Ten Things Every Student Must Do In Student Life

Dr. Mashiur Rahman

This article is based on lessons I’ve learned from my own life, often through difficult experiences. I am sharing these fundamental insights today for my students, gathered from those challenges faced along the way.

1. Income and Personal Money Management:

Even if you are the child of a millionaire—you still need to earn something during student life. You should attempt to earn, even a little, using your own skills, intelligence, or effort. This teaches you how to take responsibility, how to serve others, and how to keep people happy through your work. This income could come from tutoring, teaching at a coaching center, part-time jobs, video editing, design, website development, content writing, affiliate marketing, F-commerce, digital marketing, or anything else. Then, take up the challenge of covering your own pocket expenses. Through this, you’ll learn many crucial lessons in personal finance and money management that no university will ever teach you.

2. Basic Communication Skills:

No matter if you study at the top university in the country or the weakest college—you must develop the ability to have normal conversations in English. You need to be able to write a page or so about yourself or on a topic in English. If someone emails or messages you in English, you should be able to reply. You also need to be able to watch and understand English tutorials on YouTube or other platforms. There are a lot of free courses in English—you need to develop the ability to understand and utilize them.

3. Event Management / Leadership:

Whether it’s a trip with friends or organizing any event on campus—be it an Iftar party, Boishakhi festival, rag party, job fair, or alumni reunion—you must be one of the main organizers. This will teach you how to handle different kinds of people, how to budget, plan, and get help from others. You won’t get such practical leadership training—combining 15–20 things at once—anywhere else for free.
If you want to be even more confident, try performing in front of at least 50 people—give a speech, debate, presentation, or perform (dance, music, drama). This will help you overcome the fear of standing before an audience.

4. Google Search and ChatGPT:

You have to develop the ability to find necessary information from the internet. You need to learn how to use the latest technologies like ChatGPT. So that if you’re assigned any research within your field, or anything from another field, you can find the information and organize a report. If necessary, prepare a presentation using PowerPoint or Google Slides—that’s even better.
Whatever field you’re studying, you’ll need to use some software. You must know how to use them and apply them in your work. If needed, search on YouTube for tutorials and learn them.

5. Area of Interest:

No matter what subject or field you’re in—you need to know more in at least one area beyond your textbooks or class lectures. For that, you can read extra books. You must cultivate curiosity within yourself. Then, summarize what you learn, and try to publish those summaries somewhere—maybe in your department magazine or, if not there, on the world’s best publishing platform: Facebook. Even if a few friends tease you, post on Facebook about what you are learning.

6. Best Friend:

You must have a best friend. Have a friend circle; but within or outside that circle, you need one best friend. Someone you can do many things with and go to many places. Both of you will have similar levels of interest. You’ll help each other. This closeness will help you during down times, help you figure out your future. Because you cannot share everything with all friends. If you don’t have a best buddy—your inner emotional struggles in youth will be heavier.

7. Networking:

In the field where you want to work, you should have connections with at least ten people. They might be your seniors, seniors from other universities, or professionals from elsewhere. They could even be someone from abroad. Maybe you met them at a workshop or seminar. Keep in touch—they should know what you’re good at and what you’re passionate about. Discuss your future plans with them.

8. Build Your Resume:

If, after four years at university, you don’t have enough material to fill even a page and a half of a resume, then what have you done, Nabila? You must be involved in extra-curriculars—be part of an organization. If you can’t find one, then you and your friends should create one. Collect CVs/resumes from your senior brothers and sisters. Even if you don’t need it yet, make your resume in your second or third year. Browse some job postings on LinkedIn and see what they want—you’ll see where you have gaps. Then work to improve in those areas.

9. Extra Knowledge:

You need to step into the world beyond textbooks. That could mean reading some famous books (in Bangla or English), novels, self-improvement books, or other categories. Maybe watching some Oscar-winning films or popular TED talks. Occasionally chat with students from other departments about what they’re studying. This way, you’ll gain insight into areas outside your own sphere. You might even discover a new interest—if you focus on it, you could develop a serious skill in that field.

10. Strategies for Self-Guidance:

University is where you become independent—your family won’t always be there to guide you. So you need to develop time management, emotional management, and relationship management skills on your own. Develop the ability to create and follow a routine, set a target and persist in working towards it. Learn to speak with strangers, gradually transition towards professional life, and think about organizing your life—these things are crucial.
You must have a bank account. Whether by tutoring or in any other way—after graduation you should have enough money in your bank to get by for six months. Because not everyone will get a job the day after passing. You need to have two pairs of formal attire—these will be handy for interviews.

Remember—your university will not shape you. The university is just a platform. It is your responsibility to use that platform to shape yourself.