The story of how I survived my first year of college: Essential Tips and Field-Tested Strategies for Surviving Campus Life

Written by Muhammad Risqy

The transition from high school to college was quite a heavy pressure because there were so many differences, from friendships to the scope of learning, and so on, and I myself came from a religious school that had never experienced learning in a public setting. This feeling made me curious to explore, but on the other hand, I was also scared and overwhelmed, and since there was no guidance, I had to figure everything out on my own. But here, I can explain that the key to surviving this is good adaptation, focus, and pushing yourself until you’re surprised by what you’ve achieved so far—it even changed my life 180 degrees.

Social Circle: Choosing the People Who Shape You

When we talk about friends, they are something we inevitably encounter in our lives, at home, at college, and anywhere else. But ambitious friends cannot be found just anywhere or anytime. I myself spent almost a year trying to determine, “Is this person suitable to be my ambitious friend? Or not?” Because everyone is different, and I can’t force my ambition onto them, right? So if that person isn’t capable, I’m afraid we’ll stop halfway, which is a crucial thing when it happens. And in the end, I found everything in one organisation that I joined, namely ISAFIS.

Here, I want to share the steps on how I survived that year. The first thing is to find 3-5 ambitious friends, like a private circle. One of the most crucial things in your social choices is choosing a study circle in class, because I believe that the environment you create will shape your outcome. So why this number? Actually, the number itself can change depending on personal needs, but a small group ensures accountability, allows for deep discussion, and minimises distractions. So for me, the more selective you are in choosing friends, the more successful you will be in the future.

Career Focus: Defining Your Path from Day One

Honestly, when it comes to careers, it’s the thing we fear the most because we can’t predict exactly what will happen. Either we’ll get what we want, or we’ll end up on a completely different path. Even university professors rarely explain career potential to students on campus; instead, we are told to research and find out for ourselves. That’s when I met Kania Nazwa, one of the ISAFIS 2024 students who already has over 40+ of career experience in just three years. After lengthy discussions and days of consultation, I was able to find a path for myself based on the insights from our conversations. Do you know what she said? 

She said this, “choose a niche career path that I would pursue from the beginning of the semester (career strategy). Many students are very lazy and wait until their final year of college to decide on a career path, which causes them to panic and ultimately choose a career that is not what they want. You have a highly competitive spirit if you start narrowing down your career path early on. Therefore, a good strategy is to start researching potential careers related to your major in your second semester so that in your third semester you will only be grinding your studies because your career roadmap has already started from the previous semester. This means joining relevant organisations, starting portfolio projects, or actively applying for internships that align specifically with your niche”. So while your peers are still broadly exploring, you will be stacking up targeted experience. By the time you reach your junior year, you will be a highly attractive candidate with a focused resume, not a generalised one.

Global Skills: Speaking Languages That Open Doors

The last one is the ability to speak international languages. When I’m joining ISAFIS, which mostly uses international languages, we are required to be able to speak English, or at least understand it. Why? Because they know that with that language, there are many more opportunities available than with Indonesian alone. In today’s world, engaging with diverse relationships necessitates the use of foreign languages. International language proficiency—primarily English, or another high-demand language like Mandarin or Spanish—is the competitive edge. Examples of supported aspects include working abroad, exchange programmes, and even becoming a translator for diplomats visiting Indonesia. I want to share a little about my friend who successfully participated in an exchange to Oxford, her name is Syifa Wilson. Back in the day, he was very ambitious to participate in an exchange since junior high school, so from junior high to high school, he always studied English, which was not actually required at school. He reached a point where he survived college in many ways that no exchange program could have prepared him for. Finally, with perseverance and the help of his friends, he managed to secure a fully funded exchange to Oxford as a result of his English studies. 

So what is the payoff? This skill will dramatically expand your job prospects, open doors to international scholarships or programmes, and ensure you can access the vast majority of cutting-edge research and publications worldwide. You might even find a foreign partner – just kidding. But I’m serious about how you should expand your international language skills to grind your future career.

Self-Reward: Balancing Achievement and Enjoyment

After all that, surely I am exhausted from surviving so many things, and sometimes not everything can be achieved properly. Burnout and feeling overwhelmed are part of everyday life for people who are pursuing a career like us, to the point where we have to go to a psychologist to check on our mental health. What I want to say is that in all of this, we must not forget to appreciate ourselves. Whatever you have achieved, even if it’s small, try to pamper yourself once in a while, and it’s totally okay.

For example, if you have achieved your goals or are close to achieving them, you can pamper yourself by going on trips with friends, playing games, and so on. Or after surviving various things, you can join fun social activities such as volunteering at an elementary school. Do whatever makes you happy. Because life is not only about pursuing a career but also about how we enjoy life. So take care of your mental health so that you can continue to enjoy grinding your career while also playing with friends.

References : 

• Bowen, W. G., & Bok, D. (1998). The Shape of the River: Long-Term Consequences of Considering Race in College and University Admissions.
• NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) Annual Internship & Co-op Survey Reports.
• World Economic Forum. (2023). The Future of Jobs Report.