My first week of uni | studying in Copenhagen

I record with DJI osmo pocket 3 and edit in Final Cut Pro

timestamps:
0:00 settling into a new beginning
1:32 the first (nervous) couple of days
2:23 fear of being the weird one
3:24 first readings
4:12 prioritising my mental health
6:04 why I use therapy
6:50 more readings
7:28 new additions to the apartment
8:38 the most expensive, unpleasant part of uni
9:47 (why) I want to return to Japan
11:25 studying in Tokyo, Japan
12:16 priorities for now
13:13 first lecture & lunch
14:33 I’m overwhelmed & doubting myself
15:39 How I cope

[katharinaschneiderr]

If you could attend a semester at uni anywhere in the world, where would it be? I'm keeping my spirit high and working my way to hopefully make it to Tokyo and I guess you're not surprised 🥹🥹

[nadja_s]

Hiiii – just remember that even though everything feels hard at uni in the beginning, especially since you're learning so much new material in such a short time, it will get easier. After the first semester, personal, work, and study routines tend to fall into place. You already seem great at prioritising, which is such an amazing skill to have! I really admire how confident you are in yourself and your dreams, especially at such a young age. Remember that even though you can always study 'more' (because we set the limit ourselves), don't feel like you need to take on everything uni throws your way. Focus on what really matters and try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Get good at prioritising what information is important and what isn't. You've got this! And you honestly seem like such a sweet, strong, and kind soul <3

[margovanwildemeersch]

I recognize what you say about wanting to do something more when you know you are not able to. Ever since starting my first job I feel so limited in traveling, due to the small amount of legal leave we get. Love seeing you discover & navigate student life whilst being completely honest about it😊

[adelefontaine]

You've got this! This is a great reminder that there has to be some overwhelming and not so nice moments to notice the good ones, but they're on their way, I promise you that <3

[nojoke]

Hi Katharina, thank you for the nice video and everything you put into YouTube just to make content for us! By watching this video I could really relate to you because when I started going to university I was sooo stressed as well. I remember sitting in the first course - I didn't understand most of what they said and I thought I have to work so much to keep up. Now, 5 years later I am really close to finishing my masters degree and everything worked out perfectly. And I can tell you one thing: don't stress and pressure yourself too much. Studying in the first week is NOT necessary. Time (and professors) will tell you what you really have to learn and most of the time it is not the whole book! And it will start to be less overehelming and then it will be so much easier to follow and understand everything. Also: my Boyfriend was in Tokyo for his semester abroad and his grades were fine but definetly not perfect at all.

What I want to share is: do not stress too much, life is about balance and you got this anyway - don't try to be perfect and loose yourself in the process. At least, this is what I would advice my younger self.

Wish you all the best ❤

[katharinaschneiderr]

What’s it like to attend university like in your country? I believe there’s many similarities but also a lot of differences. I hope you enjoyed this insight into my experience (so far) in Copenhagen. I’m only just getting started! :)

[astridcalduch]

so proud of you katha, remember eveerything at its own time & pace !! listen to your body, it's always giving you signs <3

[Chelsea_Rene]

I get this. I'm 30 and stop drinking because it wasn't good for me. I learned I can still have fun with friends drinking a mocktail or soda water. I love Japan. I got to live there in the military for two years. Thank you so much for sharing this video 🤍

[Wings_nut]

Both macro and microecon are tough enough when English is your first language. I can't imagine what it's like when English is not your first language. But, you're super intelligent, and you'll get it. I'm actually envious that you are at uni. I would take classes again if I could. But those days are long behind me.

[Ivy-njdq]

Hey! Those paintings are made with modeling paste :) It is a really thick texture where you can layer it up and create those kind of stuff <3

[hjgviru]

I love your style. So simple and chic! Everything is out of a magazine❤

[ninahorn]

I start uni next month and I’m pretty nervous but also super excited for this new chapter! Thanks for your pov :))

[crazydavec]

Hej Katharina,

I got a bunch of thoughts based on erm... things I got wrong at some point (failed a masters degree)... 1-5 and most of 6 is a copy-paste from something I wrote for someone else a couple of months ago - you seem to have it all worked out pretty much so it might not matter but here goes.

