Is uni really the best years of your life…?
Posted by username284015@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 113 comments
[removed]
Posted by username284015@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 113 comments
[removed]
oiseauvert989@reddit
I mean if your only 21 then a lot of your youth is in the future.
Most people do most of their big life experiences such as travelling in other cultures, meeting their partner, finding their way in the working world, setting themselves up in a home they are happy with etc. after that age. Often after age 30 never mind 21. If you have 12 years as a young adult between 18 and 30 then you are only 20% into that time. Enjoy the other 80%.
Single-Aardvark9330@reddit
I went to uni during COVID so not really
The lack of any real responsibilities was nice though
Lomasgo@reddit
I actually hated my university time.
Bopping_Shasket@reddit
Yeah, it was the best time of my life. I wish I had that many parties to go to now
You_moron04@reddit
It’s a terrifying thought for me because I never went.
professoryaffle72@reddit
My university life was nothing special and I'm not really in touch with anybody.
Life got better in my 40s and then 50s when life had settled down and I was more comfortable in who I am.
oliknight1@reddit
my uni was ruined by covid but i’m still alive
ro-dalliance@reddit
Deffo not. I’m 28 and I’m liking myself and my life more and more each year.
MrFlaneur17@reddit
I feel really sorry for those youngens that were at uni during the covid plague years, that must have been awful.
And now i cant really see the point of going to uni with Ai being so prevalent unless you are doing something vocational like medicine or health care. What is a degree worth when there is no point giving out assignments because students will just deliver up ai slop answers? And the thing is that the assignments were my greatest learning experiences but now for students they are worthless.
12Keisuke@reddit
21-29 is still youth relax my guyy
Spiritual-Fondant656@reddit
Only people who are nostalgic for their time at Uni say this. And if you replace the word 'Uni' with 'school' the same applies. Youth doesn't necessarily equal best so don't feel like you've wasted yours - sometimes with age comes wisdom, and the ability to care less about what others think which, in itself, can make life a whole lot better. So if they weren't the best years for you, then know that the best years for you are yet to come.
ComfortableSpot6760@reddit
No! I mean, I had fun but when I look back I actually had a terrible metal health and definitely an unhealthy drinking problem. 21 is soooo young! You will find your feet - whether this will be through a new career or a job, you will meet new people in other ways. University isn’t the be all and end all of your youth!
warmishlizard@reddit
For me uni was by far the worst, it was so miserable and isolating to the point I was constantly having to use the mental health support systems they had in place. I have some funny memories to look back on but generally as a whole I wish I never did it and don’t think it’s as glamorous as people paint it.
Aylez@reddit
First year was fun, but 2nd and 3rd were pretty bad. It probably didn’t help that I realised I don’t actually like Maths 😅
My life has really picked up in my 20’s; started my career, met my girlfriend, bought a house together, have the money / time to go on holiday 4 or 5 times per year and festivals / weekend away.
Life is what you make of it and you still have at least a couple of decades in your peak. Stick with it!
1Marmalade@reddit
Unsurprisingly, you’ll hear that from people who really enjoyed it. People tend not to dwell on bad experiences.
ross-dirext-words137@reddit
For some it might be. Just having the freedom but being poor. Once you have a job you get money and more options
merrienglad@reddit
In terms of social life, yes definitely. But kids/house/desk job/car in my thirties is much much better.
IAmJustTryingToExist@reddit
I didn't go to uni fresh from college but I know a lot of people who did or are still there and I will say.. their lives are a lot better than mine is right now.. not so much job or money wise I have been working for years and make more than them but experiences, relationships, mistakes and memories they are much better off and it shows..
So it depends on how you judge it.. best years for career prospects? Not really you can go without a degree just fine. Best years for personal growth? Absolutely yes
CodeBeginning6548@reddit
Depends who you are and what you're in to, i guess. I loved school, college and Uni. I also enjoyed travelling for 2 years with my 4 best mates.
However, the best time of my life was truly covid times. I just got divorced (thank god) and had bought my own house. It was just me and my cat chilling for months on end loving life. Then again, I'm not too fond of people these days, so maybe I'm just a weirdo.
