For some people, high school was a terrible experience that they couldn’t wait to leave, to others it is one of the best times of their life, but for most of us it somewhere in-between.  Regardless of your experience, when you’re in grade twelve you are the top of the high school food chain. Teachers treat you as an adult, they are more willing to joke with you and talk to you as they would a peer.  Younger students idolize you, they want your advice and input and sometimes they just want to talk to you just to tell their friends that they did.  You may have formed many friendships, or just a few but these people now feel like your second family.  They are your support network, and a lot of the time they are the people that know the real you.  People who you feel love you for you, free of judgment.  At this time in your life, you probably have moved forward and excelled in your hobbies (whether it be volunteering, art, drama, sports, student politics, academics). You may have gained some recognition, big (awards, public recognition) or small (family and friends noticing your skills in a particular area).  You have built yourself a life, not free of drama or problems (whose ever is?) but a life you are comfortable with. By the end of grade 12, you get this big ego boost. You got into the post secondary institution of your choice, everyone is telling you that you made it! You finished your long journey through high school. You get to go to prom! And it seems that, if just for a second, everyone in the grade unites for that final dance and the fighting stops.  You have made it! You passed a milestone into adulthood and graduated high school.

Coming off of this high that comes from knowing you have accomplished something great, you enter university/college/trade school (or whatever you choose to pursue).  The first thing that hits is this feeling of being nothing but a number, as you watch the masses of students on campus run around and to make it to class. In a lot of schools,   they will give you a number that becomes your name (at least to the school you are attending).  It has the ability to make you feel very small and not worth very much.  You may that perceive that people are better than you in things you thought you were the best at.  If you always excelled at school, you’ll notice the geniuses in you class. If you were always the most artistic one, you’ll notice a better artist.  It’s even easier to give into these perceptions when you are feeling lost and alone without the complete support of your physical friends.  Add this on with the faster paces of harder classes with little extra help readily available, and you have a recipe for a lot of stress.

I know all about this stress, I was there.   I let it get to me, I let it break down my self esteem and cause me to almost fail out of school in first year.  But with all life’s bumps I learnt something, something I wish to share with all of you looking to further your education.   Although I know all your stories are different and your experience may be different I hope that one of these points will help you make the transition a little easier for yourself or someone you know.

1)      It’s important to remember that you are special and unique, and that these are just perceptions. While you may never be the best at something, you are awesome at a combination of things and that combination is unique to you. 

2)      Remember that your friends still love you, and although university is a time for exploration and change, they are still your friends.  Call them.  Reach out for help from them. 

3)      Post secondary schools are full of resources but don’t advertise them well. Find the resources.  Therapy and tutoring exists on most campuses free of charge and it can be a comforting resource to know about even if you don’t use it. Professors have office hours, as well as teaching assistants that are available or in person to answer all your questionsJ.

4)      Remember who you are and who you want to be.  Moving away from home it’s easy to lose who you were. And that’s fine, as long as you become someone you want to be.  It’s too easy in post secondary to get sucked into the partying, and the drama. If this isn’t who you want to be, be weary of it. Try the parties, listen to some of the drama but always remember why you are there. You are trying to figure out what your career will be, even if it’s not what you originally enrolled in.  You need to have fun, but always remember you are there for school.  ( I am well aware this makes me sound like your mother but I learnt the hard way that this is very very true)

5)      Make new friends! You are going to meet a lot of new people. To give you an idea, my Facebook friends went from 130 to almost 700 while in university.  Be excited for that! You will get to meet these amazing people with awesome experiences. You will share laughter and tears over long all nighters (errr I mean well times study sessions weeks before something is due…. Right who am I kidding?). Don’t forget to keep your friends from home! As the song goes “make new friends but keep the old, one is sliver and the other’s gold”.  Post secondary proves to you who you have strong bonds with, you might lose some high school friends, but your bonds with the friends you do keep will be stronger than ever.  Always remember, if someone brings more negativity to your life than positivity, it might be time to have a little chat with them or turn them out of your life completely.

6)      Study!  Post secondary seems easier, since classes are optional (but advised, also it helps in meeting cute people in your program) and no one is yelling at you to hand in homework. You need to prep yourself for the increasing work load (calendars and making friends in classes I am taking really help me). Prepare for everything to happen in the same week or day, as post secondary schools usually don’t try and schedule what will be best for the students.  I find it best to study with someone else, because it gives you someone to compete with.  If they read three chapters, well you will feel an extra boost of energy to beat them.

7)      Get involved, it’s a great way to meet people. Most people have hobbies, and most schools have clubs that represent the hobby. Join the club! It’s a great way to be exposed to people who share your interests.  As with everything, don’t overdo it.  ( I feel this statement is slightly ironic coming from me :P)

8)      Don’t forget your health and sleep. Post secondary can be nuts, with the parties, the studying, the pranks (yes, if you live in residence lock your doors :P) etc.  Don’t forget to take care of you! An A average isn’t good if it lands you in a hospital.  So take the time to relax, watch some TV and get sleep. (I sound like my mom again, sorry guys).

Post secondary is an amazing experience, full of highs and lows. You grow so much, and learn a lot about yourself. You form amazing relationships with your peers and professors. And trust me, it will give you a lot of fun stories you can tell your kids one day. So don’t fear it. But know it’s different, it’s big, but it’s waiting for you to conquer it.

 YOU CAN DO IT J!!

(P.s.  I graduate this year!)

-by Alicia