The freshman fifteen 101:

Vuyiswa Fumba

There’s nothing quite as frazzling in a young adult’s life as the first year of university. It can be equally exciting as it is nerve-wracking, and there is no firstyear guidebook. Or is there?

Here are fifteen tips for freshmen on student life at Tuks.

Wait before you splurge on textbooks.

Many students sell their textbooks from previous years of study, and second-hand bookstores in and around Hatfield offer textbooks at reduced prices. Refer to Wize Books or ask around campus to find resellers and save money.

Build a capsule wardrobe.

Pretoria weather can be sporadic, and temperature trends will likely result in wearing variations of the same five outfits in each season. The concept of a “capsule wardrobe” was coined by Susie Faux, who owned a boutique that focussed on smaller wardrobes with high-quality, interchangeable items. Figure out a capsule wardrobe of essential clothing items such as the following: a windbreaker, three pairs of shorts, four shirts that are worn often, and only one or two pairs of sneakers, slides, boots, etc. This varies with each person, and it will take time to gauge what deserves to go into the “capsule”, but taking the time needed to build a smaller wardrobe will save space and time in the long run.

Follow UP pages to keep up with events.

The official UP social media pages are active and informative. Whether students are seeking information on Varsity Cup games (follow @tukssport), changes in library hours (follow @uplibrary), or engaging campus news updates (follow @pdbymedia), following along with social media updates is a great way to stay in the loop.

Be admin-savvy.

Join module-specific group chats to stay updated on assignments and communicate with fellow students. Diarise assignments much as you were instructed to do. It requires patience and adjusting from family members when expectations cannot be reached, which can be preceded by disappointment. Will the disappointment that others feel toward you stifle your growth and experiences? Not if you do not let it.

Remember why you are at the university and prioritise your academic performance first and foremost. There are a lot of exciting new things to be experienced as a first-year, but it is possible to achieve and maintain a sense of balance.

Multiple resources are set up to help facilitate the best first-year experience possible. Consult Faculty Student Advisors or the Student Counselling Unit if in need of assistance or guidance from trained professionals.