Surviving first year at varsity

NO ONE is better placed to give advice to students going to university for the first time than the people who did it last year.

I talked to a few students who are currently in 3rd year and this is what they had to say about their experience, their advice to new students and above all, what normally happens behind the scenes.

Purity Achieng', 19, who is studying BSc in Media Science, said: "Going to university was a big transition. The first three months were frustrating and even my results showed it.
"Initially, I wanted to study at the University of Nairobi, because they focus on more on sports. Somehow, I am grateful because netball would have interfered with my studies."

Betty Nanjala, 18, agrees that it took time to adjust. The bachelor of science student said the first three months were hard.
"In high school we had more time and the teachers knew everyone. In university, you have to study ahead of your lectures," Betty said.

Delvin Chepkurui, 19, a first-year student in public relations and communication at the School of Human Resource, comes from Eldoret town and lives in a Nature Springs hostels.
"It was very tough at the beginning of the year. Luckily, I could go home every weekend because school is close to my home," she said.
Delvin admitted that it was not easy living with strangers.
"We have different habits and backgrounds, rules and values, we are not raised in the same way."
Dealing with school work was not the only difficult thing. Independence and living away from home for the first time was also hard.