Confessions of A Finalist

A masterclass on navigating studentlife

Welcome to COMMON ROOM, the melting pot of campus life, from annoying and sweet roommate, to class drama and coursereps, to memorable moments on campus, we cover it all. This is where we talk about everything that makes up Campus Life.

Meet Heritage, a final year student, on today's epidode, she shares something we often overlooked in school: How to Learn. It's easy to get caught up in surviving university but what happens when you realize that surviving is not the same thing as thriving. Heritage's journey to understanding her learning style was a wakeup call for her, and might be for you too when you read this.

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HERITAGE'S POV

Before I resumed Uni, I had learnt everything I thought I needed to know.

How to survive? Check

How to make good friends? Check

How to stay safe? Check

How to make some food I can't cook so I won't starve? Check

How to not get in trouble with lecturers? Check

The one thing that I didn't learn? How to actually be a good student, how to study and how to understand my learning style.

I didn't realize how important that was, until it hit me in second semester.

I was lost and I didn't know, until I re-visited some of my first semester courses. Then it hit me that I was really lost. Maybe you could say that it was my fault for not paying attention to myself. But the truth is that, I was told about everything else except this one thing.

The results were not so bad, to be honest but they could have been really better. It's a different kind of heartbreak when you know that you have the potential and could have done more. I could tell that I didn't give it my best, and it stung. It wasn't a dramatic failure, just a quiet underperformance mixed with disappointment. The type that slowly chips at your confidence.

I kept asking myself “why didn't I do better?”

I remembered how often I zoned out in class. I had some things I was dealing with then at that time, but let's not lie, that wasn't an excuse. I copied notes without understanding, crammed past questions hoping they'd repeat, kept quiet in class when I didn't understand. I didn't want to look stupid in a class of over hundred students. If only I knew that nobody cared that much .

I was thriving in every other area except the reason I was in school. I didn’t realise I had a learning style. I didn't know that the way I understood things is different from how everyone else does. And not knowing that was my biggest problem. Being different doesn't mean I was slow or dumb, it just meant that I needed to understand me.

I wish I had given myself the grace to discover and accept myself, while still working to improve.

After lots of trial and error, I went to YouTube university for help, asking random study questions.

I can't remember all but here are the ones I can:

• Do I need silence or background noise to concentrate?

• Can I study with people and not be distracted?

• Do I remember more when I write things down or when I say them out loud or when I hear it over and over again?

• Do I prefer reading slides, textbooks, or watching videos?

Asking myself these questions gave me the turning point that I needed.

I found out I am not a last-minute learner.

Some people can start studying the week before exams and still ace it. That's their superpower, not mine.

Repetition is my friend. I'm the kind of student that needs to revisit a topic 3-4 times before it sticks. Accepting that became the game changer I needed.

It felt uncomfortable at first, I won't lie. It meant I had to start early, manage my time better and sacrifice other things. But it paid off.

I also realised that if I go into a class clueless about the topic, I'll leave just as clueless. Sometimes, just glancing through the slides or googling the topic beforehand helped me feel less lost.

The little effort I put into “reading ahead” changed things for me.

Then came onto the hardest part- asking for help.

I hated that feeling of looking like you don't know stuff but I had to get over it. I had to learn to ask for help from coursemates or a friend that understood the topic better than me. It meant swallowing my pride and risking looking stupid. But you know what else it meant? Growth! I didn't die from asking for help, instead I got smarter.

Learning about my learning style has been a long, eye-opening, yet very interesting journey. It's a journey I wished I knew earlier. I still don't have it all figured out, but I've come a long way. The goal isn't necessarily perfection but progress.

I had to understand that knowing my learning style is a form of strength. It saved me from unnecessary stress, burnout, feeling like a failure, when I am not. It has also helped me carry out tasks with wisdom.

I am still building a system that works for me because I have a long academic pursuit ahead of me. And I owe it to myself to improve. It is not perfect and I am always changing something but it is for me. I am learning to feel less anxious and more hopeful about my academic journey.

Nobody told me my learning style could be my superpower but now that I know, I'm holding it tight. Campus is hard enough, why not study in a way that lets you win?

Just a little note:

Beyond being the voice of today's story,

Heritage Ooreoluwa

has been one of Campus Chronicles biggest and loudest supporter. If you love reading about vulnerability, friendships & relationship, relatable thoughts about God and life. She's your go-to girl! Check out her newsletter here. Thank you, Heritage.

Now over to you:

If this taught you anything or made you pause to think, don't keep it to yourself. Share this to 2 students you know that might feel the same or maybe share it on your study group:)