Being a student is not an easy task, as first, you need to give your board exams in class 10, then choose the right stream, again give board exams of class 12, followed by entrance exams for college. By the time students land up in college, they have no idea about how their college would be, the pros and cons, etc.
College is like a whole new world with new adventures, leaving behind the comforts of school. College life is one of the most memorable periods of every student’s life, as it is known for its fun atmosphere and chill vibes. But it’s not always rainbows and sunshine as you step into a whole new world with its own consequences, you will face challenges and problems that you have never experienced before in your school life. This is why to keep you prepared in advance, we have prepared a list of the 5 most common problems students face during their college life along with their solutions.
- Choosing a Major in College
- Socializing & Making New Friends
- Maintaining a Health Diet
- Time Management
- Living with a Flatmate
So, let’s go through these 5 challenges in detail along with solutions to overcome them:
1. Choosing a Major in College
Choosing the right major is one of the most difficult decisions a student has to make, so they seek out suggestions and guidance from their friends, family, and teachers. It is crucial because it will have a direct impact on your future career, the money you will make, and how far you would go in your career. However, a lot of students end up choosing the wrong career
How to overcome
Seek professional career guidance from teachers or career experts. But at the end of the day, it’s your life, so you should ask yourself, what you really want to do or what do you enjoy doing the most. It’s okay if you are unsure about the major as a lot of students graduate with a different major and pursue masters in different fields. Your main focus should be getting knowledge and experience.
2. Socializing & Making New Friends
In school, you have been with your classmates for a long time and grown together, so it feels like a second home. But when you end up in a college where you don’t know even a single soul, things get twisted. Being in a new environment surrounded by unknown people may trigger your anxiety, make you feel intimated and vulnerable. But you know what? You’re not alone, all those people with you have exactly the same thoughts in your mind.
How to Handle:
Even if you’re shy or an introvert, you need to come out of your bubble. Approaching people you don’t know may seem daunting at first but don’t be afraid to say greet someone. After a while you will realize how easy it is to make friends, it will also boost your confidence. You can also join various clubs in school to meet like-minded people as there are multiple types of groups in colleges including drama, music, dance, art, etc.
3. Maintaining A Healthy Diet
Many college-going students will agree to this, that eating healthy is a big challenge when you’re in college because many colleges have a cafeteria, and there are eating joints, cafes, and restaurants nearby. It becomes very difficult to not get carried away, especially when it comes to those who are staying away from their families. They don’t get the time to buy groceries or prepare meals every day, so they get heavily dependant on fast food and processes food. This in the long run affects healthy in a rather negative way.
How to handle:
If you’re staying away from your family then the first way to get enough nutrition would be by planning your meals in advance. If you have a kitchen or fridge, you can cut your vegetables on weekends in advance and cook some meals that will last you for 2-3 days. You can also include fruits and vegetable salads so that they’re easy to make and filling at the same time. Keep your fridge stuffed with eggs, brown bread, and dressings, so that you can make a sandwich anytime you want. There are also tiffin options, which provide home-cooked meals at a decent price. Also if you have a friend who stays in the same city, you can ask them to bring home-cooked meals a few times a week. A lot of students binge eat while studying so you can also keep healthy options like protein bars, muesli, rice, and wheat chips, they’re any day better than potato chips and chocolates.
4. Time Management
College life can be a hassle as students have to attend lectures, make projects, participate in extracurricular activities and also stay active in social life. With all these things students may feel overwhelmed and may need more time to perform all these tasks. A lot of students end up missing classes, dropping out of the course, and scoring poor marks. But if you manage your time in the right way, it might turn out to be a cakewalk.
Here’s how to deal with it:
It is okay to have fun and make memories in college but it’s not okay to be ignorant towards your studies. You have to understand that you can’t do so many things in so little time, so you should manage your time wisely. Make a list of your priorities and cut out anything that you don’t see yourself doing for at least the next few months. Devote some time to indulge in me-time and relaxation to keep your creative juices flowing.
5. Living With A Flatmate Or Roommate
Living with someone can be fun, especially if they’re your friend but it can be a trip to hell if you don’t get along with them. A lot of roommates/flatmates are insensitive and do not respect boundaries, it could be anything from using the other person’s things without asking, eating their food, playing loud music, not cleaning and the list goes on. However, these things can have a negative impact on your life be it personal or academic.
How to Overcome:
Try to stay alone, or if it’s not possible then be a little more assertive than your regular self. Set boundaries for what’s acceptable and what’s not, if you don’t like sharing your stuff tell them on the first day itself. Negotiation, diplomacy, and compromise are the things that will help you in dealing with difficult people. Also, practice what you preach, if you have problems if he/she uses your stuff whereas you also do the same, then getting angry on the same issue won’t be justified.
I believe you find each of these tips useful and remember that every challenge that you face in life will help you in preparing for the future to become a better person.
