Messages for Freshmen

Looking back, the past year flew by. I remember the day I left my familiar high school behind and stepped onto the university campus. From finding the gates and parking my car to walking into the lecture hall, everything felt incredibly strange. It felt like a wonderful world, brimming with the promises of “university,” was unfolding before my eyes.

Yet, an entire school year has already passed. From the trees and the security guard to every block, I’ve memorized it all. Damn, I recall thinking to myself, “first-year experience, baby UIT,” and now I’m a second-year veteran. Alright! So, let this “old ghost” share the experiences and real-world lessons learned with the new ones!

Expand Relationships

This is a new phase where everyone is a stranger to one another, so be bold and expand your social circle. On the first day of school, I met a friend I knew from a provincial competition. On the day of the photo shoot, I ran into a tall, muscular friend in the restroom (who probably thought he had the place to himself). Then, during our first introduction to the academic advisor, a stranger at our table approached us, inviting all three of us to compete in an AI contest… And that’s how 1Thread was born; the four of us navigated our first year of college, creating countless memorable moments together. So, boldly participate in club activities! Through them, we learned who Fa Fa Jian is, got to know Koreans, Ahrial, Sky1north, and many others. So, be bold and make friends! Sometimes, just a few words to start a conversation or a shared hobby can lead to forming that new core group!

Build learning habits

The first year is often the most relaxed time academically, with less intense workloads. So, try to adapt to it. Become familiar with the study schedule, environment, and learning style. Write yourself a roadmap, a study plan for the next four years, and get acquainted with knowledge management tools, the school website, how to schedule timetables, time management, effective study methods, exam review strategies, the 80/20 rule… the list is endless, and the fastest way to learn is from those who came before you!

(Just recently, there was also a ’trick jerk’ section on UIT that got someone banned :)) Shoutout to “the four apocalyptic riders UIT”)

Regarding self-study materials, the school offers abundant resources, from the A building library to the E building OEP library. Additionally, there are free courses available on Coursera. With your .edu email, you can also sign up for dozens of other services that support your learning process. And yet, resources like SVUIT - MMTT and the Software Technology Learning Board exist… there are truly many options!

Find mentors

Speaking of those who came before, make sure to find yourself a mentor! Going back to the competition story… all four of us tried our best, but still couldn’t win. However, that effort, combined with a little luck and boldness, was noticed by the competition organizers (Team Q club president, N4NGD4UNGH30). And from there, our group found a mentor who guided me through the learning process at this school. Our group also knew Suyz, who left us tips & tricks to navigate the ‘muddy’ waters of college life :))). There will be times, however, when we fear, “this isn’t enough, we’re lacking this, we’re lacking that…” This applies especially to scientific research; if possible, start as soon as you can.

The advice I received from a professor was: “Be bold! Write an email to any lecturer you want to study with. Express your desire to conduct scientific research with them, demonstrate your competence, but remember the decision rests with the professor. And being rejected doesn’t mean you can’t pursue research; simply continue to choose another lecturer!” Damn! No idea how to do research? I don’t know how to learn this? Well, just dive in, take the leap, and you’ll figure it out along the way! (That’s also the learning style at this school; it’s challenging, but rewarding in its own unique way!). But of course, you must have foundational skills like English, a spirit of progress, and a strong work ethic to succeed!

In short, my freshman year taught me these crucial lessons: be bold, make friends, socialize, find mentors, and get into research. Looking back from the day I wandered off to find the gate, parked my car, and stumbled into the lecture hall, I realize the most important thing isn’t my GPA or the number of contests I’ve entered, but the people I’ve met. They pushed me much further than I ever would have gone on my own. Students, what are you afraid of? Just pour your heart into it, be bold, make mistakes, fix them, and move on. That’s how you know your potential. And now, the “old ghosts” are leaving the stage for the new ones. Let them shine!

PS: The inside joke, who knows will know, who does not know, will not know. :)))