Thursday, 5 April 2012

SURVIVING CHALLENGES AT COLLEGE

LIFE AT college can be a huge challenge.
You’ll meet lots of weirdness. College mates who get drunk, high on drugs, and who stage wild sexual orgies. It’s happening right here in this country:- Penang, Johor, Kuala Lumpur – just ask around.
Planning all sorts of perversions is too easy, it’s all done through mouse clicks, or swipes on a touch-screen.
So how are you going to find time – and the right atmosphere – to actually study, work on projects and excel? That’s a tough question.
Check out these horror list and see what it takes to survive:-

Ø  Seriously study
Most courses are challenging. For many it requires a much larger effort than was required for secondary school. College squeezes about two years of lectures into one. Many students take a full 15 credit semester, while others try to cram in 18 0r even 21 credits. At times it seems impossible to keep up.
Solution: know your limits. If you cant handle 18 credit semester, stick to 15. While the purpose of college is to study, you need time to refresh the mind.

Ø  Financial issues
Fees are skyrocketing. Add in cash for eating out, shopping trips, fuel, textbooks, phone bills and it can get crazy. Many drop out each year because of financial problems. Others are forced to juggle full schedules with full-time jobs. Some college girls go to extent of selling their bodies to make it through college.
Solution: make fewer shopping trips, eat out less, carpool, and share or buy used books to try to save some money. Don’t waste money on too many pre-paid cards. Use your credit card only for emergencies.

Ø  Homesickness
You will get homesick. You’ll long for your favourite armchair, your mother’s cooking, your circle of friends, your pets. It’s a tough year.
Solution: if you live four to five hours drive from your home, plan to balik kampung perhaps once every month or two. Care packages, e-mails and phone calls to and from friends and family members can also greatly assist in reducing feelings of homesickness.

Ø  Depression
Problem: most every problem on here has seemed quite dismal. These problems raise the stress levels of students. Some find relief in partying, and others (even some who party) find themselves getting depressed from heir problems.
Solution: if high stress levels and depression are an issue, it is best to seek professional attention. Many campuses have free counseling programmes.

Ø  Health issues
Problems: With heighten levels of stress and lack of sleep, health problems can occur. Living in close quarters in dorms also poses potential health risks and increases your chance of contracting some sort of virus or other sickness.
Solution: Eat balanced meals. It is also important to get good night’s rest as well. Keeping hands, bathrooms, door knobs, and other shared spaces clean will also reduce the risk of coming down with diseases. If sickness and health issue do develop, most campuses will have a nurse on standby to provide medical assistance and advice.

Ø  Room mates
Problem: Friends and roommates are usually good for a good time. However they can get on each other’s nerves at times. Because these students are living together in close quarters and seeing each other each day, this is just not a good thing.
Solution: Students must remember to take some time out for themselves. If possible, get away from campus for a little while and go to gather thoughts and be yourself.

Ø  Relationships
Problem: Relationships are good, but at times they can become a problem. There are times in every relationship where couple will have a disagreement or issues. Disagreement with a boyfriend or girlfriend can distract you from your college work and add to already high stress levels. Break-up can drive some students further into depression.
Solution: Relationship advice is hard to give. It will usually vary from case to case. If break-ups do occur, it might be beat to consult with counselor. But the best advice usually comes from your parents.

COURTESY OF BORNEO POST WEDNESDAY MARCH 14, 2012.


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