Don't sweat it though, not everyone has the same experience of Uni. Maybe the best days of your life will begin when you least expect it.
Illustrious-Plum1766@reddit
Remember how great it was not having to answer the door? No-contact deliveries were awesome.
InviteAromatic6124@reddit
My social life peaked at uni, in the intervening years since I've really struggled to make friends and get a job in the field I was studying.
Everyone has different experiences.
BaBaFiCo@reddit
I enjoyed uni, but can't say I spend any time thinking about it particularly. No different to school in that sense.
StormRider21@reddit
I’m in first year and i was thinking about this. Out of all my experiences in life? It’s probably the best, I’m no longer getting bullied and I don’t have to put up with school. Out of my entire life? Probably not, I don’t like uni but like it a whole lot more than school.
DankestDaddy69@reddit
Meh, after I got work, got my own place, had some disposable income to actually spend on what I wanted, travel and all that. Now I have the freedom to do just about anything a few weeks each year, best time of my life is now while I can still do that.
DrZonino2022@reddit
Fuck no
ForwardAd5837@reddit
Nope. Primary school was the best years of my life, probably followed by 23-25. Now I’d say after my childhood, now is the closest to content I’ve been, early 30s.
BionicWallaby@reddit
My time at university was golden and legendary. I'm aware there were bad parts and I'm remembering it selectively but to be living on campus in among your best friends was just so good. Nowadays I live alone and see no one ever. I fell out with everyone from uni over various polarising issues that never send to bea problem before
TehDragonGuy@reddit
Personally, yes. It was still stressful as fuck but I had some really good friends and my mental health was the best it has ever been. That said, it took the better part of 2 years still to actually get that group of friends, and I speak to almost none of them now.
Fudge_is_1337@reddit
Uni was good, I enjoyed myself.
Late twenties into early 30s have been fantastic, way better than uni
Your "youth" doesn't end at 21. You have tons of time
saknaa@reddit
My thirties are the best so far.
AtticusShelby@reddit
I've only been 30 for 9 months but I'm not feeling this yet! Why?
Although in response to OP - no, uni is not necessarily the best time of your life at all. For some people it is (for a variety of different reasons - some people love learning, some love partying, some love having no responsibility, some love being their own boss).
For many, probably the majority, it's a massive learning curve about yourself and life and it can be really challenging.
saknaa@reddit
In my case because I’ve started making good money, I have a house that is paid off, I care a lot less about what people think about me, have a loving partner so life is very good at the moment.
AtticusShelby@reddit
Awww makes sense, good for you!
saknaa@reddit
Thank you! Hope the thirties improve for you ♥️
Mikey463@reddit
Agreed 👍
Indigo_Leaves@reddit
Have to agree with this!
wonky_easel@reddit
No it’s shit. I expected societies, lectures and mixing with a lot of people. There were in fact no societies, my course was so small that they only did seminars, and for that reason plus Covid I didn’t really meet a lot of people. Boring course content. The best thing about university was when it ended.
I now work for not much more than the minimum wage in retail but I have a lot of fun at work.
MadMuffinMan117@reddit
Every year was the worst year of my life but 1st year was the WORST year of my life
Fun-Shelter-4636@reddit
25 year old guy here.
Graduated 4 years ago now? Yeah it was pretty fun. It was fun in that i didn’t have much responsibilities and going out mostly every weekend was good.
I definitely wouldn’t say it was the highlight of my life.
University is very glamourised in media - when I really think on it. I spent a lot of time in my bedroom studying and working. I still go out most weekends, so it’s not rlly any different.
You’re still super young. Take each year as it comes and try doing as many new things as possible
Sea-Still5427@reddit
They used to say school was the best years of your life; never heard it said about uni.
Personally I wouldn't do my early 20s again if you paid me. Life started coming together around 28 for me.
Friendly-Writing8593@reddit
same here. age 23 was awful in particular. age 27 onwards has been much better.
