Survival in FAST: Finally reavealed

Hello guys,

This post is generally for freshmen and sophos especially for CS students, but everyone can read, so if you’re a senior or junior this is not for you.

Now what this article is all about? As a senior I noticed and understood a few things:

When we started out in our university life we had no clue what to do and most of us had no idea where the future would take us. Now when I see my batch mates I can see that things have changed a lot, people have come a long way from what they were to what they are, priorities have changed.

During our stay, FAST presented us with a tough life, which had many difficult tasks, such as passing courses, maintaining CGPA, making assignments and all.

Many of us easily survived through it and emerged victorious and successful, while others were not ‘successful’.

Many freshmen have approached me over the time claiming they were having a HELL time managing FAST. Many couldn’t understand programming, many had difficulties making assignments and making good groups in projects.

Well based on my experience I would like to share a couple of advices that may make your life a BIT easier: The list is sorted in ascending order of importance. All of the below points revolve around one basic point. You are strengthened by the people around you.

• Notice Board is your friend

Ever seen the notice board in FAST? Read it DAILY ! … You should have a clear idea on what is going around in FAST and what is happening in your courses. The next deadline of your assignment, mid term marks, events etc.

You should know the mid terms marks of your ENTIRE class, you should know the marks of the other section. You constantly need to evaluate where you stand. Remember the important part of the strategy is to keep your eyes and ears open to your surroundings. Its very important. The noticeboard is the gateway from your world to the outside world.

• Participate in Extra-curricular activities

This is textbook advice. Healthy body + Healthy Mind = Higher Performance. Do whatever suits you, play cricket, football, volleyball, table tennis etc. On a regular basis. Participate in events and competitions, there are all sorts of competitions coming up, programming competitions, debate competitions, painting, drawing, anything. You name it. You should have friends in the playground too.

You gain confidence in your skills and your ability to compete with others on equal grounds.

By participating in these activities you pop-up on the radar. People know your name whether you know theirs or not. Teachers know you, the staff knows you. And this helps a lot when you’re in trouble and you need favors. People help you.

• Join a society

I cannot emphasis enough about joining various societies in FAST. Your parents are paying a hell lot of money so that you may study in a university, you must avail the facilities your uni provides. Remember studying in a uni is less about academics and more about experiences.

Join a society that interests you,they have a society of every flavor. Not only being in a society gives you a break from the boring studies, but it also gives you authority and responsibility. Because you get to have a chance to do things your way, complete a task your way and do something that you LIKE and not do it because some professor wants you to do it. With a fresh mind you are more likely to score higher.

Being in a society will help you meet people will similar interests, people who love what you love, university is all about professional and personal relationships with PEOPLE. I will come back to this point later. Not only by being in a society gives you general respect in front of students and teachers but it also allows you to get a taste of the practical life.

• Become a nerd/geek

Most people in our uni carry a COOL image. They think reading books and sitting on compilers just doesn’t go with the groove. Well to be honest, the coolest people in FAST are nerds. Look around you and you will see. Someone people fear books and compilers. Well I have a fact for you, when you graduate you don’t become a engineer, doctor or artist. You become a SCIENTIST. A freakin scientist! so start acting like one.

Learn something new everyday whether its related to your course or not. Do what you love and become a geek in your own field. You never know when that extra skill might come in handy.

Nerd

• Socialize !

This is the singular most important point that I want to emphasize. This is the reason I wrote this article.

Whatever I am, whatever I know, whatever I earn and whatever reputation I have is because I have the privilege and honor to hang around with the most amazing people of this time and age.

I know people who when joined FAST made 5 friends and till date they hang around with those 5 friends. They formed a comfort zone – a bubble. A bubble they wont break because they fear the outside world? They hate others? Its a mystery yet to be decoded.

We MUST break our bubble.

Then there are some who just come to uni to take classes and leave when the classes are over. I hate those people! What have such individuals gained?

Here’s a line from the Barny-level-legendary website cracked.com:

The only skills you really need to learn in high school and college are how to socialize and be a functioning human in society, because that’s the only thing you’ll be consistently doing for the rest of your life

Read more: http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-things-they-never-told-us/#ixzz1HinDHU4R

We are in a multi-cultural, multi-talented university. If we don’t reach out and interact with people then we have just wasted our time. Go out! make friends with people around. Being a freshman, make friends with those who excel in whatever they do and try to emulate them. Hang around with the geniuses of your class, see what they do, how they do it, learn from them – if needed beg from them. And your life will become easier.

You will not get these 4 years back. If you just wanted a degree and wanted to take classes then why did you join FAST in the first place? Join some third grade institute like Tabanis and you’ll be happy.

So go out make friends with good people and hang around them and learn from them to make your life easier.

Remember its the people, the experience, the environment that inspires you, and motivates you to excel as a person and as a individual.

Yours Truly,
Mustafa Hanif.

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