Ask Dr Louise

Q

I’m 18 and completed matric last year, which was a bad year to say the least. I really hoped this year would be a new beginning for me. I so looked forward to going to university, making new friends and living the life of a student.

But I’m so disappointed because nothing this year is anything like what I was hoping for or like my parents describe their time at university. We can’t be on campus and most lessons are online, so I don’t even get to see my fellow students. There are no get-togethers because of social distancing.

I feel like giving up my studies because this is not the varsity life I imagined. It feels as if all I’m doing is studying and sitting in front of my computer. Zak, email

A

While it’s indeed disappointing, what you need to do right now is focus on why you’re attending university. You’re doing it to develop a career for yourself in a specific field of interest and become financially independent.

What this should reinforce for you is that the primary reason you’re at university is to study – the social interaction and student activities are great, but they’re a nice-to-have by-product and not things that will assure your future and your future earning capacity.

The pandemic won’t last forever and hopefully you’ll still have the opportunity to indulge in all the usual student socialising before you complete your studies. To give up your education because you can’t socialise is short-sighted and something you’re likely to regret, so I’d advise against it.

‘The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance’

– U.S. AUTHOR JODI PICOULT, MY SISTER’S KEEPER