Check grounding, fuses, light bulbs.

Does anything come on like interior lights, gauges. Does the car even turn over. If not then you probably have a main ground missing. Check the main one off the battery and on the transmission. Also, your ingnition switch coudl be bad, this often happens but usually only affects starting.

Have fun learning...btw, what year and engine size.
I bought my 74 914 1.8 when I was in college (19-20) and have since rebuild my transmission, strenghtened chassis, replaced all engine seals.