Although this article was originally intended to offer information to students arriving at college or university for the first time, much of it applies equally to those who are embarking on their first job, taking the initial steps towards your future career.
There are 8 areas to consider.
1. Getting there. Arriving at a strange and unfamiliar city is often a daunting and bewildering experience. Trains, buses and roads are crowded. It is often wise to travel with a minimum of luggage, keeping to the essentials. Carry with you a minimum of cash, it is safer in a bank. Take care of bank cards, and check before you leave home that they operate in other regions and in ATM machines.
Parents often want to accompany their children to a new location, to be sure that they settle in, and that all is well. I'm not so sure that's a good idea. You will have to fend for yourself, perhaps for the first time. My feeling is, that it is best to say your 'Good-byes' at home, and plunge in at the deep end. After all, when you think about it, most other new-comers are in the same situation, and have the same anxieties.
2. Accommodation. Most accommodation for students is shared in one way or another, often in a dormitory with several other people of more or less the same age. That in itself causes its own problems; creating your own space with little privacy, getting along with your new room-mates, and being mindful and considerate of their situation. A common concern is that you may never have undressed in front of someone else before, or feel embarrassed in communal showers. You needn't worry. In a short time it will be as much of your routine as brushing your teeth.
In a city starting work, living on your own in a rented room or small apartment, can be very lonely. You have no one to share experiences with, or to talk to. Just you, and the television. Try to find a colleague in a similar situation. Even if you're not completely compatible, at least there is someone else around on a daily basis.
3. Orientation - getting to know the campus and city.
It's well worth the time and effort to find out as much as possible about your environment in advance. Search the Internet for information e.g. Google Earth. a local map and bus time-table is often helpful. Spend some time during your first week exploring the city to find facilities and local markets. In my experience, markets are great! Apart from the fact that they are cheaper, often they are a good place to meet with local people, who will usually be pleased to welcome you into their community, and show you the best places to go.
4. Eating. I don't think that there is anything more tedious than preparing food for yourself and eating it on your own. It is usually not practical to eat out every meal, although in China, there is a magnificent range of food available on the streets and in markets, from early morning to late at night.
Canteen food on campus is often bland, unappetizing and generally poor. Planning, shopping and eating together with friends is a pleasure. Indirectly,it has a beneficial effect on study and work. People who eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, perform better, look better and feel better. Developing basic cooking skills is, in my opinion, essential. Lunch or dinner provides an excellent opportunity for communication or companionship, providing a focal point for social or business interaction.
5. Your Schedule. Getting a practical, workable schedule is a priority. Make certain that you are on the correct courses for your chosen area of study and that you are at the level that suits you. If they are wrong, then change, or talk to someone who can help.
English courses in the First Grade are often mandatory, which means that you have to attend classes whether you want to or not. It doesn't follow that your skill level in a subject, necessary equates to your level of academic ability, for a number of reasons. Most commonly is that many students have not had an environment with suitably experienced teachers. There are many resources listed in World Wide Webs and on the Ed Webs pages that can help. In short... don't skip or miss lessons. If there is a problem, talk to your teacher or tutor.
6. Social Life is as important as study. Mutual support and friendships are earned or created through relationships, co-operation and attitude. They are made with your room-mates, class-mates and others that you 'hang-out' with on a day to day basis, through sports, activities and clubs. It is important to achieve a balance between study/work and play, for you to be able to develop into a 'rounded person'. Employers are usually looking for interests which you do on your own and in groups both in and out of doors. As the expression says, ' All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy!'
7. Finances. For most moving away from home, or starting work, handling personal finances is a first-time experience. Look after your money and keep it safe. Budget (plan) for the amount you have available, divided by the number of weeks it has to last.
In the beginning, it is worth keeping a notebook of everything you spend. It's very easy, especially when you have a lot of money for the first time, to lose track of what you have spent, and where you spent it.
First,make allowances for essentials such as; travel, rent, food, and books, making sure that you keep enough money in reserve to get home at the end of the semester / term. If you need to, or want to, find a part-time job that doesn't interfere with your study time or disrupt too much, the time you have for social activities.
Beware of wonderful...spend now...pay later offers of credit from banks, and don't borrow long-term from other students. They probably are facing similar problems to you. Above all else, remember... that loans have to be repaid.
8. And finally... moving to a new study or working environment is in the top 3 most stress factors, along with divorce/marriage break-up and a visit to the dentist.
Most students worry about 3 things. They are, in order of importance; money, their grades and their family at home. Many students keep worries to themselves, without realising that more than 90% of the people they are with, are experiencing exactly the same thing.
To draw these points together, one thing is certain. It is that whether you are continuing studies away from home, or looking forward to launching your career or moving jobs - your life, and that of your f amily and friends, will never be the same again. You will survive, because you have to. You will be successful, because it drives you. However old you are, life, like language, is constantly changing.
Get organised...get going! Smile...and be happy!
Back to College...Starting Out. 2010.08.01.