Friendly-Writing8593@reddit
they were the best years of my life for sure!
however, its been 10 years since graduating, i dont keep in contact with any of my housemates that i lived with for 3 years.
i did, however, keep in contact with 2 course mates and we meet up once a year.
life begins after you graduate to be honest…
Vconsiderate_MoG@reddit
The best years of your life are now. Regardless of uni or not or how old you are. Life is short kiddo, you are enough, but try to share your good self with others, meet other humans, smell nature, try things, travel, share passions, you got this!! I'm happy for you cause the thing you have most is time! We only have like 70-80 summers to enjoy, think about it, we are not immortal, 80 longest day if the year, 80 august bank holidays. The best time is NOW.
buginarugsnug@reddit
My late twenties have been a far better experience than uni.
HellPigeon1912@reddit
Yes, it was stressful but I had more free time, money, and a bigger social circle than any other time in my life.
10 years out from uni it's just been work and misery since then
careful_hot_stove@reddit
I got an incredible footjob during uni. That’s all i remember really
Aware-Turnover6088@reddit
This is just stupid stuff people say that cannot possibly apply to everyone. My best years came in my mid 30s, I'm currently having another best time of my life in my mid 40s. Life is peaks and troughs. Enjoy the peaks, ride out the troughs, and you'll be golden. You're 21, you still have just under two decades of your youth before you start feeling things physically.
SlightlyIncandescent@reddit
Depends what you value most in life honestly. Some people say childhood or school are the best years of your life.
After uni you get a lot of freedom, you have the money to make your own decisions, decide where to live and get into the hobbies you want etc.
Unique_Violinist_532@reddit
I mean from mates I have that are at uni either there lonely or completely destroying the liver and kidneys
Serious-Use4585@reddit
100% is.
Intrepid_Bearz@reddit
I’ve not kept in contact with anyone from there. I didn’t even go to graduation as I saw no point in paying a lot of money to wear a blue shower curtain and a ridiculous hat and hang around with people I couldn’t stand for a day. I’m 50 now and have never needed my degree and it was a complete waste of three years for me. It may be the best years of some peoples lives but it definitely wasn’t mine. Things got much better for me once I started working, so hang in there, the future will happen when it happens and we, as a species, tend to find a way to deal with whatever happens. Sometimes being alone is an opportunity. You can learn so much about yourself without the noise from others. You can decide what you will and what you won’t put up with in life and you can find ways you can learn to make yourself happy with your own company. I do hope you get through the depression and that you don’t of is too much on the past or on the future. It’s easy to get caught up with the “I’ve wasted my past” and “I’m worried about my future” and we loose sight of the now, which is the only part we actually have some control over. Best of luck!
Superb-Avocado-8131@reddit
17-23 were probably the worst years of my life. I think it's different for everyone. If these years have been shit for you then things will likely only go up from here.
richdrich@reddit
Yeah, I kinda found uni (Russell Group) like that. The people I actually liked there I'd met with through a side job.
And uni isn't the big chance to meet a partner of your favoured genital configuration any more. Tindr/Grindr/Fetlife/Dogr does that.
Plus work has a broader range of people, you all have more money, etc (assuming you can get a job) - and I dunno whether the new puritan having to not go for a couple or three at lunchtime puts the kibosh on that...
MunkeyFish@reddit
For me college was the best years.
Not as regimented as school and not as important as uni, just a good middle ground.
rcp9999@reddit
Within 2 years of graduation I knew nobody from university. Life moves on.
Hamsternoir@reddit
I caught up with some uni friends at the weekend who I've known for nearly 30 years.
Still in regular contact with several others and met my wife there.
So for me it was great but from what I gather the experience is quite different now and it'll depend on several factors.
Imaginary_Hall_3413@reddit
I think it always depended on the person involved and a significant amount of luck, probably less so than the time period you went in. I went to uni in 2009 and it was great (most of the time) for me, my current friends are mostly those I met because of uni, but saw a lot of people not particularly enjoying themselves.
EUskeptik@reddit
A lot depends on what subjects you studied and at which uni. Huge contrasts.
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EUskeptik@reddit
I joined the same company as two others from my course but I hadn’t known them at uni, also we worked in different departments and were soon posted overseas.
