
Life Skills You Need At University
Graphics and Words by Caitlin Chuah
Moving away from home to begin university is one of the most enriching experiences of one's life. However, if you're not properly equipped with the right set of skills, things can go downhill really quick. Lucky for you, we have prepared a list of life skills that you can start developing before the time comes.
Time Management
Our whole lives are defined by how we spend and manage our time, because our time is LIMITED. If you do not have time management skills, not only will your university life be wasted, but your entire life will be too.
Managing your time properly in university will allow you to have a study-life balance. Unlike students who don't properly manage their time, you won't have to deal with the stress of rushing assignments last-minute or staying up late to cram for a test while your friends are out at the club. That's because when you time manage, you will have enough time to get everything you need done while having sufficient leisure hours.

Budgeting
Being a young adult means gaining control of your own money. Yes, no more needing to ask daddy and mummy to buy things for you, but that doesn't mean you should spend every cent in the bank just because you can.
Come up with a budget and amount that you want to save each month and stick to it! Saving money while you are still young will grant you a head-start to the path of lifelong financial stability. As the saying goes, sikit-sikit, lama-lama jadi bukit, which means if you save just a little bit every day, over time, your savings will accumulate into a lot. Check out our article on "Budget Tips for Students" here to ensure that you always have the upper hand on your finances.

Social Skills
The number one social skill you should possess is assertiveness. Being confident and self-assured will bring you nothing but opportunities, connections and success. Be more outspoken during your lectures, voice out if you have an opinion or ask questions if you are unsure about anything. Many lecturers in universities abroad will encourage students to take the initiative to ask questions rather than being spoon-fed information.
Additionally, if you want to make the best of your university life, you must not be afraid to put yourself out there. Join clubs and societies, surround yourself with new friends, get to know your lecturers; these actions will help you develop your network which will come in handy during your career.

Home and Self-Care
Remember all those chores your mom was always nagging you to do? Believe me when I say that you will have wished you paid more attention to what she was saying.
Living on your own requires many everyday life skills, such as cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and many more. Additionally, other than taking care of your home, you need to take care of yourself, such as eating healthy, exercising, sleeping enough and more! In high school, you should already begin to do things for yourself and gain some independence. This way, university life will not be too drastic of a change for you.

Study Skills
Surprisingly to most students, you need to be a lot more academically independent in university than in high school. Your lecturers can't hold your hand and guide you through each assignment like in school. You need to be disciplined enough to put in the effort to study and get your assignments done, without having anyone to remind you.
One tip is to improve your reading skills, as there will be a lot more articles and materials to read in uni. Additionally, check out our article on "Exam Tips" here to discover study skills that will help you in your tests.

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