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Tips for Freshmen (Ep. 2)
May 23, 2024 2024-06-14 9:59Tips for Freshmen (Ep. 2)
It’s now the midterm period and it’s a good time as any for another senior student to offer tips for the new freshmen. This is the second of a two-part article that features upperclassmen giving practical advice to the new students to make their adjustment to university life as easy and enjoyable as possible. In this article, none other than Ms. Pimchanok “Pim” Sornsong, the President of the Student Council (more popularly known for its Thai acronym (SMO), gives her two cents’.
Ms. Pimchanok “Pim” Sornsong
4th Year, Marketing (Minor in Travel and Service Business Entrepreneurship)
President, Student Association
President, Student Association
Dear Freshmen,
Congratulations! Your life as an MUIC student has just begun. As the Student Association’s President, my job here is to share with you the Top 5 practical tips for freshmen. After spending four years here in MUIC, I can confidently say I have gathered enough information to share with you.
- Places to Eat: Our first tip is about survival. But since we’re in Thailand, I assure you the options around Mahidol University’s (MU) Salaya campus are abundant. Other than MUIC’s very own canteens (Building 1 and Aditayathorn Building), students love the Faculty of Social Science’s canteen (right behind Building 1) and also the food court at Mahidol Learning Center (MLC). Most of the people I know will urge new students to try a canteen at least once, as the options seem endless. Remember, all areas in MU are open for all MU students, so challenge yourself to try every canteen from all the other faculties. For warmer days, like most days here in Thailand, you can take the tram instead of walking to places like MLC. The tram system is worth learning about while you’re here and could save you precious time and will keep you from being under the sun.
Across the road from Mahidol University is a strip with so many restaurants, open from early morning to late at night. Some of them are quite famous on the Internet, like “Ob Talay,” that seems like everyone’s favorite, and “Fried Sweet Potato Balls” which is my personal choice. Not to forget Soi Tangsin, a place where all MUIC students will eventually visit as half of your friends probably rent a dorm in that street
- Exploring MU: Let’s start with where you can hang out. Fortunately, we have the MUIC Library in Building 1 and the Co-working Space in Aditayathorn Building. They’re air-conditioned and conveniently located. However, what if you’re looking to “run away” from your own faculty? Look no further than Mahidol University Library, located in the middle of the campus. This library is sometimes open for 24 hours so you can get working on that assignment without distractions! I truly believe that the campus has a lot to offer. You have the gym at Mahidol Learning Center, equipped with a great canteen underneath. There’s MU Lake where you can watch the sunset while mosquitos eat you alive (bring a bottle of repellant). I’m joking; it’s a nice place where you can have a little picnic with your friends. The Music College is also beautiful, with an artsy café and restaurants. It’s one of the places you can take your parents to and show them how impressively green and tranquil our campus is. Speaking of green spaces, there’s Sireeruckachart Park next to Prince Mahidol Hall. You can choose to walk or bike inside this botanical garden, with its own museum about Thai herbs. It’s a great place to catch some fresh air and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature.
- Starting is the Hardest Part: Whether you’re studying for an exam or finding the motivation to do homework. The part people usually struggle with is just to start doing it. It comes from the fear of workload, fear that the work will be hard and fear that you will not do well in those situations. I get it. I often have those days too. Once you recognize what is stopping you, you can fight it. It helps to remind yourself that just reading what your assignment calls for already counts as starting your homework. Same way that going through the syllabus to see what’s on the exam already counts as starting to study. I promise you that you will realize the work isn’t bad, it no longer feels like the world is ending and you can manage it fine. Then you can live happily, without the stress of your work piling up. For exams, knowing which area you really need to focus on can help, especially if you do not have time to review everything, I know sometimes life gets in the way. Again, when you’re anxious about your work/exam, just remember that the hard part is pushing yourself to start.
- Curate your IC: See what the university has to offer. Just by attending random events on campus, you get a chance to meet new people. Since you’ve just joined MUIC, the good news is, other people will usually want to find new friends too. I’ve made many friends this way. I know it can seem intimidating or weird, but I don’t think an unexpected human interaction could be so bad. If you’re trying to find like-minded people, joining clubs that you’re interested in will usually bring you to people with similar hobbies and interests as you. Then you can be friends, enroll in classes together, go through challenges together, all the great friendship stuff. To know how to find a club that’s right for you, you can attend the Club Expo that happens at the start of every trimester. Remember that students from all year groups and all majors are allowed to join any clubs that they want. So, try it out! I’m sure there’s something for everyone. The activities and events you join are what will set your experience apart from one another. Other than student-led activities, MUIC also holds many events from job fairs to company talk to seminars that feature guest speakers, all for you to get insights from your industry’s finest professionals. Speaking from personal experience, when I was a new freshman, I was very shy, and I didn’t participate in “Rubnong,” as I was worried about meeting 30-plus potential friends all at once. It’s an introvert’s nightmare, am I right? This is my message to all the shy people: You should give it a go. People gain so many friends from “Rubnong,” many of them stay close over the years. I still wonder what it would be like if I had joined too. Later, I joined a club as a committee member. I liked it so much and it ultimately led me here, as the Student Association President. So I encourage you to get out there. Have fun. You will never know how your university life will pan out.
- Speak Up: My very academically accomplished friend told me to write this tip down. If you’re curious, don’t let it go nowhere. My experience with MUIC professors has been wonderful. If you have a question, it’s worth building up your courage to go ask your professor. The change in learning environment from high school to university can be challenging for many of us. So, if you don’t understand the professor’s class lecture, please don’t hesitate to ask. This is how you will not end up confused when exam time comes. If you know someone who has already taken the course you want to take, ask them some questions! You can even ask random people in various MUIC open chats. Once your questions have been answered, you will have a better understanding of what to expect and what the professor expects so you can adapt accordingly.
Live, laugh, love MUIC.
Your schoolmate and friend,
Pim
Still finding your way around the campus? You can start to fit in by knowing how MUIC’s Student Affairs Office can help you. Here’s the link:
https://muic.mahidol.ac.th/eng/student-life/
