How important are the “five things" to do during university life?
Perhaps ingrained into the culture of universities around Hong Kong, the “five things to do during university life” is a well-known phrase for students studying in Hong Kong. Such things include “living in halls”, “getting into a romantic relationship”, “studying”, “get a part-time job”, and “join the student societies”. Local Hong Kong students may have been talking about this with their peers in high-school, whereas students from other backgrounds may be unfamiliar. Regardless, one of the first things you hear about university—whether it is through a pamphlet handed to you on orientation day, through your friends, or through speaking with senior students—are the five things to do during university life. However, why exactly are they so significant to our lives?
With the university being the transition between adolescence and adulthood, one may find themselves carrying a larger burden of responsibilities than before. The five things which are talked about are all activities that will require a certain level of responsibility. In an interview with Canadian professor Dr. Jordan Peterson, he was asked to give advice to people in their 20s. He stated, “Don’t be afraid of taking on responsibility, it’s where you find what sustains you in life.” Thus, to a certain extent, partaking in such activities can help for the betterment of self-discipline and can prepare one for larger responsibilities later on in life.
It is important to note that the “five things to do in university life”, which is, quintessentially a social norm, could also be a double-edged sword. Many people who fail to complete those tasks may find themselves feeling inferior, especially in instances whereby they get unpleasant remarks from their peers. In turn, irrational thoughts and decisions may be made that could result in negative consequences. For example, one could rush into a relationship that they don’t enjoy, live in halls without properly preparing oneself, or spend too much time in their student societies, thereby neglecting their other responsibilities. Such consequences may do more harm than good. Hence, despite the importance of stepping out of the comfort zone, it is also essential to maintain a balance within the mind and recognize that it is completely fine to not blindly conform to such social norms.
Written by Orion KEUNG (Year 2 -Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biomedical Engineering)
Expanding the abovementioned ideas further into other areas of life, perhaps you underperformed in a test that you had prepared for, or are struggling to find job opportunities, or are experiencing any form of loss. It is important to not be disheartened by such seemingly negative events. Furthermore, such five things in university will evolve to other social norms such as being able to buy a house, buying a car, etc. One should recognize that it is not essential to conform to such norms, and should live knowing that they are striving to pursue their own version of happiness. Additionally, being able to differentiate between factors within your control and external factors that are not within your control is an important mindset to carry in your journey of resilience when things turn against you. Through recognizing this, what previously felt tragic may suddenly feel quite unimportant. Looking back from the future, you may see how much you developed as a person. I hope that from this story, you will be able to be more inspired to take on more responsibilities and have the resilience to carry on through the increased responsibilities.
