University life is quite interesting. A minute, you are naïve and just trying to get by; the next, you are worried about what you could have done better.
The truth is, nobody knows it all, and there are a lot of things most people don’t know. But “most people” does not have to include YOU.
That is why we asked four students of History and International Studies to share the things they wished they had known when they were freshmen.
Kareem Nurah said, “I wish I knew my lecturers better, their expectations, their preferences, and what I shouldn’t do.”
I wish I knew my lecturers better, their expectations, their preferences, and what I shouldn’t do.
And we totally get it. But that wasn’t the only thing she wished she had known. She added,
“I also wish I had connected with more seniors and started my business earlier too.”
For Mariam, the experience was quite different. She wished she had been more aware of the various campus activities available to students. “One thing I wish I knew as a freshman is that getting involved in campus activities and clubs can help build leadership skills and confidence.”
...Getting involved in campus activities and clubs can help build leadership skills and confidence.
At the time, she wasn’t aware of how much value those experiences could bring. She continued, “I later joined a few clubs and foundations, and that was how I realized how helpful those communities can be. I love the experience so far, but I still think it would have been better if I had joined sooner.”
Through Mariam’s story, we realized that many students, especially freshmen are unaware of the opportunities around them.
Ezekiel Iyanda, a graduate, shared a different perspective: “I wish I knew what each lecturer wanted. What Lecturer A wants is different from what Lecturer B wants. And if I wrote the same way for both, I might end up getting a low mark.”
I wish I knew what each lecturer wanted...
He went on to explain, “Some lecturers like it when you write a lot, while some don’t appreciate it. They just want you to give them exactly what they gave you. Although I knew some, I didn’t know everything, and by the time I realized it, it was already late.”
Another student, who preferred to stay anonymous, reflected on her study habits.
“I wish I knew how to read with points and not just cram,” she said. “When I was in 100 and 200 level, I didn’t know how to read properly. I just crammed, and that doesn’t really work because I don’t remember most of what I crammed. It wasn’t until 300-level, first semester, that I learned to read with points. I still cram the points, but I always make sure I understand them.”
For most undergraduates, understanding what your lecturers want often feels like a mystery, but it doesn’t have to be. Perhaps that was why Nurah said, “I wish I connected with more seniors.” She understood that seniors have already gone through the same lecturers and processes, so they can offer valuable pointers.
During our conversation with these students, we realized that the things they wished they had known as freshmen differ from person to person. For Ezekiel and Nurah, it was about understanding their lecturers better. For Mariam, it was about getting involved in extracurricular activities that could help her build her leadership skills.
Each story reminds us that university is not just about grades, it is about growth, connections, and discovering yourself along the way.
So, what do you wish you knew when you first stepped into university?
