Life of a university student: The transition from adolescence to adulthood

A phase that marks the transition from adolescence to adulthood, a time for self discovery, growth, and exploration, that is what the university life is. It’s a magical phase in one’s life where we explore our youth, make mistakes, learn the tough truths about life, and make new adventures. The life of a university student is a journey filled with overwhelming feelings and challenges but also leaves us with the unforgettable memories and joy to cherish forever. As my elders would always say when they talk about their university lives, “Oh, those were the days. The best days of our lives.” 

I am Zayana Maliat. A 20 year old first year student doing bachelor’s in business administration from Brac University. I am currently in my second semester and so far the road has been pretty rocky. If a year ago someone had asked me about my future plans, this would never have been it. That’s one of the first things I have learned as I embarked on my journey as a university student, that life not always goes according to your plan and the universe has always something planned for you. 

A few months ago, I had completely different ambitions. I was leading towards a journey to become a fashion designer and get my degree from abroad. As I was prepping for IELTS, attending countless seminars and consultation sessions with agencies, losing sleep over doing researches and day dreaming of the Aussie-life, I didn’t know what was about to come for me. Walking over shattered dreams and guiding my heart towards a different road, I had to toughen up and trust the universe. It was heartbreaking surely, but I didn’t give up. My misfortune became a valuable lesson for me. It taught me that life is full of surprises and we have to be ready to deal with anything. Just because something didn’t go as planned doesn’t mean that it’s the end. An undesirable turn in life could also surprise you with unexpected joy and triumphs. My life at brac university is unexpected but it’s also a blessing. 

The first day of university was scary. I thought I was going to be that one loner from every class, sitting at the last corner being friendless, lonely and a misfit. As all my friends successfully made it to their land of their dreams pursuing their dream career, I felt like a failure being left behind in Dhaka city while my heart still mourned the beautiful city of Melbourne. Then suddenly my face lit up and my heart felt soothed as I bumped into my old friends from school. Rekindling lost friendships with childhood friends as adults in university was very unexpected. I have made tons of friends till now after joining BracU, many of whom are from different cities, different backgrounds, different cultures, which is something I never thought I could blend in with. University life has definitely taught me how to mix with all sorts of people and has diversified my friends circle. You also start to broaden your perspective on life when you mix with so many different people and hear about their life experiences and struggles. 

BracU Friendships

And “addas”

On the other hand, the  everyday journey from home to university and back within the dusty lanes and polluted air of Dhaka city is definitely a challenge. And not to mention the exhausting traffic that consumes half of my daily life. Some of the days of extreme traffic, I come home with a mental breakdown, cursing this city and wishing to leave this country all over again. But the most difficult part was overcoming the fear of travelling all alone to an unfamiliar area far away from my home within the overwhelming crowds and noises. Not being privileged with a personal driver, I now have to manage my own transport. Being out of my comfort Dhanmondi zone where I would only travel by rickshaws, I now have to ride public buses which is something I never thought myself of doing. You really have to be bold to be a young girl in Bangladesh, travelling all alone in the unsafe public buses filled with male gazes and judgemental eyes. 

Being a university student also means you’re pretty much on your own now. The toughest challenge of being independent is managing your own finances. You start spending wisely and learn the value of money. Some start doing tuitions to earn some extra cash while some start their own small businesses. One of fun hacks I’ve learnt from my friends in uni is to commute cheaply. The hack is to take a 5 minutes walk to Hatirjheel from Brac, then take the Hatirjheel round trip bus for 20tk to it’s end route and then finally take a rickshaw for 70tk to home. Another alternative is to take the Hatirjheel boat instead of the bus which is more fun and you also get to enjoy the beautiful view of the sun setting into the lake. This way I get to go home under 100tk and save time and uber money. 

Hatirjheel boat ride to home

University life is tough. But what no one really talks about is the time just before university begins. The time when some start doing preps for IETS or SATs for their dreams abroad while some others set on their mission towards public universities studying day and night for their admission tests. This is a period filled with financial headaches, future plannings, and so much of pressure and stress on both students and parents. Then comes the worst part of facing rejection from your dream university. Or, for some others it’s the fear of starting a new life in a new city or country far away from home, friends and family. Life of an immigrant student is tough indeed, but it’s also tough for the ones who are left behind. Over the past year, I have said 10 goodbyes to my most dearest friends. Every goodbye was a dagger in the heart and a reminder of being a failure. Even though I wasn’t the one leaving the country, it still felt like I was restarting my life since all the friends had left and I had to make a new friend circle and a new lifestyle in my new environment. Maintaining old friendships also becomes tough when you’re in uni as everyone gets busy with their own new lives. Best friends may become strangers. But that’s just life I guess? 

With the frightening realisation of not being a kid anymore, university life is an adventure phase for our blossoming 20’s. No matter what university someone is studying at, everyone should enjoy their journey to the fullest and embrace their struggles and turn it in beautiful memories and life lessons as an opportunity for personal growth.