I looked up a couple of people I had known on Facebook and said hi, but we’d all gone in very different directions and had families. Nothing came of these contacts.
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BuffJamesSunderland@reddit
Depends on how much you liked uni and how much you liked life afterwards. This isn't really going to be a yes or no question.
TheEnglishNorwegian@reddit
Depends. For my brother it absolutely was, met his wife and tons of friends there which are essentially still his inner circle.
I grabbed a degree later in life and mostly attended my undergraduate remotely and was working full time during my masters. So it was a fun experience, but I already had a wife and kids. To me, the best years of my life are always "this year and next year", just enjoy yourself and have fun.
UmaUmaNeigh@reddit
Eh, I miss aspects of it. I miss learning about my passion every day. I miss societies and social events. I don't miss the deadlines or living in a dorm. And there's plenty I like about life a decade later (dear God).
Medical-Fox2471@reddit
lol no I hated it
My thirties have been the best period of my life and things just keep getting better
shellturtlestein@reddit
Its true if you believe it
fookreddit22@reddit
If someone told me they were 21 and felt like they wasted their youth away irl I would probably assault them.
You're young af, you're just not a teenager anymore. If it makes you feel any better people my age seem to treat people your age like literal children.
EUskeptik@reddit
I had a similar experience at uni. I had to work extremely hard for three years to get a 2:1 in engineering. Lectures were particularly tough, if you missed one or even just missed the thread of what the lecturers were delivering it became almost impossible to catch up.
There was some cameraderie in practicals but these were demanding and afterwards everyone just went home. We were scattered all over the city so there was little socialising in the evening, plus we were mentally worn out in any case.
In comparison, starting my new graduate job was a breath of fresh air.
Wish you all the very best! 😁👍
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Sure_Training_8619@reddit
I don't think you've wasted your youth at all. 21 still feels very early in the grand scheme of things, even if it doesn't feel like that right now. A lot of people come out of uni feeling disappointed that it didn't turn into the social experience they expected, but that doesn't mean the rest of life automatically goes downhill after. For a lot of people, things actually start opening up more once they leave that environment.
Advanced_Monitor6568@reddit
It probably depends on who you are. You are only comparing yourself with a relatively small group of people. Life doesn’t really stop or necessarily get worse or better as you get older so I don’t know why anyone would say this except for people that age who don’t know any better.
I remember a similar experience at high school; either I got bullied or basically had very few friends and hated it. Everything since has overall been better. You change a lot over time and eventually find your people, or person, by learning more about yourself and by learning to be yourself. I have almost no friends from school or uni but have made several via work, hobbies and socialising.
I went to uni in my late 20s then again on my 40s, had kids very young and have so far had 3 different careers over 3 decades. Life is what you make of it. And since you didn’t enjoy uni, it can only get better.
Not to deliberately tease you but it amuses me whenever anyone under 30 thinks they are old or the best years are over. 21 is so young. Once you have your own career, learn to enjoy various hobbies, and have travelled, you’ll likely see the world very differently.
That said, there are many lonely people in the world. And I suspect the reason this isn’t obvious is because they’re at home alone. The key is to force yourself out at times and enjoy getting to know people.
Change is always hard. Leaving uni is hard just as being there is .Just remember you have plenty of time to do anything and everything. Then you’ll blink and you’ll be like 41 so make the most of it.
Hamsternoir@reddit
I miss the lack of responsibility I had at college and uni. It was one long party. They were certainly the most fun before things like mortgages, pension plans and all that kicked in.
It's been lovely seeing the kids growing up and life has been good, I know I don't have what it takes to party like I did 30 plus years ago but the rose tinted glasses do make it all seem good.
blueroses8000@reddit
It’s different for everyone, for some school was the best years and many people say they hated that too.
Comparing these things doesn’t do any good, you can have your best years in a different context and time.
Redditisarsebollocks@reddit
Noone has ever said that.
School is the best years of your life.
