<Author>Michael</Author>
<Topic>University Life</Topic>
<Source></Source>
<Nationality>USA</Nationality>
In America, we often hear terms like" living in the academic ivy tower" and "outside the university in the real world." I have taught in universities for two thirds of my life. Though not literally living at the university except when I taught in Africa, and now in China, I have very much lived in the academic ivy tower in terms of my profession, and my life in the university has been mostly the real world for me. I have been surrounded by young members of the university community and have been vastly enriched by my nearly 6, 000 students whom I have taught through the years. Sometimes they have lived on or near the campus, and at other times they are what we call in the US, commuter students, that is living away from campus, but traveling each day to the campus for classes and to study.
University life is stimulating and colorful, but sometimes very challenging. Many faculty give very impressive lessons. The media center, the Internet, and the library are filled with all sorts of intellectual information. Students in American and Chinese universities have various forms of recreation available to them. There are many clubs which are open to students. They develop many friendships that last a very long time. Sometimes, they meet the person whom they will later marry. The challenge however is to balance the demands of classes and teachers, while at the same time finding that courses may be quite difficult, and that exams, tests, and papers may cause the students much anxiety as well as having enough funds for their ordinary living expenses. There may be pressures from their family at home, or their friends, which may be contrary to their goals or successes as students.  
University students, despite the problems, are among the luckiest members of society, as they are learning new skills and knowledge, and will soon become very elite members of their societies. All in all, university life provides a wonderful long-term experience as a part of students' growing mature and adult citizens in their society.
