1st year in university

I'm in my 2nd semester in one of the most prestigious university in Malaysia. I've never thought of entering University of Malaya with my bad STPM result :( Is it totally different from school?
Well, yes and no. No because you will still have many subjects to revise on. There are still subjects you like and you don't really like but you must force yourself to like it. There are still some teachers you'll need to impress...apple polishing....whatever! Yes because you can toss out your school uniform and donate it to somebody and say hello to the clothes u would like to wear everyday.

University does sound to me like a very nice place to be because you'll finally have the freedom you've always dreamt of. Just remember that you've gone through lots of hassle to be here to study and not only to celebrate your new-found freedom. You ought to take charge of your life. No one is going to be there to ground you or punish you. Your parents are there to hear your heart-cries but most of the time you'll need to solve your own problems. From friends to exam, everything is going to change.

Another new chapter of your life is about to begin and most your former classmates will head to a different direction - y'all chose different things to study and y'all have diff universities to attend. You will meet lots and lots of new people and former classmates will remain distant friends. You might feel that you do not have any best friends anymore but you've got to stay positive and go along the flow for a while. Mix with different groups of friends and you'll eventually find someone you can click with. 1st year in university is about experimenting and experiencing. University is about one big, exciting joyfride. So, just embrace the feeling of becoming a first-year student :)

Now, you finally are far away from home and you can have all those KFC, McDonalds and pizza as much as you want to. You'll probably be a very loyal customer of a particular fast-food restaurant and chances are you'll even make friends with some of the workers there. No wonder fast-food restaurant are popping out like mushrooms after the rain. 1st month KFC, 2nd month McD, 3rd month pizza and 4th month everything in between...those food will taste like Yeaskssss!!!! That will be the time you'll always call up your mom and tell her that you miss her home-cooked food so much. With 3 years or more to go, you will really need to take care of your diet. If you don't, you'll be in danger of picking up several bad habits that are snacking, sleeping and your body will be like a balloon in no time. You are what you eat and proper diet is important for your health.

Then there is this love thing in university. There's a pretty good chance university will be a place where you will have your 1st experience of getting into a serious relationship. Unfortunately, not all boys are as nice as we want them to be. The trouble with boys are they are not much fun if they are smarter than us. Try not to rush yourself into a relationship.

You are 20 and suddenly clubbing might seem like a fun way to entertain yourself. You can have fun but try not to make yourself sipping on espresso in lecture hall. Moderation is the key. Clubbing once in a blue moon is okay, everyday it will make you broke. Budget yourself. A movie on the weekend and shopping are good enough to relax and rejuvenate yourself.

In case you've forgotten, let me remind you again that you getting into university is to study. Your task is to pass all your exams and get that degree. You'll need to put of the things that will get in your way. Failure isn't an option. As much as I hated to be in some class myself and as much as I hated to admit that some lecturers do not know what they themselves are talking about, my advice for you is do not skip too many lectures or else you'll be really really sorry. You'll need to make a good impression and that will go a long way. Believe me.

In another 1 hour, I will need to head back to Kuala Lumpur again. It is going to me one of the days I am missing my family again. It's one of the moments you will appreciate them even more. You'll never missed them water until it's not there...very true...very true...