What Are Lectures Like?

Gone are the days of sitting in relatively intimate classroom setups.

Transitioning to university is certainly an adjustment.

Arguably the most notable difference between uni and high school is just the sheer mass of people.

So it’s then no surprise to you nor myself that the lecture halls are going to be buzzing when you walk into them.

It’s absolutely crazy to see just how many people can be placed into a space.

It definitely provides perspective on just how minute a high school classroom is.

So let’s take it back to the very start of every class

FINDING THE CORRECT LECTURE HALL

The clock is ticking. There’s just 10 minutes before your next class starts.

Your heart is racing. Feet pounding and eye’s scanning your surroundings for the quickest route from one side of campus to the other.

Left turn, right turn, another right. No wait go back, it’s a left, not a right.

Down the sidewalk and take a sharp right, then scurry up the stairs and take the first available seat you can find.

Particularly as a fresher this is not an uncommon scenario to experience.

With the campus being as large and spaced out as it is, it is certainly recommended to wear a good pair of comfortable shoes to lectures.

Related: Major Differences Between High School and University

So now that you’ve found the correct lecture hall it’s time to

FIND A SEAT

Given that some lecture halls are built to take 700 ish students, you’d think the task of locating an available seat a breeze.

I mean it has to be easier than finding the correct lecture hall, right?!

Turns out that there is an overwhelming amount of individuals who prefer to sit right on the edge of the lecture benches to be able to make ‘The Great Escape’, but that part comes later.

So now that you’ve found a bench that has practically no-one placed on it, apart from the genius who decides to perform a ‘road-block’ right on the edge…

Now is the time to

SAY HELLO

Another piece of advice is to stock-up on some ice-breakers.

I’ve found that a well-crafted ‘Dad Joke’ tends to do the trick quite well.

Right so you’ve found a viable place to sit, you’ve broken the ice with your newly made friend so it is now time to

SLIDE, AND SLIDE, AND SLIDE, AND SLIDE SOME MORE

The end is in sight now and all you have to do is make it to roughly to the halfway mark and you should be set to take a seat.

Pro tip: mind your inner ankles. They tend to take a fair beating if you aren’t conscious of bench legs beneath the seating plank.

GET READY TO RUMBLE

Consider yourself lucky if you have a moment or two to catch your breath before the unrelenting pace of work begins.

This will typically be in the form of:

• Checking your phone
• Chatting to your mates
• Chatting to randoms in the hopes they become your mates
• Taking out your books
• Readying your stationary
• Wondering why it is exactly that you’re sitting in class (we all have our moments)

Related: 15 Types of Students

THE RACE IS ON

There’s never been a more apt situation to use the saying ”hit the ground running” than when in a lecture.

You sure better have buckled up because the steam train (lecturer) will definitely leave you at the station if you are not on-board.

Between presentation slides that seem to disappear before your eyes and educators that speak faster than the speed of light, surviving a lecture is a commendable feat.

Related: Power-House Productivity Strategies for Students

COMING TO A CLOSE

Now this phenomenon is one that I have certainly been intrigued by.

As a result of such, I have taken it upon myself to determine just how exactly one can measure the length of a lecture.

With countless hours in investigating this matter I have come to find the following:

The general formula for calculating the length of a lecture is given by:

Prescribed time – 5 minutes = actual length of lecture.

Despite lecturers’ best efforts, the tidal wave of eagerness for ‘The Great Escape’ amongst your fellow students will certainly override any captivating content that is being discussed.

At last, we have arrived at the pivotal moment of any lecture

THE GREAT ESCAPE

Remember those streetwise persons who sat on the edge of the benches?

Yes well, when it comes time for the lecture to end, their investment of constantly allowing others to shuffle into the row pays dividends:

They are able to make a beeline for the exits.

Those who were not able to secure an edge seat on the other hand …

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

Now lecture halls would not be built for 700 people for no reason.

They are built for 700 people to accommodate 700 people, and so you can imagine that there will be a queue to exit the premises.

With this in mind, if you weren’t able to catch your breath before the lecture, use this time of waiting as one of meditation and just breathe!

THAT’S A WRAP

I hope this post has helped you to reach some sort of understanding about what to expect from a lecture.

Whilst they may have their moments, come exam time you’ll be glad you attended classes.

I WANT TO KNOW FROM YOU:

What is the most comical experience you’ve had during a lecture?