The four years you spend in college has the potential to be the best years of your life. It's not only about what you accomplish but what you experience. Make sure you get the most out of those years by following these ten things because it'll fly by and you'll graduate before you know it.
1. Travel as often and as far as you can
It’ll never be as easy as it is now. Say yes to every opportunity, this includes studying abroad! Those trips will shape you in unexpected ways and provide life lessons that you otherwise wouldn’t have learned. The world is so much bigger than you realize. Let it show you what it has to offer.
2. Drive across country
The experience gained in pulling all-nighters driving beside endless cornfields and being a good co-pilot with the aux cord is something that can never be gained elsewhere. It’s a test of patience and willingness to surrender control (and possibly your life) to other drivers.
3. Rent your own apartment or house
It doesn’t have it be long term, just get an idea of what it’s like to be responsible for your own living area and space. It’s good to know how you work in an off-campus housing situation. Get a glimpse of life as a real person. It’ll make you appreciate that meal plan a lot more, groceries are expensive and you suck at cooking.
4. Spend (at least) one summer at home
It’s a different experience than how things used to be in high school. Let yourself go back to understand the value and importance your hometown had and will always hold. It’s not the same place you left but it’ll always be home.
5. Go on vacation with your friends
Even if it is a total shit show, it’s a memory you’ll cherish forever. It gives you a lot more appreciation for those family trips you used to go on and foolishly took for granted. It’s not so fun to be a broke college student trying to go somewhere tropical (and safe) for a week.
6. Visit your friends' hometowns
Get to know where the people you spend most of your time with come from. We tend to forget that people have a life outside of school. Remember there’s a place that’s shaped your best friend, go explore it and see where they got all their quirks.
7. Join all the clubs that seem mildly interesting
Worst-case scenario you hate it and never go again. But there might be someone who hates it just as much as you. Friendships can be found in the most unexpected places. Welcome the opportunities your campus provides.
8. Do that thing you’ve always wanted to, but said no to
Go skydiving! Go bungee jump! Run a marathon (or maybe just a half)! Kiss the cute boy! Do whatever you have always wanted but talked yourself out of time and time again. You’ll never be as young and as free as you are now, embrace that and make the most of it.
9. Live with more than one roommate or someone you don’t know
Sure you can get along with one other person, most people can. The real test is if you can handle six other people sharing your living space, especially if you’re strangers. You’d be surprised at how well you can get along with them and be even more surprised at how they become your best friends.
10. Roll with the punches – that’s life
You’ll come out on the other side alive. Maybe you didn’t get an A on the paper you slaved away at all night. Maybe that stupid boy broke your heart. Maybe you lost a friend you thought you would have forever. It all turns out okay in the end. Appreciate those down moments to remind you how good the up moments are. But most importantly, trust the process and embrace each adventure because it’s only four years of your life, make it the best ones!
