The social side of student life can be enjoyable but for some, especially the new students, it is the first taste of independence.
Students make new friends, discover new and exciting opportunities and get involved in things that they have never tried before. However, some students are unprepared and the responsibility that comes with this freedom is hard to deal with.

Some of the challenges include dealing with new friendships , coping with financial demands and balancing social life and academic life and adopting to a new life style  and new culture for some students.
 Life at campus is different from the life the students had at secondary school level. At secondary school there was the bell that rang most of the times and teachers on duty to make  students do the right things, this is different at university, it is up to you to choose to read and attend all lectures.
If you don’t do the right things, be prepared for the consequences. Some students think being at university is freedom from their parents and teachers and so they dress indecently, go to night clubs, cohabit, get un wanted pregnancies, alcoholism, among others.
Here are some tips that will help you go through campus smoothly.
l You need to have a healthy relationship with fellow students because you need them during your study and  halls of residence. To get along with others you need to respect them with their strength and weaknesses. Treat others as you  want them to treat you.
l What are your strengths and weaknesses? If you understand your strength, you make excellent choices. Knowing your weaknesses will help you to try to improve them. Avoid diversions that will spoil your future such as alcohol and drug addiction, premarital sex, pornography, missing classes. Are you ready for the consequences of these habits? Think about it.
l Assertiveness as a skill is very important for you. It means the ability to express your feelings openly and directly. When you express your beliefs openly, then you will be in control of your life. That means that you will not just follow others especially when the path they are taking is wrong. I know of a female student who was misled by her boyfriend that she would not become pregnant.  Naively she believed him and she conceived. Even friends can sometimes come up with dangerous  and unacceptable suggestions.
l Emotions and stress can be destructive if poorly handled. Stress can be caused by lack of money/tuition, loss of a loved one, failing exams and course work.
l Self-esteem is another skill that you need. It is a person's overall sense of self-worth or personal value. Self-esteem is often seen as a personality trait, which means that it tends to be stable and enduring.
Self-esteem can involve a variety of beliefs about the self, such as the appraisal of one's own appearance, beliefs, emotions and behaviours.
Finally, if you are students struggling with alcohol addiction, drugs, pornography, broken relationships, anger, and many other issues, let me request you to seek counselling.

Musinguzi is a counselling psychologist and a lecturer in the Faculty of Social Sciences