What Would You Do Differently If You Were To Go Back To University? These Women Share Their Stories

Nostalgia and looking back are core parts of the human experience. Some people look back at jobs they have held. Some parents look back at their lives before children came and compare that with how children have pushed them to want better.

Asides these, both men and women look back at their memories from university and both may desire to go back to alter some of their actions with the new knowledge they now possess.

This in turn fuels how they move ahead with newer educational pursuits like getting a professional certification or a Masters.

Urban Woman Magazine recently asked some women to share what they would do differently if they were to go back to university.

Read their responses below.

EB

I’d be more outgoing😭

I only stepped out of my comfort zone and started interacting with people when I realized human being were the ones that would vote and not air😹😹 (I was running for a post at this time).

But if I could do it all over again, I would’ve started building my career both in and out of school. Now I see students in 100/200/300 level doing so well for themselves on LinkedIn whereas I had no idea the impact or how useful the platform could’ve been. 

Any advice… stay sharp, be vigilant even with people called “friends.” No be everybody wey dey shine teeth like you oo. Don’t be swayed. Stick to your goal….and if you lose focus biko find your way back. 

Just because person A successfully broke a rule doesn’t mean you will too. 

No too trust man ooo!!!!

Build your circle…. people you can call your own but also network and connect with as many people as you can but still be careful.

OD

Firstly, as for the school I attended. I’d pick Unilag over and over again. 

But let me start my story by saying, I’m an only child of a widowed mother and as a result, I was used to staying indoors all day. 

So even when I got the freedom, I still felt caged. My first friend in school was a girl I knew from my first post utme, and all my other friends came through her( and she wasn’t even in my dept).

I struggled with making friends on my own, I think I’m just socially awkward.

My regrets, not exploring what the school had to offer. I didn’t attend parties, class events, department dinners (that I’d pay for) and other social events.

Now I wish I stayed out more, spoke up more, challenged myself.

My advice, take chances, speak up, be bold. (last last the answer is no, it’s better than not knowing what could have been).

SE

I would have studied a different course probably a management course and nurture the creative part of me.

I would have gone out more and deal with social anxiety maybe by now, I’d have stopped being shy.

I would have stood in front of the class and make presentations because all the presentations I ran away from in school has met me in the workforce and God knows how hard I struggle with it. I would have not been the “behind the scene girl”.

I would have been loud about my success. I would have related more with my coursemates. I mean I don’t like them o but then…🤣🤣 

To young women, allow yourself to live.

Love, explore friendship, don’t build so much walls too high that it becomes difficult for you to leave.

Build your future from school, apply for that scholarship, attend that event, talk to that lecturer, be happy.

RH

I would liveee. I will enjoy schooling and be carefree and outgoing. I would date more, break their hearts and make more friends. 

Above all, I would study more especially in 100level. Just enjoy your stay in the University. Live and be carefree. Adulting gets harder from there.

EE

I’m back in uni for my master’s degree and I’m doing some of the things I wish I would have done during my undergraduate degree. I’m studying just as much, but with purpose now. I’m not just learning to learn, I’m also learning to ace exams and so far, it’s been paying off. Maybe it’s maturity but I’m better able to manage my time now. Weird because I have 50-11 jobs now. 

I would also have loved to participate more in extracurricular activities. I didn’t know about my uni’s debate team until my final year. It’s something I’d have loved to join. I also wanted to join the school choir but I was told it was strictly for those studying music. I only discovered that I love theatre in final year as well. I’d have attended more stage plays. 

Advice I’d give a young woman entering uni for the first time: feel all the feels. Prioritise your academics and friends who put their academics first. People say they made their _for life_ friends in undergrad but I disagree. Friends I made before my frontal lobe fully developed are not the people I talk to these days. 

As for relationships, take them with a pinch of salt and more importantly, DATE YOUR AGE MATES/ PEOPLE ALSO IN UNDERGRAD. Don’t let these old men suck out your youth. It’s downright predatory and grooming. If you find your mate who has sense, date them.

