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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 18, No. 1. March 3, 1954

Freshers Read This! — Advice To Students

page 3

Freshers Read This!

Advice To Students

Not infrequently, first-year university students find themselves worrying over their financial situation and their progress in classes. Therefore we have though it prudent to set out briefly some of the more important factors which, if borne in mind and acted upon, will save considerable disappointment and will enable the student to get the best out of himself and the conditions under which he has to study.

"Life is an adventure in experience, and when you are no longer greedy for the last drop of it, it means no more than that you have set your face, whether you know it or not, to the day when you shall depart without a backward look. Those who look backwards longingly to the end die young, at whatever age."

[unclear: Necessity] of a Well-Planned Programme.—As soon (is possible develop a tentative programme of study. This programme should be based upon the following factors: acquaintance with the main elements of many subjects: analysis of the vocational mid practical value of the various subjects; consultations with friends and teachers whose judgment you respect (the Liaison Officer at the College, Mr. Ralph Hogg, can offer considerable help in the selection of a course of study); consideration of your ability as expressed in other examinations; analysis of proper balance of emphasis among your various different types of activities, e.g., student associations, recreation, rest.

Revise this schedule regularly in order that you may obtain the maximum benefit from it.

Use Available Resources.—The Library is for your use. Use it often. Also make use of special discussions, by attending these you will further your knowledge and appreciation of the various subjects of your course. Attend tutorials. Ask questions about anything that you are not too sure about.

Arrangement of Proper Conditions for Studying.—Take care of your eyes and health: use common sense. To increase the likelihood of success, criticise the conditions under which you study, and use the most hygenic, economical and efficient metheds available.

Be Optimistic.—Do not worry unduly about examinations. Education la not the pocketing of eight or nine units of subject-matter. It is growth in appreciation, Understanding, wisdom, and character, more than it is anything else. Just do your beat, and make the best of it. Accept difficulties as challenges.

You must not only prepare to earn a living, you must also begin to live a life. Life does not start when you graduate. Graduation is a part of life. Enjoy life, make friends, enjoy learning. Get the best cultural background you can, bearing in mind, however, that occupational studies may go far toward extending your cultural horizon.

If you choose the type of work you like best, you will be happier and more efficient than you would be if restricted to less interesting work.

Financial Problems . . . ?

In many cases, students encounter the unfortunate situation of financial difficulty in seeking to advance their education. If you must work your own way and find it difficult to do so, take a smaller programme rather than sacrifice the quality of your studying. Do less and do it well.

If you must borrow, do it with the greatest discretion. It may be far better to arrange terms with the College than to plunge into private debt. Apply for scholarships and part-time employment at an early date. Applications later may be useless as far as your Immediate personal needs are concerned. You will, of course, economise, buying used copies of texts (visit the SCM bookstall during the first three days of term—make sure they are the proper editions and complete); do some real shopping before you spend your money. Few indeed arc the salesmen who will explain the deficiencies of their products; they present only the bright side. You must learn to be a cautious, practical consumer.

Conserving Funds . . .

Hints on how to conserve limited funds have been ably summarised by C. C. Crawford.

"Compare relative values of articles before you purchase. Buy necessities first, and educational necessities first of all. Don't economise by doing without books, tools, and needed class equipment. It is false economy to do so. Get good quality of goods, even though it costs more; it pays in the end. Ask the price before buying, whether you are buying goods or membership in an organisation. Pay your fixed charges, such as room and rent, in advance. Buy a reasonable supply of recreation; it is a necessity. Don't run with the rich crowd—you won't be able to keep up. Be honest and admit poverty, instead of going under false pretences. Remember where the funds that you are spending have come from. Don't raise your standard of living unless you are sure you can keep it up, because it is very hard to go back to a lower standard when once you are accustomed to a higher one. Keep busy, and you will not spend so much. Avoid unnecessary habits of spending, such as treating your friends, and eating between meals. Always keep an emergency reserve on hand; and if you have funds above the needs of the current month, keep them in the savings bank where they will be free from your cheque and will earn a small amount of interest.

"There are some specific suggestions for reducing the expenses of college life which may be worth considering at this point. Patronise second-hand book exchanges. Take good care of books so that they will bring good second-hand prices. Be careful with your books, pens and supplies, to avoid losing them. Repair things before they are ruined. 'A stitch in time saves nine'. Buy paper by the ream instead of by the tablet. Buy ink in a large-size bottle that will last you all the year. Use one loose-leaf notebook for all of your courses. Avoid waste, whatever its form and magnitude."

Conclusion . . .

The student who conscientiously does his best is almost sure to succeed; even if he does not achieve distinction, he will know that so far as he is concerned, he has grown in knowledge, power and understanding. The late loved Premier of this country, Michael Savage, in a letter addressed to the students of this college, had this to say:

"Although it is the privilege of age to give advice, it is the perogative of students not to heed it. . . . Their youthfulness and energy are to be envied, and if they could have my experience they would know the importance of making the most of the splendid chances that have come their way. ...

"University trained men and women have greater opportunity than most of acquiring the knowledge and habits of thought which make for leadership in the broadest sense of the term. "May I say with the best good will that, unfortunately, the possession of high academic degrees is not always accomplished by a well-developed social conscience, or even breadth of mind. Education at times appears to be very narrow. I have known many Intelligent people who have had no university training at all, and yet have been worth knowing, and I have met others whose great cleverness and learning were equalled only by their cocksure ignorance of the things that matter. . .

These words arc no less true today. Remember that merely attending classes offers no guarantee that you will benefit as much as you should from educational opportunities. The process of self-education is endless.

—B. C. Shaw.