1. Getting an extension for an essay or an assignment is not a train-smash

If you’re one of those goody-goody students or even the person that works right up until the last minute before the deadline, postponing your due date can still be a stressful experience. Usually I try to be up-to-date with my work but sometimes, unforeseeable events can make this impossible. If you fall ill (psychologically or physically), nothing exacerbates the pain worse than knowing you are falling behind in class. You become afraid that if you accept an extension it might affect your reputation or worse, your marks. Nevertheless, it’s better to have more time to put effort into your work because ultimately, nothing sucks more than falling short of your potential.

2. Relationships come and go

I have discovered that people usually only feature temporarily in your life. They stay for a while and leave you with valuable memories, but more often than not, they disappear back into the fog of their own lives. Whether it is a lover or a friend, losing someone close to you is always painful, especially if the reason they have left is because of an argument or dispute. Sometimes it is however better to let them go, instead of clinging onto something that has become damaged, toxic and irreparable. Of course if you feel that you can make things work, then by all means, go ahead and reconstruct what was lost, but sometimes you have to acknowledge that this is not always possible.

3. If you are away at college/university, you will miss home

No matter what kind of relationship you have with your family, it is inevitable that when you are away from them for an extended period of time, you come to appreciate the little things they do for because you no longer have them. I for one miss waking up to the sound of my baby sister playing and my cat purring. I miss the taste of expensive coffee and the work-free environment. This teaches us to appreciate what we sometimes take for granted and ultimately holds truth to the adage that says “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone”

4. Money seems to disappear faster when you’re a student

On the whole, students are largely irresponsible when it comes to matters of finance. Personally, I tend to spend my allowance on fast food because the university’s dining hall meals can be unsatisfying. Other than that, socialising can often take precedence over essentials (like toiletries). Most of my friends feel extremely guilty when they have to ask their parents for more money and for good reason too. Your twenties are a time when you’re becoming independent and relying excessively on your parents to support your partying habits, is vastly discouraging. That said, it would be advisable to get a part-time job. In this way you can at least say that you are progressing towards becoming self-reliant.

5. Doing things alone can be enjoyable too

Many of my friends have admitted to me that they struggle to be by themselves and find it exceedingly lonely. I have always enjoyed solitude but it can get a bit much sometimes. Sometimes taking yourself out to breakfast or going for a walk with your earphones in can be just as satisfying as being around other people. Obviously you don’t want to totally isolate yourself so you do need to find a balance. Allow yourself to spend quality time with your friends but ensure that you also become accustomed to your own company. As I mentioned earlier, people are not permanent fixtures and you never know when you are going to lose someone, so it is best to know how to acclimatise to functioning unaided.

6. Small towns can be claustrophobic if you’re from a city

Grahamstown (South Africa) is a tiny but beautiful location. Sometimes however, I cannot help but miss the sprawl and chaos of Durban (my hometown). Though I will always have a soft spot for this small town, the city does have its charms too. For one, a movie-theatre and two, an actual shopping mall. Sometimes it is good to be away from these material things but we can’t help but crave them too. Besides that, everyone seems to know everyone else’s business and that can be challenging if you’re a private person.

7. Politics can be highly divisive

South African universities are currently experiencing protests by their students who are demanding ‘free education for the poor’. This has exacerbated tension on campus because a rift has formed between the students that are boycotting classes and those that are insisting to continue to attending lectures. Racial conflicts have also become endemic, especially on Facebook, where users hide behind fake profiles to express their opinions and attack each other. Moral of the story: social media can be a dangerous platform.

8. Animals are undervalued

Many people know the joy of having a pet but being away from them is truly heart-breaking. I know that I cannot sacrifice my degree to be with my cat, but I do miss him terribly. Staying in residence too means that we are removed from contact with animals. Peteducation.com outlines numerous reasons why animals are beneficial to human emotional health including comforting, alleviating anxiety, relaxation, physical contact, reducing loneliness, keeping active, remaining consistent and having more and better social interactions

9. Clubbing/Partying can be overrated

Remember when you were a fresh-faced first-year eager to taste the forbidden fruit of freedom that being at home had denied you? Well, two years later and the glitz, glamour and basic novelty of it all has disintegrated into boredom. By third year, you’re more worried about completing the final laps of your degree than getting rip-roaringly drunk on the weekend. Besides that, you’ve become too old for the loud, noisy and let’s face it, sleazy nightclubs. This is not to say that you won’t go out and have a good time, but this will undoubtedly become the exception, not the rule. And it’s more likely to be a few relaxed drinks with a friend, rather than a night you can’t recall the next day.

10. It is easy to become depressed and demotivated at university

Although your college years are supposed to be the best in your life, it is safe to admit that some of those days and months can be the worst. Whether it’s the hangover (and endless puking) the next morning after too many drinks the night before or the piles of work that seem to be strangling every ounce of energy you have, university can be shitty. Sometimes you won’t want to wake up for lectures in the morning because the thought of facing the day is just too much. Just remember to allow yourself time to recover before you throw yourself into the humdrum of things again, otherwise you will run the risk of permanently damaging your mental health.