Online Reporter
Latwell Nyangu-Youth Interactive Writer
As we approach the end of 2024 and look ahead to 2025, it’s impossible to ignore one fundamental truth that every student on campus knows, yet often neglects, that failing to plan is, in fact, planning to fail.
This might sound harsh, but it rings true for many students who struggle with the pressures of university life.
In a world where the pace of academics is quickening, and expectations are rising, effective planning has become more important than ever.
Throughout 2024, many students have faced challenges that stem from a lack of foresight.
Whether it’s the frantic scramble to meet deadlines, the stress of last-minute studying, or the panic of realising too late that they are behind in coursework, these situations are far too common.
The root cause is a failure to plan.
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of new experiences, shifting priorities, or the thrill of social events at college, but the truth is that success doesn’t come without thoughtful preparation.
Most students have lost their way through failing to plan but getting into 2025, effective planning goes beyond simply mapping out study schedules.
Good planning is about setting clear, realistic goals, identifying potential obstacles, and creating a strategy to address them.
Planning is about breaking down large tasks into manageable steps, and not procrastinating until the last minute.
This has also to do with creating balance, recognising the importance of downtime and self-care amidst academic and extracurricular commitments.
For many students, the chaos of university life is amplified when planning is neglected.
The result is not only academic stress but also mental and physical burnout.
In life experience expectations are not met, promises broken, hopes deferred, experiencing life events in the wrong order, and other types of hardships and sufferings.
As always, the end of one year and the start of a new one pushes us to pause and reflect on the last and see how we can make changes for the new.
I want to take a moment to reflect with you on the year, 2024 we have just journeyed through.
When we started 2024, we all had dreams and some of the dreams were deferred while some never dreamt.
While you grappled with your occasionally opposite ideals, some of the students transitioned into listening more attentively to different advice, while some decided the other way around.
To those who listened and did the right things, I am sure they have good memories to reflect.
For those who choose their way and regret it, we say that’s part of life.
I hope your festive season, is moving on safely and no one has lost their lives.
This week marks my last piece for 2024 and I wish you a well-planned year.
I look forward to stepping into the new year with all of you, with renewed energy and our shared commitment to our academic journey and other life inroads.
Together, we will continue our pursuit of excellence, transformation, and sustainability in 2025.
Too often we end up doing things for the sake of doing them. We think we “have” to do it to achieve something or please someone or ourselves.
In the end these things may not be what we love or are passionate about.
One of the saddest things I experience is when students do not have proper planning.
As the new year approaches, it’s a wake-up call for students to reassess their habits and strategies for success. Reflecting on 2024, there have likely been moments of regret times when students wished they had planned better, focused earlier, or paced themselves differently.
But 2025 offers a fresh opportunity to change those habits and implement the discipline necessary to succeed.
Planning for 2025 doesn’t mean rigidly sticking to a strict schedule without flexibility.
It’s about creating a framework for success, one that balances ambition with realistic time management. Fellow students, you should start by breaking down long-term goals into smaller, achievable tasks.
There is a need to embrace a proactive mindset, anticipating challenges before you arise and being ready to adapt.
And perhaps most importantly, they need to recognise that planning isn’t just about academic achievement, it’s about making space for personal growth, social connections, and mental well-being as well.As we transition into 2025, it’s important for students to remember that their time at university is not just about surviving the academic grind, but about thriving throughout the entire experience.
Planning ahead can reduce stress, boost productivity, and ultimately make the path to success feel more manageable.Failing to plan is a surefire way to encounter setbacks that could have been avoided with just a little more foresight.The year ahead is full of potential, but it requires a commitment to planning and preparation.
As students step into 2025, let this be the year that they embrace the power of planning, setting themselves up for success, and leaving behind the anxiety of last-minute cramming and disorganization.
The journey ahead is as much about preparation as it is about performance, and those who take the time to plan will undoubtedly reap the rewards.
Looking ahead to 2025, the journey is far from over.
The lessons of the past year learning to overcome challenges, embracing opportunities for growth, and pursuing personal and academic goals will serve as a solid foundation.
Students will face new obstacles, new opportunities, and new chances for personal and academic breakthroughs.
The road ahead may be uncertain, but with the resilience and determination you demonstrated in 2024, students are poised to face 2025 with confidence, ready to take on whatever comes their way.
The journey of growth and self-discovery continues, and the best is yet to come.
Till we meet for a toast.
Happy New Year!
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