Leaving home for the first time can be an overwhelming experience.

I can still remember my first day as if it was yesterday. I had mixed feelings of hope, joy, fear and anxiety loomed as I took the next step in the quest for knowledge. This was it - the first step towards adulthood.

Reflecting on my life as student, all I could think about was how I could make it as colourful as it could be, so that when I graduated, my degree would carry more weight than that of my peers.

Being active will give students the edge when seeking employment. I am sure that many are aware of the importance of co-curricular activities but with the heavy syllabus base system, you might find it difficult to manage time. I know I did.

You would also probably have this on your mind: 'If all I need is a first class honours degree, why would I want to waste my time on something that is not relevant to my education?'.

Being away from home is really exciting but if not properly planned, the joy can be short lived and may lead to depression and home sickness. Alone for the very first time - don't know what to do, afraid of making and trusting new friends, don't know where to buy food, can't find the food you normally eat, the list goes on.

I don't have all the answers on what student life should be, but here are some tips on how I led mine. Hopefully, it will ease your path - if you think you are alone, you are not. There are thousands of others in the same plight.

Mark your territory. After the registration process, you are usually shown to your hostel and those living off campus will be taken to their apartment or student house. Be aware of your surroundings. Usually, you will be left alone for one or two days prior to orientation for you to unpack and get to know your room mates and also the surroundings.

This is the time to begin exploring. Forget your books during this period. Try and find out as much as you can as to where everything is - the nearest canteen, restaurant nearby or 24-hour Nasi Kandar restaurant for all those times you will be burning the midnight oil. Look for the nearest bookstore for stationery, and a laundry and anything else essential for every day needs.

Achieving more

During orientation, you will be shown around the college. Mark places of interest to you such as the library, gym and lecture rooms. By the end of the first week, you should have an idea as to where everything is and then you will be able to plan a daily routine.

Smile at everyone. This is the time you will be judged by seniors and peers. First impressions are always important. Just as you are eager to learn, others are eager to share knowledge with you. Be friendly but selective about getting close - close friends share dreams and help one another to achieve them.

Once you are settled, you will find that you have evolved. Making it to class on time, managing laundry and knowing what and where to eat are some of the challenges usually taken for granted at home. Some may find difficult to adjust but no worries, everyone will get there eventually.

A healthy body holds a healthy mind, and not the other way around. Sports are just as important as studies. When I was in Ungku Omar Polytechnic, I had classes from morning till evening and had very little time for sports as there were also assignments to be submitted.

Yet, my housemates and I made it a point to jog at least three times a week. As a student, you must sweat. You may be a little more tired than usual, with muscle aches here and there, but your mind will be fit to learn. Today, I still sweat it out at least twice a week and it definitely helps me with my work.

By the end of the first month you should feel a full-fledged student. Bravo! Student life is very complex. As you develop, moving from one semester to another, you will accomplish greater feats.

This is when you might yearn for more. Go for it. Make your life colourful, take charge of clubs, societies or sports bodies. Organise events, learn how to manage people and develop your leadership skills. Institutions of higher learning are more than what they seem, provided you make full use of the resources available.

As Newton's Third Law of Motion states, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. To simplify this: input=output.

What you want to accomplish in life is the output. The knowledge you need is the input. The greater the input, the greater the output.

ABDUL MALIK HUSSEIN is an engineer with a multi-national company in Kuala Lumpur. He believes that the Malaysian education system should be more industry-driven so that students need only learn what is required, and have more time to excel in co-curricular activities in a more balanced learning environment.