Surviving Uni Without Losing My Mind (Mostly)

I know hell-season (aka exams) is approaching soon, so I thought I’d share some ✨words of wisdom✨ to help ease the chaos.

As a former stereotypical high-school overachiever with a toxic dependency on academic validation, I used to treat my grades as a reflection of my self-worth. But despite my desperate attempts to remain an academic-weapon 🗡️, I became susceptible to uni’s reigning power of academic-victimising ☠️. If you haven’t yet fallen into this trap, then consider yourself lucky… and warned.

Over time (and many breakdowns later), I realised that thriving in uni means changing the way you think about success, relationships, and balance. Here are some things I’ve learned since starting uni that have helped me survive (mostly) without losing my mind:

📣 Introducing…

How NOT to Have a Breakdown: Lessons I Learnt From Uni

You can’t give 100% into everything 🪫: One major thing I learned since high school is that uni really is a balancing act, and trying to excel in every single thing will only burn you out. It isn’t like NCEA with such little content that you could study 2 weeks before exams and still end up with all Es. I learned to strategically decide where to put my energy and how much of it. Often this means prioritising a 20% test over a 5% quiz due on the same week or sleeping in early instead of late-night studying. It’s not about doing everything perfectly, but rather about doing what matters most well enough.

Relationships take real effort ❤️‍🩹: This is such an underrated skill and honestly one I’m still actively working on. It can be difficult to find time for people close to you when you’re operating on conflicting schedules. But I realised the only way to truly keep these connections alive is to consistently communicate. Even a quick text asking “How are you?” can make all the difference. Investing time in the right people has made my uni experience far more fulfilling.

Success isn’t linear 📈: I envisioned myself as an architect since I was seven years old. I even planned the outfits I would wear to my classes 😭 Then I changed my mind during my final year of high school and ended up in engineering. And if you’re an og, then you’ll know I changed specs from Software to Structural! Essentially, what I’m trying to say is, it is common for many people to come into uni with a clear idea of what they want to be, but more often than not, they end up somewhere completely different. And that’s totally okay! Often, when we focus all our attention on one specific vision, we overlook the other potential pathways that are available to us. The more you explore, challenge, experience and question (Is Engineering even for me?; Is probably a universal one), the more you can truly grow both personally and professionally. Apart from learning about engineering, what I’ve truly learned at uni is myself.

Toxic productivity is actually a thing 😩: If you’ve ever felt guilty for resting, this one’s for you. Uni culture often romanticises all-nighters, overworking, or drinking so many Red Bulls that you may as well get it in an IV. But burning out helps no one and is a MASSIVE pain to get out of. When you’re constantly running on 0%, you’ll end up crashing right when it matters most (usually the night before exams). Learn to recognise when your brain needs a break! Rest is productive too <3

Discipline beats talent 🧠: At uni, it doesn’t matter how “naturally intelligent” you were in high school. University is a marathon, not a sprint. Discipline, consistency, and good time management will take you further than last-minute cramming ever will. The most successful students I know aren’t the “smartest” but the most consistent.

Be delusional 💅🏽: When it comes to opportunities, apply like that one overconfident person who knows they’re unqualified but eager to learn anyway. Believe you belong in the room, even if imposter syndrome says otherwise. Go into every interview thinking you’re the ideal candidate because that’s exactly how you’ll end up presenting yourself. Apply for everything and everywhere (with the PCB-sized job pool rn, we kinda have to). And always remember that rejection is part of the process, so don’t take it personally!

Networking is more important than you think 🗣️: With my insanely limited social battery as an introvert, the word “networking” often sounds exhausting. But it’s honestly one of the most powerful things you can do for your career. A lot of the time, companies prefer hiring people they’ve previously corresponded with over those whom they’ve met for the first time at an interview. So speak to guest lectures, mentors or alumni to open those doors that relationships can but grades can’t. And if you’re a nepo baby, well, use those connections wisely 😌.

REAL friendships can change your life 👭🏽💞: One of the biggest blessings I’ve come across during my time in uni is the people I’ve had the opportunity to meet. Although at first, a room full of engineering students might initially feel like a room full of introverted nerds (lol), beneath the surface are so many kind and cool people you probably have more in common with than you think. So just reach out! Make friends that appreciate you, that rant with you, support you, bring you snacks and make you ugly-cry from laughter. Find the friends that make you feel special. Ones that you can imagine staycationing in Paris with when you’re retired, rich and 70. Luckily, I’ve already found mine.

TL;DR

Uni will humble you. You can’t do everything perfectly, burnout isn’t a personality trait, rejection is normal, and real friends (and naps) will save your life <3

Best of luck with exams!