By: Collen Evans Kgapane In life, it seems we cannot wait to reach the next stage.I remember going off to kindergarten, a rosy-cheeked five-year-old, not wanting my parents to leave me. But it was in kindergarten that I learned the value of sharing, tied my shoelaces for the first time, developed a love for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and made my first friend.I was eager to continue, and grade school became a time of constant learning, growing and making lasting friendships. Eventually, I was trading in my Friday "TGIF" nights for high school dances, dates and late nights at Tzaneen mall with friends. I remember thinking, "I don't want this to end."But, as all things do, it did, and in what seemed like a flash I was packing my car for moving day at the dorms. Before I knew it, I was pulling all-nighters in my dorm room (powered by Ramen noodles and Mountain Dew), writing a 12-page paper in five hours while also studying for an exam.One thing I learned in varsity that makes or breaks you, is your ability to multi-task. I think varsity students are the only people on the face of the earth who can eat, type a paper and study while watching a movie and updating their status on Facebook. After all the endless studying and test-taking, though, the day comes when you turn in that last exam, resell your books and walk out of the classroom for the last time. It is a great feeling of accomplishment.As the saying goes, hindsight is always 20/20. As a third year law student (LLB) I've learned many lessons in school as well as out of school, and I want to share those lessons learned with you in this column.This week, lesson one: ?Live it up.Living in the dorms is a worthwhile experience that teaches you to grow up, take care of yourself and get along with others. Though residing in a shoebox-sized space can sometimes be overwhelming, it has it rewards. College dorms are the only place in the world where you can have hallways upon hallways of your best friends all living under the same roof. Never again will you have the opportunity to live so close to all of your friends.They become a family. You do everything with them - walk to class together, complain about the same assignment, meet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and play endless hours of video games. And, when you do graduate, you are already used to living in a small space. This makes your very first, affordable one-bedroom apartment feel like a huge place to live. Ha, ha. But seriously, living on campus IS the best.I eventually did move into a one-bedroom apartment off campus during my last year or so at school, so I also know what it is like as a commuter. I know commuters sometimes feel left out of the fun that all the on-campus kids are having. But there are plenty of activities to get involved in.Go to the SPB Movie Nights. Those were my favorite. Join a club. Go to the WITS basketball games. Take advantage of the workout facility at WITS Basketball/ Squash Hall. Check out the collection of DVDs at the library. Use these resources you have available to you free as a student to make it a worthwhile experience -on campus or as a commuter.As eager as you may be to reach that next stage - a new semester, new class or graduation - enjoy the time you have on campus now. College is once in a lifetime, so live it up.Last but not least, give sufficient time to your studies and top it up with little funny games with your friends at the MPT GAMES ROOMS!!!!

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