Studying is a full-time job

RUIMSIG – Professionals at Monash South Africa give advice to first-year students and university students who are repeating subjects or the year as institutions reopen.

Head of the foundation programme Frikkie Korf suggests first years implement a school/ life balance.

“Students must realise that studying is a full-time job and although socialising is important it needs to be balanced with responsibility,” he added. “This is the time when students are growing up and they are confronted by new ideas and they question themselves. First years don’t do well when they let other issues take priority,” Korf explained.

In-house counselling psychologist at the Monash South Africa Student Affairs Department, Reabetsoe Buys, explained that there are avenues where students can get help from their institutions and they should reach out if they are struggling.

To those who are repeating a year, Korf advised students to not give up.

“Studying is not always a sprint, it can be a marathon. Students should re-assess themselves and decide whether or not college is for them at this time in their life, or look at what alternative institutions exist which may help them further their studies.”

Buys said students should look back and learn from the past as it could be the wrong study method, personal issues or not being in the right course that affected the student’s studies. Korf said students should talk to their lecturers about work and studying.

“We sit in our offices thinking about how we can enable students to learn and pass, we are certainly not here because we want students to fail,” he added.

He also explained that there is a co-responsibility between students and institutions and students need to ensure they keep learning regardless of any personal problems or disruptions on campus. “Keep up, find other avenues to keep learning such as going to the library and researching online. You do not get a free day,” he explained.

You can read: What to think about before University

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