Uni is so many things: an institution to become educated, a common place of social gathering, and sometimes the most convenient drinking spot for friends who live on either side of their city.

Sure, we all go to uni to learn our chosen discipline, but there’s also so much we learn about ourselves along the way.

Here are eight things every student learns about himself or herself while they struggle through the stressful, fun and sometimes monotonous time that is tertiary education.

#1 Whether Or Not You’re A Morning Person

School started at 8.30am, so as a first year the thought of an 8am tutorial didn’t seem so bad.

Wrong.

This is especially the case if you live that bit further away from uni than your privileged college friends. Remember: you need to factor in snoozing your alarm at least four times, putting on semi-presentable clothes, and getting to the closest bus/train stop.

Alternatively, if you drive, you must leave time to score that ideal car park right near your tutorial – all by 8am!

#2 If You Will Ever Like Coffee

This one is simple: you either acquire the taste or you don’t. There is honestly no point in pretending.

#3 How You Deal With Self-Discipline

Growing up in the age of social media is a double-edged sword. You constantly tell yourself that 10 more minutes on social media will not impede on the assignment that you have due tomorrow, but it most probably will.

Sometimes you have to get your phone, lock it away, and ask your BFF to change the password on your Facebook account in order to smash your work.

#4 How Well You Deal With Awkward Situations

‘Hi, my name is Nick. What is your name?’

‘Hi, I am well thanks!’

If you can redeem yourself from this, I want to know your secret.

On a serious note, there are times at uni where you have to deal with awkward scenarios, and sometimes there’s no other way than to push forward and swallow your pride while laughing it off.

#5 How Good (Or Bad) You Are With Money

How much of your pay cheque do you put in savings? What portion of your earnings do you spend on going out? How big is your wardrobe?

These are all questions that are relevant to recognising how good you are with money. However, in all honesty, being money wise should kick into gear after university… Right?

#6 What Kind Of Friend You Are  

You are one of two things: emotional or pragmatic. Uni will slowly reveal what category you subtly slip into and if you don’t know, ask your pals.

#7 Whether You Can Prioritise The Right Commitments

Sometimes it’s so hard to decide whether you will go to a party on the weekend, or whether you’ll put in a few more extra hours of study to ensure that you nail an assignment.

But, that’s the fun of life: sometimes we have to gather our thoughts and decide where our priorities lie.

#8 Maybe One Or Two Things About Your Chosen Discipline 

If you’re studying accounting, hopefully by now you know what an asset is. If you’re studying journalism, please tell me you can write a news report. And if you are studying medicine, I hope you aced your anatomy exam.

I suppose going to university is like many situations in life; the central purpose, in this case to gain an education, sometimes sneaks to the side, and you learn much more about who you are.

Appreciate the time while you study, and take note of these eight things along the way.

Ailish is never happy just sitting still and has a secret love for #qanda. She is studying a double degree at the University of Queensland but always makes time for coffee and socialising.

(Lead image: Accepted/Universal Pictures)