Passport to Academia (Group 22)

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Passport to Academia


Academic

Embarking on the journey to university is a significant academic milestone, one that might initially appear as a daunting stepping stone. However, here are a few tips and tricks on how to overcome the initial intimidating experience, academically, socially, and emotionally.

  • One key factor to consider when transitioning to university is academic burnout. Burnout refers to a state of emotional exhaustion, depolarisation, and reduced personal achievement (Maslach et al., 2001). Students experience different types of stressors, one of them being academic stress, which refers to the stress of exams, grades, and reports (Lu, 2004). There is also research support from Lin and Huang (2014), which suggests that one of the main causes of academic burnout may be to student's inability to deal with certain life stresses. Such research indicates how students should learn to have a balance in life, where they can spend time with their family and friends, while also staying on top of their academic work. They can do this by creating to-do lists and schedules, where they plan their day and are aware of their academic deadlines.
  • Another way to make the transition to university smoother is through joining clubs and extra-curricular activities. By joining such activities, students can develop interpersonal relationships with their peers and can develop skills such as teamwork. Additionally, researchers have reported that achieving success in a particular activity that interests them enables students to develop skills such as time-management, which translates to academic work too (Lawhorn, 2008). At university, students have the opportunity to develop their transition by participating in sports clubs, academic pursuits, and cultural societies, enabling them to create new connections and participate in events, that enrich their university experience.

Social

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The transition to university is a transformative journey that extends beyond academic pursuits, significantly shaping a  student’s social landscape. This pivotal phase exposes individuals to a diverse community, challenging them to navigate newfound independence, responsibilities, and the abundance of social possibilities.

  • The study conducted by Buote et al (2007) underscores the crucial role friends play, particularly to new students. Friends not only provide a sense of belonging but also extend unwavering emotional support and tangible assistance when needed. Newfound friends also contribute to a font of joy and delight, mitigating the numerous pressures that students face while adjusting to university life.
  • Recognising the significance of cultivating new friendships in university life, the transition is heightened by the sense of reduced frequent communication with the students’ home friends, or as noted by LaGrand (1985), the grief of losing pre-university friends. Students have a sense of longing for their pre-university friends and fear they may not be able to maintain contact with them. Paul & Brier (2001) conducted a study using questionnaires with first-year university students and found that, on average, more than half of the participants experienced “friendsickness” (a term denoting the longing of pre-university friendships).
    Source
  • On another note, Kantanis (2000) discusses the immense repercussions of the inability to form social networks such as friendships. The consequences include undermining their self-confidence, inhibiting the development of their socialisation skills, and increasing their negative feelings about the institution.





Emotional

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Before stepping foot into your new home, it is completely normal to be feeling excited as well as anxious. Researcher Giddan (1988) states that a student's first year of college is one of the most challenging times an individual has to face. Here are a few tips on dealing with this new experience’s emotional side:
  • Whether you’ve had months or weeks to prepare, moving into a new place can be a daunting experience. If you start to feel overwhelmed, it’s always a good idea to talk to friends and family. You will surely find that many of your friends are going through the same thing as you. Informing your parents will also allow them to help you feel more ready. Together you can ensure all your necessities have been bought and packed. Remember that freshers’ packing lists are available on university websites and lots of fresher activities will be available during the first week to help you settle in.
  • Moving away can be harrowing, especially during the first few weeks. Joining clubs and societies is a good way to keep making friends that have similar interests to you. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and start conversations, people are much nicer than we give them credit for! It is especially important to maintain contact with family and friends. Living in an interconnected world, everyone is only a quick message away. It is also a good idea to keep comfort items at hand. Put up pictures and fill your area with keepsakes of home! This will not only give you a sense of familiarity but will also brighten up your room.


References

Buote, V. M., Pancer, S. M., Pratt, M. W., Adams, G., Birnie-Lefcovitch, S., Polivy, J., & Wintre, M. G. (2007). The importance of friends. Journal of Adolescent Research, 22(6), 665–689. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558407306344

Giddan, N. S. (1988). Community and social support for college students.

Kantanis, T. (2000). The role of social transition in students' adjustment to the first-year of university. Journal of Institutional Research, 100 - 110.


LaGrand,  L.  E.  (1985).  College  student  loss  and  response.  New  Direc-tions for Student Services, 13, 15–28.


Lawhorn, B. (2008). Extracurricular activities. Occupational Outlook Quarterly, 9, 16-21.


Lin, S.-H., & Huang, Y.-C. (2014). Life stress and academic burnout. Active Learning in Higher Education, 15(1), 77-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787413514651


Lu, Y. L. (2004). A study on the life stress and stress coping strategy of the National Taichung Teachers College students. Unpublished master‟ s thesis, National Taichung University.


Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B., & Leiter, M. P. (2001). Job Burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 397–422. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.397


Paul, E. L., & Brier, S. (2001). Friendsickness in the transition to college: Precollege predictors and college adjustment correlates. Journal of Counseling & Development, 79(1), 77–89. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2001.tb01946.x









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