Freedom – Balancing responsibility and independence

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Joining university brings with it the glorious world of freedom and independence. For the fresh entrants, it’s a new life of no curfews; finally, you are the boss of your life.

There are no parents to tell you what time to be back home, no teachers pursuing you over homework, and no neighbours minding your every business. Finally, you are fully in charge of your life.

Is it finally paradise? Yes, and no.

With freedom comes a lot of responsibility, which includes making life choices, some great, some questionable, and some could completely derail your university experience. So here is what you need to avoid:

Peer pressure, alcohol, and drug abuse

Many students upon arriving at campus are ready to explore, experiment and enjoy life to the fullest. And while it’s okay to embrace new experiences, it’s important to keep in mind that not every university experience is what you’re having.

A study conducted at Kampala International University (KIU) shows that joining campus comes with new found freedom as well as intense academic pressures and sharing living space with people a fresh university entrant barely knows.

The new connections mean fresh entrants get to form new social groups that eventually introduce new values from that inculcated by parents.

The study shows peer pressure and lack of adult supervision can lead new students down a risky path, one paved with alcohol, drugs and unhealthy habits.

James Kuteesa, in a study conducted among 176 students, found that 56.82% had engaged in substance use, with alcohol, marijuana and shisha leading the list. The causes, among others, included too much freedom on campus, stressful financial situations and, surprisingly, even poor role modelling by some tutors.

Irresponsible sexual behaviour

According to the experts, joining university isn’t just about enjoying the freedom that comes with it; it’s also about academic excellence and making important decisions that shape your future. Unfortunately, some students make choices that can have long-term consequences.

Another study conducted on Ugandan public university students found that they indulge in risky sexual behaviour.

The study titled Risky sexual behaviours among Ugandan university public students found that over half (53.8%) of participants admitted to engaging in risky sexual behaviour, with more males than females taking part in such activities.

Furthermore, one-sixth (16.1%) of participants had drunk alcohol or used illicit psychoactive substances. The drugs and alcohol use were major contributing factors to impaired judgement and impulsive decisions that caused major consequences.

Studies show illicit drug use, sexual risk-taking behaviours, and driving-related risks are associated with the leading behaviourally based causes of death, for instance, drug overdoses, HIV, and car accidents.

For instance, the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlights that 2.6 million deaths per year were attributable to alcohol consumption, accounting for 4.7% of all deaths, and 0.6 million deaths to psychoactive drug use.

Notably, men accounted for 2 million alcohol-related deaths and 0.4 million drug-related deaths. The report shows an estimated 400 million people lived with alcohol use disorders globally. Of this, 209 million people lived with alcohol dependence.

The report highlights that deaths due to alcohol consumption remain unacceptably high and amount to 2.6 million in 2019, with the highest numbers in the European and African regions.

Makerere University’s Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction Research Centre states that the World Health Organisation ranks Uganda the second and twenty-eighth leading consumer of alcohol in Africa and the world, respectively. Uganda's per capita alcohol consumption is 9.8 litres among all adults and 23.7 litres among drinkers.

Every year, harmful use of alcohol kills 2.6 million people worldwide, including young people between 15 and 29 years of age. But according to the experts, good life choices where there is freedom can shield you from alcohol and drug abuse.

The Good side of freedom

According to experts, freedom as a fresh university entrant does not mean you should fall into bad habits. It just calls for navigating independence wisely.

The research titled The Association of Well-Being with Health Risk Behaviors in College-Attending Young Adults suggests students who develop a strong sense of purpose, fulfilment and life satisfaction tend to avoid risky behaviour.

To find balance, according to the experts, surround yourself with people who motivate and support you and do not get you into risky behaviour.

Furthermore, manage your time well and strike a balance between fun and academics; manage your finances well so that you are not overstrained.

Furthermore, take care of your physical and mental health and think long-term by making choices that will positively impact your future.