For a lot of students, getting through college is very reminiscent of surviving the first few days of kindergarten. Even though college is usually the last wrung on the scholastic ladder, having total academic freedom can overwhelm a student enough to regress to a younger and likely crankier stage. We can choose our own majors, classes, and even professors, but sometimes stress makes even the most dedicated college student long for a simpler time.
If you can relate to even one of the following examples, you understand how similar college and kindergarten really are.
1. You have fits.
Whether through crying, cursing, or even just sulking, every student will probably experience at least one fit in his or her college career. Adults usually called this kind of response a tantrum in kindergarten. Now, though, others recognize it as an inevitable reaction to overwhelming amounts of stress or lack of sleep from too many all-nighters.
2. You need naptime.
Even though you might have needed it more than wanted it in kindergarten, most students now crave extra hours of rest throughout the week. There never seems to be enough time in the day with classes, work, and extracurricular activities. Then when you can finally steal a few minutes, almost any place is good enough to sleep, whether public or private. Children might need sleeping bags, but college students can make even the bulkiest backpack a decent pillow.
3. You appreciate arts and crafts.
Coloring has become a growing trend across colleges in recent years, especially during exam times, because of its relaxing and nostalgic qualities. Getting creative with paints and crayons was undeniably one of the best parts of kindergarten, and we appreciate the mental break even twenty years later. However, students are lucky if they can find the time or a class that allows for a little visual creativity. Besides the expected art classes, some others at least let students use highlighters or colored pencils for artistic projects or even diagrammatic exams. Of course, when we students have to sneak a burst of creativity, color-coded notes are an easy compromise.
4. You live for recess.
Because the collegiate equivalent to recess still has to include a little learning, having class outside is the perfect balance of play and education. Most students will think up all kinds of reasons why learning is better outdoors when given the choice, even if it means braving the elements. For example, what better way is there to study Thoreau than convening at a wooded area on campus? Every professor teaches us, but we especially appreciate the ones who also provide us with a little sunshine and fresh air.
5. You miss books with pictures.
No, diagrams are not the same. Even though we might be a little old now for books with more than half the pages filled with illustrations of children and animals at play, we can still appreciate a break from the monotonous black-and-white lines in most textbooks. Maps and photographs offer some relief, but sketches that serve no purpose other than being visually appealing and breaking up the monotony add a whimsical touch to any text.
6. You eat the same food.
Even though today’s eating habits depend more on budget and time than preference, many college students inevitably choose the same snacks they enjoyed in kindergarten. Sometimes a box of crackers or cookies is the easiest option when food lines are long and breaks are short. The same foods that we might have considered a special treat when we were younger have now become substitutes for nutritious meals and evidence of how busy college kids really are.
7. Stickers make everything better.
There is just something timelessly positive about receiving an essay or test back with a sticker on the front page. Not many professors use stickers in college classes, but those who do understand the power of color and glitter. Stickers instantly brighten almost any mood. Whether in kindergarten or college, teachers can also expect students to compare their new sticker collections with far more excitement than had they only received written grades.
8. Adults constantly question your future.
No matter the age, students will forever be asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” This question might be worded a little differently in college, but the underlying curiosity and possibly even concern are still present. Of course, some of our answers have to be a little more practical now since there is not much demand for mermaids in today’s job market. However, unlike kindergarten, now we can actually strive to become whatever we desire.
