From Expectations to Reality: Beginning My Journey as a University Student

Hi, my name is Amaera Nisyah, a student at University of Lampung, majoring in Applied Biology. I am often called Amai or Amay. As a new university student, I have had the opportunity to participate in a series of PKKMB (Campus Life Orientation for New Students) activities at Universitas Lampung. This experience has become one of my first opportunities to get to know the university environment, its culture, and what it means to begin life as a university student.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” — Maya Angelou

This quote reminds me that becoming a university student does not mean that I have to immediately know and understand everything from the very beginning. Instead, university life is a process of continuously learning, trying new things, making mistakes, and improving myself through the experiences I encounter along the way.

Before becoming a university student, I had many expectations about what campus life would be like. I imagined university life as something more independent and flexible than high school, with a new environment, new friends, and more opportunities to grow. However, as I began experiencing it myself, I realized that being a university student is not simply about having more freedom. It is also about learning to take responsibility for my own choices and learning process.

One of the things I have started to realize is that university life requires a greater sense of independence. During high school, many things were still guided by teachers and the school environment. At university, however, I have to be more proactive in finding information, understanding what needs to be done, and managing my time effectively. Not everything will always be reminded or explained repeatedly. Although this may feel challenging at first, I see it as an opportunity to become a more responsible person.

The PKKMB activities I participated in also gave me many new experiences. Meeting students from different regions and backgrounds made me realize that university life will introduce me to many different perspectives. I have begun to understand that a university campus is not only a place to attend academic activities, but also a space to build connections, exchange experiences, and discover various opportunities for personal growth.

As a student of the Applied Biology Study Program, I am also beginning to see that my academic journey will not simply consist of learning theories inside the classroom. Biology has a broad scope and is closely connected to many aspects of life. This makes me even more curious about what I will learn throughout my university years and how the knowledge I gain can be applied to real life situations.

Of course, starting something new is not always easy. There is a sense of nervousness when entering an unfamiliar environment, the worry of whether I will be able to keep up with my studies, and many questions about how I will navigate the years ahead. However, I am beginning to understand that not feeling completely ready does not mean that I am incapable. I do not have to know all the answers from the very first day.

From these early experiences, I have learned that university is not only about achieving good grades or completing a degree. It is also a journey of learning how to make decisions, build relationships, face challenges, and grow into a better version of myself. I want to embrace this process with an open mind and not be too afraid of the things I do not know yet.

My journey as a student at Universitas Lampung has only just begun. There are still many things I do not know, many experiences I have yet to encounter, and many lessons that I may only fully understand later in life. For now, I want to enjoy the process one step at a time while continuing to learn, explore, and grow.

Perhaps, a few years from now, when I read this article again, I will realize just how much has changed. I hope those changes will become proof that every small step I took at the beginning of my university journey had its own meaning.

This is not only about how I started university, but about how I choose to grow throughout the journey.

• Contact

For academic inquiries, collaborations, or other matters related to this blog, you can reach me through:

Email: amaeranisyah933@gmail.com

Instagram: 4era.ns