1. No one knows what they’re doing

It’s okay to have no idea what’s going on. It’s okay to feel a bit anxious and lost sometimes. I don’t mean the I-don’t-know-my-way-around-Kelburn lost (although that is valid too and is something I deeply relate to). I mean more the I-don’t-know-what-I’m-doing-with-my-life lost.

Social media has given us this warped idea that everyone around us is leading the best lives imaginable. This is simply not the case. Example: sure, I did enjoy brunch with friends which I captioned “Okay food with great company”. But at the end of that same day, I also laid on the floor crying because I didn’t know what to write for my FCOM 111 (Government, Law and Business) essay. Should’ve captioned that “#assignmentgoals”.

Uni is a whirlwind experience of emotions. No one has any idea what’s going on. Almost everyone is sleep deprived or running on insane amounts of caffeine. I’m here to tell you that’s okay. We’re all on our own journey and university is about enjoying the ride. We can worry about the destination when we get there.

First-year me was too engrossed in figuring out my ten-year plan that I forgot to live in the present. I forgot that part of the reason I came to uni was to expand my horizons and have some fun.

2. It’s okay to change your major—embrace it

I remember in my first week of uni I was sitting in a lecture and the lecturer mentioned how 75% of students changed their major. I scoffed. Wow, these losers don’t really know what they’re doing, eh? That sure won’t be me.

Turns out I was one of those ‘losers’. Halfway through Trimester 2, I enjoyed Introduction to Information Systems (INFO 101) so much I changed my major to Information Systems. I came to uni dead set thinking I was going to double major in Accounting and Commercial Law and be an accountant for the rest of my life. I came in thinking I would graduate with a BCom in Accounting and Commercial Law, but here I was coding.

The BCom is the perfect degree if you don’t know what your end goal is. Since you take the seven core required courses, you get exposed to so many different things you may not have even considered. This was certainly the case for me. Did high school me ever think I would be interested in coding? Heck no! Yet, I found out I was. Changing your major isn’t as scary as it may seem. It’s a completely normal process for most of us.

3. Do your readings and go to tutorials

You probably rolled your eyes reading that. Hear me out. I too sometimes struggled to finish a reading the night before, and maybe, just maybe, didn’t finish. I’ve been there. But the tutorials aren’t just an add-on for the sake of it, on top of lectures.

Not only are they an important way to cement learning from lectures—thereby helping you out down the track when you start studying for exams—but they also give you practical application for your new knowledge.

Tutorials are also a really good way to meet new people in what can seem like a huge place. So many people make great friends in tutorials. It’s a chance to get to know people in smaller groups.

4. Get involved and don’t be afraid to try new things

The most important thing I will tell you from personal experience: get involved. This is the best time to explore and learn more about yourself. If I told my high school self, I was going to be president of the Commerce Society at university one day, she wouldn’t have believed me. Heck, first year me wouldn’t have believed it either. There are so many opportunities available to learn and grow. Make the most of them while you’re here because it’s unlikely you’ll ever get the opportunity to try so many things out for free again.

I’ll let you in on a little secret: I’ve graduated and I’m still not 100% sure what I’m doing with the rest of my life. My approach while I was studying was to make the most of all the opportunities presented to me. Attend all those networking events, learn as much about the companies and organisations you want to work for as you can. You don’t need to have every aspect of your life figured out. Trust me, even 50-year-olds don’t (source: my Dad).

What’s important is knowing who you are and what you stand for. Once you know your values, finding a career which aligns with them will hopefully be a piece of cake. And how do you find your values? By getting involved at uni! There are so many clubs to get involved with on campus (over 150!) and something for every person. If you’re reading this, then may I suggest perhaps *ahem* the Victoria University of Wellington Commerce Students Society. Yes. Of course, there was going to be a plug here.

5. Ask for help if you need it!

I said before it’s normal to feel a bit lost and to experience some challenges around your first year of study, including but not limited to: getting assignments done, managing money, relationships and friendships, the whole thing.

Of course, we are our own cheerleaders, but sometimes we need some support to keep waving our pom-poms and meeting those deadlines. You never need to handle things alone and you name it, there is support for it at the University.

From academic advice to managing your finances, you can get heaps of hands-on support and of course, there is help for your mental health too at Mauri Ora Student Health and Counselling.

Fatima completed her Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) and now works for Deloitte. She was president of the Victoria University of Wellington Commerce Students’ Society (VicCom), the representative body for Wellington School of Business and Government students.