(1) In many ways University can be treated like a job. Many people work 9am - 5pm then they turn to their family lives and other pursuits - they're not kinda half working half not 9am-11pm - that's a bad idea! In the winter I found a working day of 8am - 5pm with a good 12pm - 2pm break worked well... the big break is for sunlight! Though I'm not at all a religious person the Christian idea of one day of rest a week is there for a reason - I try to follow that but whether Friday, Saturday or Sunday depends on the weather!
(2) Previously I have been a high school teacher and college lecturer. My objective was always to send my students away after an hour or so with one core fact or understanding they didn't have before, and perhaps a few associated ideas - only the core idea really mattered. When I have to learn new things a good 45 minute spot then rest works well, come away with one core idea! I have become quite good at relaxing for a few minutes gently focused on birdsong and the branches of nearby trees moving - just for a few minutes my work is done! A quick re-read of material a few days later reveals whether these things made it to long-term memory - an associated YouTube may help with that too - multiple sources for the same idea is a good thing!
(3) You got all those books and lectures and Uni and all of that - the point of it all is learning yes? Erm, no! It's the business of passing exams, it's the business of passing in coursework that can be easily assigned high grades. It is best to prioritise a deep understanding of what's in the lectures - if it isn't in the lectures or closely related to things that are it's probably superfluous - if you can find a good YouTube that's also a good way of checking your understanding. You have no target to read those books - only the bits that matter - this makes them reference material.
(4) In my experience there tends to be little to do earlier in the course, lots to do later on. One good way to flatten that curve is to make headway on any big projects etc. as early as possible. This will then be in the bank, allowing you to focus more on exams as you get closer to them. Try to keep projects and coursework responses as simple as possible while still achieving the objectives required. It's best not to get too creative either (though I for one would like to be), it isn't your game - figure out as best you can what they want to see - and show them that.
(5) On the topic of exams, get hold of any past papers you can get as soon as you can. If after a lecture you can see past questions on that topic it gives you a good idea what you need to know and what you don't. As the exams come close it's a major advantage if you know what the answers are for past papers... and how the grading works.
(6) I've never understood the idea of "fitting in" as other folks tend to see it. People seem to think they have to have lots of common ground, but why? Wouldn't it be better to forget about common ground and try to get along with folks who are very different from ourselves? Anyway, you are not at the bottom of the social hierarchy, perhaps it is for other people to worry about how well they fit in with you? ... being on the same uni course is common ground enough - case in point you do alright with Japanese people don't ya?
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(7) If I were you I would hold back on revealing to people at uni the fact that you're a YouTube superstar. Once the cat is out of the bag there's no putting it back in - you can always reveal later to select people you have come to trust - it may potentially lead to awkward conversations I think.
(8) The non-uni bit. You are the chief project manager for the Katharina project - and it's going pretty well! To keep the core purposes of the project on track it may be necessary to limit some of the non-essential aspects. Don't pressure yourself to do vlogs, not a priority. Regarding the 1:40 half-marathon thing perhaps go for it but call time on running with a target after that? - Only once I did a 10k with no time in mind, I got around in 55 minutes but I joked with the crowd, gave a high five to around 100 massive sponge hands, bashed a riff on someone's drum, stroked a puppy and had a lot of fun along the way... it was great! And I wasn't unwell for a couple of days as I sometimes was after going for a time!
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held og lykke med det hele
DC 👍

[MandyGoldenGoddessFan]

Hey Katharina I hope you have a great weekend ahead of you

[jheohjf]

loved the vid ! <3 im so excited for u :D I cant wait to finish gym and start uni. anyway I wanted to ask if u could possible make a "fashion related " video, not if u don't want to ofc but I just love love love the aesthetic of ur style! super minimalistic and polished/clean looking. and I ESPECIALLY LOVEE ur jewelry !! could u possible make a video showing ur fav every day jewelry and clothing pieces plus ur fav stores ? :))

I also just wanna say how refreshing it is to see another young dane declining alcohol culture. and not just because of religion or culture yk. i feel like sometimes I meet people who just cant have a good time without it and it really sucks, because I myself don't drink at all either, and I feel like I cant get to know them when they arent drunk because that's just how they are ig? but yeah very nice to hear I'm not alone haha

[AnnaSchönherr]

Hi, I love your videos, also just moved to Copenhagen so it feels nice to see you getting settled into a new place. I was wondering where you got your dining chairs from, been looking for some like these for ages :)

[etoiIes]

loved this video, i'm starting university in a few weeks, however in the UK, and your advice was so helpful :) i wish you all the best settling in to university. i wondered if you could share where you get your running clothes from usually? i'm training for a half marathon, and maybe you have heard of the store 'exercere' - the pieces are quite nice !

[johanna]

from a CBS girly, I recommend you not to buy all the books <33 almost all of them you'll be able to find online so my experience is that you do not actually need them physically !

[SirTomas]

Japan is nice for vacation. Work and school culture is totally the opposite of the danish work-life balance.

[lea_c-o]

good luck!! using an iPad can really help you save a bunch of money on textbooks. :)