High school, for me, felt like four years in prison, with no getting out early for good behavior. It was full of drama and rumors and so much unnecessary struggle. From the time I started high school until the day of my graduation, I never said, "wow, high school is great" because it was not. At all.
High school did not prepare me for college. I was not prepared for all the new things I'd have to learn about living on my own or life outside of the comfort of my parents' house. I wish I could go back and tell my 14 year old self not to expect too much from high school, because it wouldn't do much for me later on.
Here are 10 things high school did not prepare us for.
1. Your professors don't care about you.
High school teachers were extremely involved in their students' lives. They knew about you and your extracurricular activities, so they'd excuse you from certain assignments. Or, their kids had a class with you so they knew you from the gossip. College professors, however, don't know your name or where you came from.
2. You don't have to go to class.
This has to be one of the hardest parts about college. The front office isn't calling your house to report your absence, which means you can choose not to go to class, which will be your downfall. In high school, absences meant missing out on certain activities and events, like homecoming and senior activities. In college, missing class means missed lectures.
3. Drama is pointless.
There is no drama in college unless you deliberately try to create drama. No one cares about what you're doing, so long as you don't make a show of it. High school revolved around drama. In college, we're all suffering, together.
4. You might not learn anything in class.
You're sitting in class, pen and paper in hand, and the professor walks in to lecture you on random topics that have nothing to do with the upcoming exam. Suddenly, it's time to leave and you realize you've learned absolutely nothing and you now have to teach yourself three lessons before the exam. Yeah, welcome to college. High school teachers lived and breathed by their syllabus and lesson plans. I don't think college professors even know that they have lesson plans.
5. Living on your own is not easy.
High school didn't teach you how to clean or cook or make basic repairs. It didn't teach you that the funny smell coming from the kitchen was food rotting in the drain of the sink. It didn't teach you that your upstairs neighbors stomp around like elephants at all hours of the night and there isn't much you can do about it.
6. 8 a.m. classes are not for everyone.
So, you've been waking up every day for four years at 6 AM, and you think you can do it again in college. WRONG. High school didn't give you a choice on what time your first class will be. You had to be there first thing in the morning, even when you couldn't keep your head up. College, however, gives you the liberty to skip the 8 AM, 9 AM, and even those afternoon classes. You can attend a 5 PM lecture without feeling your eyes rolling into the back of your head.
7. Not everyone is your friend.
In high school, it was all about inclusion. You talked to people in your classes and clubs, and you would wave to the kids that rode the same bus as you. In college, you may not have that many friends or people you know. You might not know the name of the guy you sit next to for a whole semester. But it's okay because it's college.
8. No one cares what you wear.
You can walk around campus in your pajamas, and people will understand entirely. You can wear the same t-shirt the whole week, and people will understand you haven't done laundry yet. College is full of accepting people. We're all accepting our suffering, together.
9. It's cool to be the DD.
In high school, underage drinking was "so cool." If you didn't drink, you were a square, and no one expected you to go to parties. In college, having a friend that doesn't drink or has decided to be the designated driver for the night is great. It's understandable if you're not drinking because you have an exam in the morning or if you're broke and can't afford the bar.
10. Being yourself is the best thing you can do.
In high school, you tried to fit in, whether you were trying to fit in with the cool kids or the athletes or even the "nerds." In college, by just being yourself, you'll find people who want to be around you and enjoy your company. There's no need to fake it. Being genuine brings out the best in you.