Enrich your academic experience. Starting a new academic year brings a…
By: Mohammad Alshimmari
Tags: Experience, Education, Volunteering, University

Starting a new academic year brings a world of opportunities and ventures for all students but venturing from school to the grounds of university is the most exciting transition for most students. University has more to it than just reading books and attending lectures, and it is very easy to miss this point once assignments start to pile up on your table from week one. Being a student in a university is meant to be fun and you owe it to yourself to enjoy every second of it.

“But there is only so much time to get assignments done and get ready for exams!” well I know that but we all have to find the balance and invest as much time in our personal and mental growth. Let me break it to you, your schedule will get tighter and tighter once you progress to the next year or once you graduate. Do not get me wrong, I am not trying to convince you to skip classes but finding the balance between investing your time in your studies and on your personal growth is as important as getting high grades.

There are hundreds of ways to enjoy your time away from studying and every university provides many opportunities for their students. Between attending labs, lectures and doing coursework I did not have much time to do other activities as an engineering student. But I was always telling myself that these are not the things that I would want to remember when I look back at my time here at the university. I really wanted to spend my time meeting new people and know more about the community that I am living in. I chose to volunteer in the time I have between lectures and at the weekend. I found this opportunity where I can work as a waiter in a charity café where all the profit goes for good causes. I met many interesting people and learned a lot from this experience. What resonated the most with me is that such a simple thing as a cup of coffee that is 20 dirhams away from my hands would require people to practice for weeks, prepare the equipment very early in the morning and spend hours cleaning up at night.

I have also volunteered with a group of students to do park restoration and cleaning, donation collection for an orphanage and started a society to help new Emirati students settle in, celebrate the national day and do other events. one event I really enjoyed is where we went for a hike with over 70 other Emirati students (remember when it was ok to gather in big groups :’) ) to promote for the Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi. I made many friendships on that trip that would last for a lifetime.

Travelling can also be a great way to expand your knowledge about other cultures and expose yourself to new adventures. Whether you are studying abroad or in your home country if you have the chance to travel to a new place do not hesitate to give it a shot. I have met many graduates over the past years and when I ask them about the things they regret not doing the most when they were students, they all agree on not travelling more. For me, I had the privilege to travel to few countries while studying abroad. I have eaten street food, walked on snow like beaches, learned few words in Spanish and laughed with strangers on the street. Along with many great memories at the university, I will keep cherishing these few memories for life.

Involving yourself in a range of activities throughout the course of your studies will no doubt come in handy in the future. I cannot remember one time where I had an interview and I did not mention the things that I did aside from my studies and I can tell you that most recruiters are looking for those things because it reflects to them how much you are investing in your personal growth which in return will show them the value you can add to the job they are offering. Nonetheless, creating great memories, making friendships and exposing yourself to new cultures are the things you would want to take after graduating.