{"id":33336,"date":"2025-06-23T15:50:35","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T15:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kortext.com\/student-hub\/?p=33336"},"modified":"2025-08-19T08:57:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T08:57:18","slug":"reflecting-on-uni","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kortext.com\/student-hub\/university-life\/reflecting-on-uni\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflecting on my university journey: growth, challenges, and new beginnings\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Abdul and reviewed by our team. Abdul is a student at the University of Westminster<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As I come to the end of my time studying Human Resource Management, I have been reflecting on how much I have changed over the past few years.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

University has been more than just an academic experience. It has shaped me personally and professionally, helping me grow in ways I did not expect.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A shift in attitude\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the biggest changes I have noticed in myself is how much I have matured.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When I first started university, I had a more casual mindset. I was not unmotivated, but I lacked a certain level of awareness and professionalism.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Watching how my lecturers conducted themselves and listening to how they spoke about their fields gave me a new perspective.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over time, I started to carry myself differently and began to think more seriously about the future. That shift in attitude came naturally and played a big role in how I approached my degree.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Developing new skills\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

University also helped me develop important skills that I know I will use for the rest of my life.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Public speaking is one of the main ones. Throughout my course, I had to present regularly, especially for HR modules. Presenting to a group of people was something I found difficult at first but, with practice, I became more confident and comfortable.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I also improved my leadership skills by taking the lead in group projects and speaking up during presentations.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These are skills I now feel proud of and ready to use in a working environment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Engaging with professionals\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the standout moments during my time at university was when I gave a presentation to the CEO of a company.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That experience was intense but exciting. It felt like everything I had been working on came together in that moment. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me a real sense of what it is like to engage with professionals in the real world.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Embracing a growth mindset\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

My journey was not always smooth. In my first year, I struggled with my grades. I felt disappointed in myself and found it hard to stay motivated.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But that period taught me a lot. I knew I had to improve, and I did.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By my second and third years, I had developed better study habits and a stronger work ethic. That improvement is something I am proud of because it showed me I could overcome setbacks.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More importantly, it taught me the value of having a growth mindset \u2013 the belief that ability and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Adopting that mindset helped me move forward instead of giving up, and it changed how I respond to challenges.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Using all the resources\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another thing that helped me was making use of all the resources available to me. I always tell future students that using your resources is key.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reading your textbooks, reaching out to lecturers, and using digital tools like Kortext make a real difference. Having access to all my books online made studying much easier, especially during busy periods.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Planning for the future\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I graduate, I am taking more than just a degree with me. I am leaving with stronger communication, leadership, and critical thinking skills.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I am also taking with me a sense of pride. One of the things I am most proud of is being the first person in my family to complete a university degree. That means a lot to me and it makes all the hard work feel worth it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My plan for the future is to become an HR coordinator. I feel ready to step into the professional world and build a career in something I genuinely enjoy.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I know there will be more challenges ahead, but university has prepared me for that.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips for new students\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

For anyone just starting their university journey, I would say this: take your studies seriously, but do not be afraid to grow.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Use the support around you, be open to change, and never let one bad grade make you feel like you cannot succeed.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A growth mindset will take you further than you think.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Discover Abdul’s inspiring university journey of growth and transformation at the University of Westminster. From challenges to achievements, he shares lessons and tips for future students.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":33337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[256,11],"tags":[319,320,321],"class_list":["post-33336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-university-life","category-university-students","tag-graduation","tag-reflection","tag-uni-journey","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nReflecting on my university journey:<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover Abdul's inspiring university journey of growth and transformation at the University of Westminster. 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