IS IT SOMETHING IN THE ENVIRONMENT?

The one year where you should make mistakes, break a couple of hearts and laws while you are at it, lie in drunken stupors now and again and wake up next to random strangers until you are proclaimed the all enduring, all responsible third year (second year fades into oblivion in between). Irresponsibility in first year has become such a norm that responsibility becomes a deviation. It is not to say however that all first years are irresponsible but that the University environment and perception that it perpetuates in terms of the conduct of first years is closely related. “.It then all boils down to the question of choice do first years choose to be irresponsible or does the University environment promote irresponsibility? Be the change you want to see in the world (Mahatma Ghandi)”
The idea of having control of your own life and are responsible for all your major decisions that in the past years have been in the hands of your parents puts one in a different position, that of responsibility. What you choose therefore becomes the basis of the consequences, good or bad. Choices like living in res or digs, taking a subject or dropping it, going to classes or bunking them etc. can seem like minor decisions but they are all a reflection of your character but also of how responsible or irresponsible you are. However because there are little expectations placed on first year’s in relation to other students in different years of study can breed an attitude of ignorance and oblivious bliss because some forms of behaviour are “expected” of first years, are “normal” for them and are therefore” tolerated” in the hope that they will “grow out of it” but some don’t and end up dropping out of University because of the enormous pressure placed upon them in the expectation for them to be responsible with concern to school work but the opposite when it comes to the social side of things.
This not only sends off a mixed signal but also fools many a first year into a false sense of security concerning their balance between study time and fun time, with fun time being of utmost importance. The question of maturity then comes into play, granted that the maturity level of an individual is very important in their decision making processes. Can it then be said that many first years lack the maturity in order to make responsible decisions and take responsibility for themselves and their actions and still be able to deal with the enormous amounts of freedom from control afforded by the university environment? Should the University be held responsible for their lack of reasoning and judgment?
The University environment not only comprises of academics but also the non-academic (and in Grahamstown that means New Street). Although the University has no control over these external entities, it has influence on the students. The assumption of the level of maturity amongst first years is a misleading factor in how the university approaches the subject of “socialising” by promoting sober habits but with no real emphasis on taking responsibility and focusing on why you are at University in the first place. It then boils down to the manner of interpretation. Is the situation really out of control and does the University environment promotes irresponsibility or is it a matter of self control and maturity both in judgement and rationalisation and who takes responsibility? First yeas should be given more guidance rather than being left to their own devices as it were in order to help nurture their maturity in order for them to take more responsibility.