SeoulGalmegi@reddit
The first few years of moving abroad a couple years after graduation were better than uni. I was more of a late bloomer socially.
ylogssoylent@reddit
For some people, for sure. For me, it was the most horrific traumatic time of my life, though I don't care to go into why. Life is what you make of it. Take chances when you get them, if you can, no matter when they present themselves.
gtr455677ujbvxz4@reddit
It depends... everyone's experiences are different. I had great fun at uni but it wasn't the best. For me that was between 15 - 18. Just hanging with my mates with no cares or responsibility.
mikeketchup@reddit
No. My HS years are the best of my life.
Caveman1214@reddit
I felt exactly the same way, wasn’t miserable per se in uni but just felt very very stagnant. Someone described me as “a shut in” in my last weeks and I honestly couldn’t have agreed more. Had some friends, had some fun but overall was just lonely and isolated feeling.
Felt that way for 2 years after finishing uni until September past, genuinely life changing. This has possibly been the most productive, interesting and rewarding time of my life so far. I actually feel young, meanwhile everyone I know my age is starting to lament and feel stuck/old etc that’s exactly how I was feeling.
It’ll improve, but life gives you what you put in
cfehunter@reddit
Like everything else, it'll be what you make it.
Personally I got a career and friends for life out of it, probably a little liver damage. It's worth doing if you think you'll get a decent career on the other side, not so much otherwise.
CFClarke7@reddit
Im currently doing uni at the age of 35 and I wish id done it when I was younger instead
theabominablewonder@reddit
Uni sucked, better time was when I was working and getting to know work colleagues.
Morganx27@reddit
I enjoyed uni, because I spent most of it wasted. Life doesn't stop when you graduate though, just because it wasn't amazing for you doesn't mean it all goes downhill afterwards. Uni facilitates a lot of fun stuff (drinking, drugs, casual sex etc), and I'm not here to say those things are overrated or shallow pleasures, they're brilliant, but it's not everyone's bag and it's not everyone's experience with uni. If that's the kind of thing you want and felt you were missing out on, it'll be easier with more money. If it's not, you're not the kind of person for whom uni is the best thing ever.
speccynerd@reddit
God no. Crappy accommodation, immature people, not much money? I much prefer being an adult. I can choose who I spend time with and can buy things I want.
LostHumanFishPerson@reddit
Mid to late twenties were better for me. I was a shy little wallflower at university
Independent-Loan-581@reddit
No, nome of my educational years were the best. They all sucked
DaVirus@reddit
Absolutely not. My early 30s have been the best.
clearskinsis@reddit
maybe for some. i also didn't make any long term friends and was very depressed at uni. try not to worry too much about wasting your youth. you're in your early twenties, there's a lot of time to meet new people!
invisibleredditor2@reddit
The best years of your life can be any, if you have the right circumstances and attitude. There's a lot to look forward to - perhaps you'll travel in future, move to another country, complete a marathon, have children etc.
I personally found university to be a great experience, but one I wouldn't want to repeat. The workload for me was tough, I didn't love the area I lived in, and I took a while to find friends. I only speak to 2 or 3 of them now, and that's only every so often.
Vast-Faithlessness85@reddit
It's all a journey. Life ebs and flows. Don't measure your experience on others. Many people say their 30s are the best years of their life. Incidentally my 30s have been awful, so far, but seem like they might be improving soon. However, my early to late 20s were amazing and I will look back on those as the best years of my life, until better ones come along. And no, I wasn't at uni during those years. I've never been in fact.
Don't focus on what you may have hypothetically missed, instead focus on what you want. How can you achieve that? You have your whole life ahead of you.
21 is way too early to worry about the past.
clarkey_jet@reddit
I made lifelong friends at college, not uni. Uni was fun but everything that followed was better.
My advice to you, if you’ve got solid friends from before uni that you can trust to live with them, do it. Make a commitment to one another that it’s more than just splitting bills. You’re building a lifestyle together. Plan stuff together. I lived with various configurations of 2-5 friends between the ages of 24 to 28. We went out to gigs, raves, meals out almost weekly. Planned holidays and festivals together. Sometimes we’d just make plans on the cheap and have movie nights in or binge Game of Thrones (while it was good). We were there for each other through break ups, redundancy and mental health issues. It was far better than my uni days.
