NSTU recent graduates advise new students: build skills and prepare from the first year

For many, the first year of university life is a time of new friends, conversation and enjoying freedom. But the experience of students who have just graduated says the skills and good habits needed for the future can also be built in this period. Several recent graduates of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) offered that advice to new students from their own experience.

Touhid Ahmed, a recent graduate of the Business Administration department, said that alongside the joy of a new environment and independent life at the start of university, students also need to pay attention to acquiring skills needed for the future.

Looking back at the final stage of his university life, Touhid said that if he were in the first year again, he would try to gain more skills in information technology. He had some experience of Microsoft Office, video editing and photography, but he believes there was an opportunity to learn more in those areas.

In Touhid's view, those interested in research should also prepare from the first year, because academic pressure grows in the final year and it becomes difficult to find enough time for research. In the same way, the habit of preparing for government jobs or taking part in co-curricular activities also needs to be built from the start, he said.

For him, one of the most important skills is being able to speak English fluently. He believes it would have been better to pay more attention to this from the beginning of university life.

Subah Tasnim, a recent graduate of the Food Technology and Nutrition Science department, does not want to limit university life only to results or career preparation, however. She believes friendship, travel, cultural activities and new experiences also create opportunities to discover oneself.

In Subah's words, learning opportunities at university are not limited to the classroom. Organising an event, working with new people or carrying out a responsibility never done before teaches many things, which help increase students' confidence, communication skills and ability to work in a team.

Addressing newcomers, Subah said university life should not be limited to obtaining a degree. Alongside studies, joining club activities, trying new things and building a circle of friends in one's own way are also important.

Al Mahmud, a recent graduate of the Oceanography department, emphasised small daily habits. His advice is to keep at least two hours every day for academic study and to try to achieve a good CGPA. Alongside that, he believes acquiring information technology skills is also extremely important.

Al Mahmud also believes keeping in contact with experienced seniors at the university and taking advice from them can help students. Preparation for government or private jobs should also begin slowly from the first year instead of being left for the final year, he said.

One point matched in the advice of the three graduates — keeping a balance between studies, acquiring technical skills and a future career. According to Al Mahmud, after graduation many realise that building some habits while there was time could have made the road ahead easier.