10 Goals to Achieve Before Graduation
If you’ve not done these things have you even been at University?
The closer it gets to July, the more I’m finding myself reminiscing about my time at University and wishing I could go back to first-year and do it all over again. (It’s not just because I don’t want to find a job and join the “real world”). As well as my own fond memories, I’ve talked to other final year students. From this, I’ve devised a list of the top 10 things we think all students should do before they graduate.
Pull an all-nighter in the library
It’s time to start repeating to yourself that you “work best under pressure”. We’ve all left a piece of coursework until way to close to the deadline or put off revising until a few days before the exam. It’s character building and a right of passage for any student.
Join a volunteering society
It’s easy to get caught up in the academics of University, after all, that’s the main reason you’re here. But that shouldn’t be all your university experience is.
Even if it’s just for a semester, join a volunteering society and give back to your fellow students or the wider community. You can even go abroad and make a global impact.
It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, make some great stories and it always looks good on a CV, when you realise that you’re in the unfortunate position of trying to find a graduate job in your final year (*cries quietly*).
Attend a random sports training
When else are you going to have the time and opportunity to try things like ultimate frisbee and table tennis if not at University? You may just find your calling!
Attend one random society social night
Join a pub crawl with a group of strangers, all dressed in matching, ridiculous costumes. Other than stag and hen parties, this doesn’t happen after University. Make memories, or at least take photos, and reminisce about the time you went clubbing, dressed as Gimli, with the live action role playing society.
Throw a house party
Have a throw back to the days before you were 18 and house parties were the only real option for how to spend your weekend.
You can finally humour your friend who keeps mentioning that he’s a DJ and insists on playing you his mixes. You can view this as a money saving exercise too; no cab fare, no club entrance fee, no expensive drinks at the bar. Just buy some plastic cups, borrow a speaker and you’re good to go!
(Keep your neighbours in mind, though.)
Go on a house holiday
You housemates become like a family, so why wouldn’t you want to go on holiday with them? Book the cheapest flights you can to a city in Europe and enjoy a mini-break with the people who’ve supported you through everything.
Support your university sports team
Wear your university colours, paint your face, grab some friends and a pack of cans and go cheer for your University team against their rivals. The sport you see isn’t important, it’s the atmosphere of everyone supporting the home team that matters.
Have a favourite take away shop
You’ve been on enough nights out to try every chicken, pizza and kebab shop near you. By your second year, you consider yourself somewhat of a connoisseur. You will vehemently defend your choice of takeaway shop against any indiscriminate individuals who have a different opinion. Bonus points if you have a set order or the owners recognise you.
Buy University merch
How else will your home friends know where you’ve been for the last three years? Bonus points for having a relative ask ‘which University do you attend?’ while you’re wearing more than one item of university-branded clothing.
Eat at every café on campus
Become an authority on where serves the best food for each occasion; stressful revision season, hangover days, celebrating after assignment hand-ins, etc.
(Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bneumann/3682531348)