Okay so you know how we’re grinding through lectures, essays, the whole uni shebang, right? We’re stacking up that degree, which is awesome and provides a solid academic foundation. Alongside this, we’re also figuring out the real world stuff that helps us thrive after graduation. It’s like, uni gives us the core knowledge, and then we actively build our own toolkit for navigating life’s adventures. I’m talking about those skills that complement our academic learning and are totally crucial for what comes next.

One of the big areas we develop is communication. Through presentations and discussions in our courses, we definitely learn to articulate our ideas. And as we move forward, we also learn the nuances of having different kinds of conversations, whether it’s connecting with future colleagues or explaining our field to someone new. As students, we can actively seek out opportunities to practice this joining communication focused clubs, volunteering to present, and even working on our listening skills in everyday conversations.

Then there’s the whole area of personal finance. Our studies give us valuable frameworks, and as we approach graduation, we also start to focus on the practical side of managing our resources. Universities often provide helpful workshops on budgeting and investing, and there are tons of great resources out there to help us get to grips with things like student loans and understanding finances. As students, we can take advantage of these university resources, explore online learning platforms, and even connect with mentors or older peers who have financial experience. It’s all part of our ongoing learning journey.

Problem-solving is another skill we’re constantly honing. Our academic work challenges us to think critically, and as we encounter different situations in our lives and future careers, we further develop our ability to analyze things and find effective approaches. University provides a great training ground for analytical thinking, and then we build on that by tackling diverse challenges and learning to adapt. As students, we can engage in extracurricular projects, participate in case study competitions if offered, and even take on leadership roles in clubs to practice tackling complex situations.

And when it comes to understanding ourselves and others, our university experience offers so many opportunities for growth. Working in teams, collaborating on projects, and interacting with a diverse group of people helps us develop our emotional intelligence. Reflecting on our own experiences and trying to understand different perspectives are things we naturally do as we navigate university life. As students, we can be mindful of our interactions, actively listen to our peers, and even consider volunteering or joining peer support initiatives to further develop our empathy and skills.

Ultimately, our time at university provides us with a fantastic foundation, and alongside our academic achievements, we’re also actively developing these crucial life skills. The university environment offers numerous ways for us to learn and grow in all these areas. By seeking out these opportunities, engaging with available resources, and consciously practicing these skills in our daily lives as students, we’re building a well rounded skillset that will serve us well in the future. We’re all on this journey of ongoing learning and development.

– Lucky Mulalo, Campus Ambassado