Opinion
I made mistakes at university, just not enough of them
Bella Westaway
ContributorWhen I went to university, I spent three years trying not to make mistakes. So, naturally, I made a load of them. Here are some of the biggest.
Mistake 1: Being in a relationship
Girlfriends, boyfriends and joyfriends are a big distraction, and having one during uni is a complete and utter waste of time. You might find yourself skipping classes to lie in bed all day at their parents’ house, watching Family Guy and giggling a lot, or procrastinating study sessions to go on long walks and pash.
Bella Westaway in her university days with then boyfriend, now husband, Callum Morgan.
Being in a relationship during uni may lead to falling in love during uni, which will definitely reduce the amount of time you have to focus on your studies. It’ll make you do irrational things such as stay in on a Friday night instead of going to the campus toga party. It might also make you giddily happy, which is great for your mental health but not so good for the crippling insecurity and fear of failure that always motivated you to do your homework.
Mistake 2: Not being in a relationship
Especially if this comes after “being in a relationship”, which generally means your heart is shattered, nobody understands how you feel, and you will likely never recover.
Seriously though, getting dumped is a huge mistake at any time in your life, but especially when you have little to no responsibilities to take your mind off the pain.
Avoid this at all costs, especially if you’re doing an arts degree.
Mistake 3: Doing an arts degree
On that note, don’t do an arts degree. No, of course I’m not suggesting arts degrees are a bludge and don’t give you appropriate skills for the job market. It’s because they turn you into a smug asshole. (I jest! Relax! Arts degrees slap!)
Mistake 4: Not going on exchange
When you get back together with the person who broke your heart, you might decide they are “the one” and consequently choose not to go on exchange because you can’t bear to be apart. This is probably a mistake. Personally, I ended up married to him, but I frequently have pangs of regret that I didn’t spend a year in Bologna or Colorado or Lima.
You can always find another partner, but are you ever going to be 21 and living in Paris again? No.
Mistake 5: Not going to a toga, foam or traffic light party
So this wasn’t exactly a choice, as I don’t recall ever being invited to one of these events. But if I had been, I most certainly wouldn’t have gone. Now, I have no photographs of myself looking foxy, wrapped in a sheet or covered in white bubbles. I never had the opportunity to walk into class all coy, having hooked up with someone in my tute the weekend before. Trust me … in 10 years, when parties involve three textures of cheese artfully arranged on a marble slab and a few bottles of pinot noir, you’ll be glad you have stories of a wet T-shirt competition to pass the time.
Callum Morgan, writer Bella Westaway and her best friend, Emily Kemp, on a night out during uni.
Mistake 6: Not going to a uni with a lawn
A lawn is, obviously, an essential part of the university experience. You need a lawn upon which to debate philosophy, make out, read novels and laze around in a sundress watching the lacrosse team. Rarely in life do you have the opportunity to recline on a patch of grass with people who will genuinely discuss the concept of free will for more than 15 minutes. Also, in this economy, it’s likely the last lawn you’ll ever see, especially if you picked that arts degree, so I suggest you enjoy it while you can.
Mistake 7: Not making enough mistakes
The best thing about uni is that you can make mistakes. And you should. You know that quote about regretting the things you didn’t do more than the things you did? It’s a cliché because it’s true.
So if you want my advice? Go to the party. Date the sexy scumbag. Pick the degree that’s calling your name, even if it’s arts. Choose love over travel. Choose travel over love. Read Crime and Punishment in a café for attention. Choose a school for the sole reason that you like the lawn. Or, you know, don’t.
At the end of the day, the mistakes you make during uni will shape your life, in big and small ways. And these mistakes are part of the experience. Don’t overthink it – just enjoy the ride.
Bella Westaway is a freelance writer and editor.
Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.