomscrolling. Because that had to be the main reason my responsibilities were pushed till the due date, sigh.
Also, my money was always spent on the overpriced food and random markets at uni. Did I really need the Lucario Pokémon card? No. Did I need to eat the Blind Duck wings on sale? Not really, but both activities gave me immense joy! Will I be watching my spending habits more in second year? Yes. Hopefully so.
Lastly, I love the clubs at university. As someone who leaves campus after 3 p.m., I’ve somehow managed to get involved with what works for my schedule. From writing to being a volunteer tour guide to applying for job interviews and barely attending campus events. I can confidently say that there is a space on campus for everyone. And if you don’t have a space, you can always make one.
Perhaps take a moment to stop and notice how far you have come! Since September, you have surely grown! You have laughed and cried and lived throughout the times you thought you were cooked. If you are still cooked, that’s even more amazing because you are getting the peak uni experience. Plus, once the stress is over, at least the flowers will start blossoming on campus again, and aesthetic fits will be worn. We got this :)
