Today I was watching the news… about all these A level students anxiously awaiting for the results… that’s always tough… and I thought again of Nicole and George’s post!

The reporters tried to emphasize the competition factor. It is true that we all want to get good results and we all want to succeed. [‘better me in that university/ post than someone else’ kind of a thing…] But one thing that I noticed throughout my undergraduate years is that you don’t need to be competitive with anyone else but yourself to succeed and enjoy the different phases of your life. You will find at least two types of people at university (well…that’s a very simple way of describing it but anyway…): Those who are passionate about the topic and really don’t mind sharing their notes, being part of study groups, exploring the areas they are studying with their peers, developing a kind of common understanding which everyone will benefit from… Being part and contributing to a friendly, trustworthily (learning) atmosphere will make everyone involved get so much out of it academically and personally.
On the other hand, there are others who will choose a more reserved approach, keeping everything for themselves, not willing to share what they know, the resources they have found, etc. Some people see that as being smart and competitive, I see that as being selfish and miserable…
Anyway, to cut the story short, the best thing is to compete with yourself. Set your aims and purposes and do everything you can to achieve them. Do not discard others as part of that experience. Throughout the process don’t forget there are many people you can help and many more who can help you. It is all about the active, generous exchange amongst like-minded people. If you act according those people will find you / you will find them. Nevertheless, beware of those whose purpose is not to exchange experiences but “extract knowledge” – learning is, and will always be, a two way road! ;- ). Hence, the learning path is so much relevant and motivating when treaded in good company. There are two thoughts that are often shared in a learning community I belong to and which I think are quite appropriate to mention now:
“we share to learn and we learn to share’ because ‘sharing is caring’.
Not much different from Elisabeth’s comment

An idea from the Dalia Lama permeates through your brother’s posting — I think it is worth saying explicitly as well.

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

http://quotationsbook.com/quote/18307/

Many of us expect the university to provide us with awesome experiences. Wrong! It is not the University, it is us who have to create those opportunities according with the circumstances we are in. HE offers levels of freedom and autonomy High School still lacks. So it is up to us to manage that and make the best of this new phase. You will know if you are managing it well when all the hard work that is demanded from you is accomplished successfully and in a fun way. There is not an unique recipe for that. But each individual is able to write their own… based on their aims, hopes, dreams and purposes.
You will need to experience and explore this new phase in a pro-active way.

Hint:
The role of academia is to let us BE(come). We may struggle at the beginning, but if we are able to manage our freedom we will enjoy the process.
So….
If you are sleeping 8 hours/night everyday, passively attending classes and feeling miserable you are not fully living the academic spirit (not the way it should!!). Something is wrong! You are taking academia way too serious and not paying attention to what you really want to do!

Think and act out of the box.

Live this phase of your life to the fullest. Do not leave much to regret afterwards.

Make the best of it.

Have fun.

With responsibility

Grow: intellectually and also as an individual!