Use University for Growth, Not Just Grades

It feels like it was yesterday that I first stepped foot on a KPU campus. I attended each of my classes, nervous as hell but also very excited to be there. I woke up every morning eager to learn about new techniques in narrative writing, interviewing, and other storytelling methods as part of the journalism program I’m in. And even when lectures became boring, even when I almost fell asleep in class, I learned something interesting that I could apply to my life.

We all have reasons for attending university. Maybe it’s to receive a post-secondary education in hopes of making a solid living, or maybe it’s to learn different techniques for succeeding in whatever you’re interested in. You might even be there because of the time-honoured tradition of doing what your parents tell you to do.

What motivates me to participate in class is the promise of knowledge that I’ll use for future endeavors, professional or not. In one of my journalism classes, I learned that during an interview, you have to monitor how much you are talking and how much your interview subject is talking. I often employ this lesson when I’m hanging out with my friends. Am I talking too much and preventing my friends from sharing their own stories with me, or are they talking too much and preventing me from engaging and being a part of the conversation?

Learning academic lessons isn’t the only reason I attend university. I go there to socialise, to practice my communications skills, to boost my confidence, to (slowly) overcome the introvertedness that has plagued me for a hell of a long time. Although university has established itself as a place where work is inevitable and sleep is abandoned, it is also a place where friendships are built, short and long-term. Connections are established. Experience is gained. University is a place for improvement and development of all kinds.

For almost four years, I’ve faithfully attended my classes, but even then, there are times when I get really sick of it. As a full-time student taking five courses, sometimes the pressure to do well becomes so unbearable I feel like throwing up in class.

That’s not a good look for me in front of my classmates and my teacher, so if that happens, I simply collect any assignments from the class and leave. The stress can be unreal when exam time comes around, but the end result is what matters, and it’s worth it.

Sometimes, even I doubt that my bachelor’s degree is going to mean something. These waves of pessimism aren’t uncommon; I know I’m not the only one who feels this way, but a shift in perspective will help you succeed and get your money’s worth while at school. Plus, having a bachelor’s degree helps greatly in gaining access to any market.

Even as a journalism student, I’m feeling motivated knowing that I have the rest of my life to pursue my dreams. And even if I do choose to take a different life path later on, I’ll have the lessons I learned along the way.