It's time. As we move towards Finals' Week, final papers are coming due. For most freshmen, this means reflecting on what was learned during UNIV; a more optimistic way of saying: "Staring at a blank Word document for five minutes trying to think of some academic sounding way to word what you're about to invent off the top of your head, before giving up and scrolling through your Facebook newsfeed." Because while everything in UNIV is practical, it's also common sense, making it hard to distinguish what you learned from what you already knew...Okay, so almost all of it we already knew, Liberty just had to make sure we knew it before releasing us into the world of "responsible adulthood." Despite this, I "accidentally" learned five important life lessons from UNIV 101 that will impact my future:
1. The friend you've been looking for may be (literally) right in front of you.
...It wasn't actually that sudden, and we may not be classified as "best friends," but I went into the semester hoping to become good friends with an international student - and I did in UNIV. Because she sat in front of me, I met a sweet girl from Vietnam, who, it turns out, has a personality similar to mine. I'm hoping we are able to continue that friendship beyond UNIV, and even Liberty. But when she first walked in and sat down, I thought she probably wouldn't want to be friends with me (since international students are really cool and I'm not). UNIV taught me to always try to cultivate friendships, because you never know what they are going to blossom into.
2. It's the teacher, not the subject.
Teachers teach more than curriculum, and when they truly care about their students, it shows. That's what you remember from the class. When teachers care enough to be well prepared instead of winging a class that is largely based off of common sense, that shows too. Speaking for myself, it encouraged me to do my best at everything (even the little things), and actually try when I wrote the papers. Whatever you do, even if it seems pointless or tedious, give it your all, because so often you are investing in people, and that lasts.
3. Be aware of the people around you.
There were several people I shared other classes with, and, for most of the semester, I wasn't even aware. Because I didn't take the time to get to know my classmates (or even recognize them), I missed out on the chance to develop some awesome friendships along the way.
4. Goals can be big or small, and that's okay.
Maybe your goal is to go to the city and see the lights. Maybe it's to own a company powering the lights. Both are okay goals - the important part is to know what your goal is and to have a plan to make it happen.
5. Class is more fun when you participate.
It's harsh, but true. Classes have a tendency to seem less boring when you're involved. Plus, participation gives you the chance to take the discussion to a deeper level, which might just make a particular class period really awesome. At the very least, it will keep those painful awkward silences from becoming frequent or prolonged, and it will make your professor happier (and not dread the class). This became obviously apparent in UNIV, where there's not thirty people wanting fifteen seconds of fame from commenting in front of five-hundred other people.
Academic learning is important. Living-skills are more important. But life lessons are most important. They translate into the different circumstances we face in life, and help us succeed. So what life lessons did you learn from UNIV? Think about it. I mean really think about it, because important lessons come from everywhere. What you inadvertently learned may shape your future. One day, that lesson may become a vital part of your success. And who knows... You may even get inspiration for your final reflections paper.