I lived on my own after too, before I got married. I made the most of that time too. I made my flat my own, full of my favourite things, hobbies and a reflection of my personality. I would still make plans a couple of times a month with my old housemates. But when the time came to knuckle down and progress in my career, I had my sanctuary. I had everything I needed to be happy while I saved like crazy, so I could do some independent travelling.
If in doubt. Travel. Don’t do it for social media posts. Do it for you. Holidays with friends and family are great, but time alone, especially in a very different culture, enriches the soul in a way nothing else does.
TL;DR you’ve got so much opportunity ahead of you. Uni years are not the be all and end all of your youth.
Dazz316@reddit
They can be as the recipe is there.
While you have little money, you have ways to live cheaply while your body can support the lack of compforts that age won't let you. You likely haven't yet entered into a place with responsibility that will result in you being homeless or losing things you've built over time like a career or relationship. You are in your peak physical years human wise, tons of free time, surrounded by like mind people etc etc.
Of cours,e nobodies life is the same. You might be the poorest you'll ever been, have temporary health issues, not able to connect with people, beatren and abused. It's common for people to say it is because there's a ton of oppertinity for it to be. Young enthusiastic people eager to party, live a low responsibility life while newly being adults...it's easy to see how they can be amazing years. But not everybody live's the same or has the same circumstances.
Neither_Major_9503@reddit
Honestly it was not the best time for me.
It was all so stressful and overwhelming. I’m acc really glad it’s over.
PrestigiousBrush5122@reddit
Yeah it was great, had lots of fun, met my wife, my best friends that I've stayed in touch with for decades, little stress apart from exams, and my first time living in a city. Had lots of sex, alcohol and drugs. Felt good man.
yousaidso2228@reddit
Can be. Everyone's best time of their life differs.
All you have to focus on is what you do with yours?
illiteratemad@reddit
Don’t base your life around what other people say. There’s no script to follow. 21 is just the beginning of life and the pinnacle of youth, there’s so many more friendships, romances , fun nights out and adolescent experiences coming your way
Alternative_Week_117@reddit
Yes. Had loads of sex and drugs, met my future wife while at uni.
The first year at university was the best year of my life and I'm now in my 50's. Lots of good things have happened to me since but I can't go out every night and party like I did then and just generally dick about for a straight year. Its not a case though of life going downhill, I've changed and couldn't/wouldn't want to be that young man anymore, I still look back with fondness though.
IllPanic4319@reddit
The first year and a half of uni was probably the worst period of my life. The last year and a half ended up being one of the best. I made friends who felt like family at the time, and within a few years we’d completely lost touch. That’s life sometimes. People come and go, and happiness isn’t something that peaks at 21 and disappears afterwards. My life has honestly been full of ups and downs. I spent nearly 10 years in one career, always dreamed of running my own business, finally did it, then ended up closing it. At the time it felt like rock bottom. Now I’m 30, living abroad, starting a completely different path, and genuinely happier than I’ve been in years. I think your generation has grown up in a very pessimistic world where everyone talks like life is over by your mid-20s. It really isn’t. Some of the best moments of your life probably haven’t even happened yet. Don’t dwell on what uni “should” have been. Just keep going, take things day by day, try new things, meet new people, and appreciate the good moments when they come. There’s so much life ahead of you.
QueefInMyKisser@reddit
Yes being at university was awesome for me, and actually sixth form was pretty great too. I mostly hated school before that, even though I found the work easy.
Starry-nights_@reddit
I spent most of sixth form stressing about A levels and uni applications lol but in hindsight it was quite fun and I do miss it sometimes. I think it’s the only time when you’ll be around so many your age and see your friends often. It becomes increasingly difficult to make plans as working adults now.
littleboo2theboo@reddit
For me it was. But at the same time I had too much fun and didn't focus enough on my degree which has had life long implications. I wish I'd got a 2.1 or a first and not had so much fun.