IU

If I had a chance to redo University, I’ll make sure to be more proactive. Most importantly, I’ll get a change of course form and dump mtfkn Accounting, the bane of my existence at one point in time. (It’s crazy how it  never occurred to me that changing a course was possible). 

I spent so much of my uni days just living in fear, so much anger, and confusion that I didn’t end up actually living in the moment.  It wasn’t until after I was done that I realized just how much I had missed out (I started getting involved in volunteering activities in my final year). 

Obviously, the person I am now is as a result of everything I had to go through. If anything, I wish I had the current mindset I have now back then. 

My advice to any young lady still in school is volunteer for activities. It’s crazy, but if you look very closely, there are many clubs and activities that will make you very proactive, and introduce you to the most fun, quirky and amazing people. 

Most importantly if you hate your course of study, you can always change it. You can always drop it, and go for what you actually want. Don’t ever limit yourself.

MT

Well I regret my  choice of school. After staying home for almost four years, I was desperate. I felt my State University would be an advantage since I was an indigene. But it was my worst decision. I would have schooled at Yabatech if I had known.                     

In the area of my relationships I would have connected more. 

My 100 level-300 level were centred around just two of my friends: Favour and Andrealla and at 400 level it was hard to connect with new people.    My advice is connect from your 100 level. Don’t just be okay with the friends you have. Attend events in school and be very careful.

CT

I would have been more serious. I would have been more social. I have friends, yes, but I’m generally a very reserved person which is crazy considering my personality. I would have taken the leap, I would have started my business early. Might not have been so wild too maybe. Wo! It’s plenty sha, but it’s past now sha. 

Advice? Just learn to live. There’s a perfect balance between school and socials. Enjoy, explore, just live. School is the best and most comfortable place to do that.

PA

1. I would relax more and enjoy the friendships. I feel as though I tried so hard to make my friends the perfect friends that I didn’t get to enjoy them be the silly people they were. 

2. ⁠ I would focus less on men. I wasn’t boy crazy but I was heartbroken for a huge part of my school life that it really just spoilt my vibes. 

3. ⁠I would have put in more effort for school work. I could have certainly done better but my brain didn’t let me. It was difficulty but I pulled through. 

4. ⁠I would go out more. I did go out in my final year. But I wish I had more freedom. 

5. ⁠I would have stayed in hostel at least once. My only hostel experience was in camp and it was beautiful. 

My advice to any one entering the university would be to: 

1. Use your 100 level to get the best grades.

2. ⁠Manage those grades and have a good time too for the rest of your uni years.

3. ⁠Have fun and enjoy the memories. Make friends and be happy. Forgive people and let things go, you won’t see them for long.

4. ⁠Relationships are great but be willing to let them go or not have them at all. 

I hope you have a wonderful time as I did in my final year. Good luck girl.

LM

If I were to go back to uni, I will:

Study a course of my preference. I will let go of my childhood trauma to build a life for myself—nurture relationships well, and network more intentionally.

I will let go of self doubt and low self esteem and contest for any student leadership position I qualified for (I had the access to these opportunities but backed out due to fear and self doubt).

I regret not studying a course of my choosing. I regret not opting for another degree program immediately I began to struggle. 

I had no guidance and mentorship though so I give myself grace cause I was literally 14-17 ishhh.

I will advise younger ones, interact with your senior colleagues early on to know what your department is like. Especially if in a public university—read to know, but sort any course that is required to sort. Please just sort to pass and keep it moving. I regret not sorting those courses that were compulsory. University traumatized me for real.

Another advice would be to ensure nothing ever gets you in bed with any lecturer, especially while still a student. This is not an advice on morals, this is a suggestion for self preservation. 

Those lecturers are manipulative and demonic maniacs. Having sex with them would be giving them access to bring you to ruins. As much as you can, please avoid. You can stay cordial with them if you are experienced with navigating the dynamics of interactions with older men but my trick was to stay off their face entirely.