You can't blame the education system once you've reached university

For many senior secondary students, the holidays ended long before September. For weeks, they have been back at school, having extra lessons in preparation for next year's Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination.

The extra lessons, of course, include drills that familiarise students with past exams. It is now typical for senior secondary students to spend their August studying rather than relaxing.

However, those who have just entered university have a different life to look forward to. Wide-ranging electives, lectures delivered by accomplished academics, involvement in student activities and overseas exchanges conjure up exciting journeys that could have lasting influence on anyone's life.

For these students, it is the time to take ownership of their learning and dump the mindset of intensive coaching and drilling they were brought up in. The days of robotic studying for that life-shaping examination and being fed answers to the model are gone forever.

University study means thinking for themselves, a period of exploration. There are no fixed syllabuses to adhere to, and how much they gain from the four-year period is pretty much of their own making. But getting top grades in all subjects does not necessarily translate into a high degree of employability. On the contrary, a well-rounded student could excel in the workplace better than the one who's academically gifted.

Students choose whether to simply idle away the time on campus, indulge in activities at the expense of academic study or, at the other extreme, bury themselves in books without paying regard to what is happening around them.

Being able to strike a balance between study and play or other activities will be advantageous. Once developed, good time management skills will always be of value.