Luckily I married a very rich man, otherwise my life would be shit
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Not necessarily - they probably were for me in some ways. In other ways, they were bad - I had some periods of illness and isolation. I have a lot of good times in the 30 or so years since then. University gets that because it is a time when you are meant to have less responisbilities in terms of housing/living and daily demands of work. It's a launch pad for adulting. But nowadays stress of funding, living, study are all there.
We all need and want diferent things from life and you have 50+ years left to find the perfect or at least good enough life for you.
Starry-nights_@reddit
It’s different for everyone - some people have it better or worse. But we are so young at 21 and haven’t even experienced life properly yet that it’s unfair to say that those are the peak years or life goes downhill.
The truth is I loved uni and I still sometimes tear up when I think about it and it’s going to be two years since my graduation this summer. Hopefully it will get better with more time but it does surprise me how attached I was. I think it’s because life is simple as you’re just in a bubble with people your age.
Honestly don’t worry about the future and use this time to firstly be proud of getting through uni and building your skills, CV and getting some experience. Even though I loved uni, it is good to be working and earning without the constant stress of exams and assignments. You can actually enjoy your weekends and evenings now, provided your job provides a good work life balance.
Vellomanaca@reddit
No I graduated last year spent my whole time at uni as a commuting student so never really took part in much apart from lectures.I think uni for a lot of people is a place where they can go off the rails in a way and stress test themselves knowing it does not matter.
v_clandestine@reddit
I hated it, was one of the worst times of my life. Been graduated 4 years now and my life is sooooo much better
TimeTimeClock@reddit
I'm old and not from the UK, and I never heard this belief that uni would be the best years of our lives. I don't know where this idea or pressure comes from.
In saying that, I had a great time at uni. And before it at school, and after it at more school, and after it at work. A mixture of attitude and luck I suppose.
w0tth3f00k@reddit
I’m 29 and realise age truly is a concept. You feel your youth is passing you by now because of the pressure to know what you want to do for the rest of your life. You’re 21. It’s insane society expects a 21 year old to have their life mapped out so soon. I went to university aged 25 and you know what? I STILL don’t know what I want to do! Maybe I will be a teacher, maybe I won’t. Your life changes so much, so quickly. You’ll make new friends, lose old friends. You have so many memories to make and you’ve only just started your life. Be kinder to yourself.
Also for reference, I found my best friend, the first REAL best friend I’ve ever had, only 5 years ago.
w0tth3f00k@reddit
Also your best days are yet to come. See this as you closing the book and opening a new one.
Illustrious-Plum1766@reddit
No, I was depressed throughout uni more often than not, and I didn’t recognise my symptoms. I had some fabulous times over those years, don’t get me wrong! From my tales you wouldn’t know how I felt at the time.
Then, I graduated into the 2008 financial crisis…the most stressful part was my boomer parents insisting I should apply for jobs and not believing me or fact checking it themselves when I explained all the graduate programmes had closed down. Always coming to harass me in this awful, shouty way in the door of my bedroom so I couldn’t walk away. I was volunteering as much as I could for my CV and managed to get Christmas temp work, even as retailers were closing around us. I remember when Zavvi closed overnight - staff turned up for work as usual to find it had gone into administration.
Once I escaped my parents’ home, everything was so much better. My life is super stressful on paper right now but it’s still 1000x better than being young and at uni again.
DameKumquat@reddit
No. Mine was pretty good in between the mental breakdowns and medical problems, but once I managed to look back on it as the start of my adult life rather than the highlight, I did a lot better.
w0tth3f00k@reddit
Best way to look at it, it truly is, the start. Start of a whole new chapter.
Psycho_Splodge@reddit
No it was shit.
letsgetthisbread2812@reddit
No they're not albeit i did have a lot of fun and made lots of memories and grew a lot as a person.
I didn't make a lot of friends either but the ones i did make were amazing people but we have gone our separate ways as well.
I do have to admit getting a job and starting a life with my partner has been the most challenging and rewarding thing I've ever done.
Chin up, you have more time still.
Honest_Childhood_801@reddit
For me it wasn't, once I found people I relate to and love, I started enjoying life. Live your life how you want, people are different. Enjoy it and try not to overthink it.
MangoonianLord@reddit
Absolutely not.
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