September’s Back-to-School Energy

8 ways to make the most of university (and beyond)

There’s something about September that feels like a reset.

Schools are back, professionals return to work, the nights get shorter, the air gets colder… and for some, it sparks a brand-new chapter: university!

That stage of life is unique. Old enough to enjoy freedom, young enough to have little responsibility. Whether you’re just beginning or returning, here are eight plays to make the most of it.

And if you never went to university, these lessons still matter. Any season of life where you step into more freedom — starting work, beginning an apprenticeship, or choosing another path — carries the same opportunities to grow.

University is one of the only times in your life where you can try new activities without breaking the bank. Whether it’s a sport 🏑, a debate club 🎤, or a cultural society 🌍, give it a go.

Outside of university, picking up squash lessons, joining a choir, or learning martial arts could cost you a tidy sum. As a student, most of these are heavily subsidised, so maximise them. You might just discover something that stays with you for life.

2️⃣ Start something new

University isn’t just about joining societies. It’s also the perfect place to create.

Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook at Harvard. Coldplay’s members met at UCL. You may not become a billionaire or a rock star, but uni is a rare hub of ambitious minds with time to experiment. Many institutions will even fund your ideas.

3️⃣ Make friends on your course

Don’t be a one-man army. Build your crew. Study together, leverage notes, lean on each other.

Back in my day, we had an “Economics crew,” and we were formidable (ask Carlos!).

4️⃣ Make friends outside your course

This is real networking. Step out of your bubble.

Uni brings people from all over the world 🌎 into one place. Rarely again will you have this much access to different cultures and perspectives. Don’t waste it. .

5️⃣ Treat university like a business decision

Let’s be real, uni isn’t cheap 💸. Tuition fees, accommodation, food, nights out… it all adds up.

If you’re paying that much, think about the return. Use this time to build your CV: apply for internships, volunteer, take on part-time work, explore placements and summer programmes. Employers love initiative, and university gives you a safe space to build that track record.

6️⃣ Begin learning how to manage your money

For many students, university is the first time money decisions are fully in your hands — loans, part-time income, maybe even an overdraft.

Start by budgeting your income (I shared some practical tips in last week’s newsletter). Even just tracking what comes in and what goes out will set you apart.

Use this season to invest in your financial education 📊, the lessons school skipped but you’ll need for life. Living on your own makes it practical to apply, and those habits will carry forward as you start earning more.

7️⃣ Use your time wisely

Yes, university gives you more free hours in a week than most jobs. But free time doesn’t mean wasted time.

Use it to build yourself: learn a skill, start a side hustle, or read widely 📚. The habits you build with your time now will shape the opportunities you get later.

8️⃣ Keep your faith

If you have a faith, hold on to it 🙏🏾.

The real test of university isn’t people watching you — it’s discovering who you are when nobody is. Nobody is telling you to pray, to show up, to stay disciplined. It’s on you.

Those foundations will matter when you’re away from home, surrounded by new ideas, and tempted to let things slide. University isn’t just about growing your mind, it’s also where you decide what anchors your soul.

✨ Final Word

Uni is more than lectures and essays. The best things aren’t what you pay for, but the experiences, relationships, and habits you build.

This topic came from a few reader requests. If there’s a personal finance question or a life event you think others could learn from — graduating, getting married, starting a business, becoming a parent — leave a comment or drop me a message.

🚀 Coming Soon

In the coming months, I’ll be sharing a 6-step framework to bulletproof your finances — a practical way to build clarity and confidence with money.

It draws on more than a decade of lessons from studying economics, working in finance, investing in professional training, and real life as a husband and dad of three girls 👀👀👀