It’s 3rd year!

For the past 5 days I have been in school this new semester, I haven’t failed to notice a new wave amongst students who enrolled for freshman year with me about 2 years ago. Assuming most of us are now in 3^rd year, I have observed a few aspects of “3^rd years” that make us different from the toddler/ freshmen timidly nature we exhibited in the past 2 years. That most people become more mature, responsible and caring of what brought them to school is something on point. Interacting with a couple of my peers and college-mates has given me the chance to quickly scribble a list of notes on what it means to be in 3^rd year. And I am excited to share them. But my list is bound to change or widen with time.

Here’s my quick pick of what it means to be a 3^rd year:

•    It’s time to shape my degree. That’s what I’ve always heard ever since I walked into my campus, that the degree takes its shape when you cross into 3^rd year. It may not be true, but at least most of us believe it is. And thus there is more concentration in academia.

•        I got to choose the best of friends from the numerous friends I have been trying to make. Somehow we meet new people each day, but some of them don’t count at the end of the day. And in 3^rd year, we know who exactly is a best /pest friend.

•        I have to sharpen my networking skills. I have less than 2 years to be out there in the job market. I cannot wait to get employed by applying for jobs when I am out of school. The student/person I meet along the corridors, or at the school photocopier joint, or outside my library could be a potential employer or adviser on how I can be self-employed. It’s time to be nice, more sociable and friendly.

•        I got to drop my ego. We all have egos. We always want to appear on the upper side. But in 3^rd year, it’s time to put it down and take in corrections. My ego will not land me an attachment or internship or a good degree.

•       My principles must be well grounded or firmed. Most of us have principles when we get in campus. Some of us don’t, because we are too excited to be in campus. But sometimes we fall off trying to be like our cool buddies. In 3^rd year, we got to set at least some basic principles to ensure we are not merely wannabes.

•        It’s the majoring year. This happens a lot in my school. For the past two years we have been dealing  with general units meant to lay a good foundation for us in whatever field we’re getting into. In 3^rd year, we have the privilege of making options from a list of units to be studied. That bit of choice making creates a new feeling in us, it also sort of reminds us of 3^rd year in high school where we had to make choices. This time round, it’s not just about subjects we feel strongest at, we have to select units we love doing and which give us a good start/elevation into our career life.

•        I feel quite mature and all grown up. Some of the things we did in the past 2 years probably happened out of reflex action. But in 3^rd year, we look and feel all different. Our confidence is boosted (to those of us who never had it) automatically. We no longer giggle and laugh over silly nothings like  when a friend gives an incorrect answer in class.

From one 3rd year to another, this list varies or becomes populated. For those of us in 3^rd year not feeling anything different except the fact that it’s a new academic year for us, it’s time to take a reality check! Because we are not really okay, not unless we are enrolled for a 3 year course program or less, and we are therefore not going through a 4 year campus life.