College is a word that holds many meanings. Some think of partying and alcohol; they think of frat parties and sorority girls running around in skimpy outfits. The others think college is a time of pure academia. A time to be spent with one’s nose in a book. For them, college is nothing less than the scent of moldy books and decaying library floors. However, there is yet another group, and this group may just have it right.

Look over your college experience thus far, are you jumping at every opportunity you have to go out? Is your resume eight pages long? If you are the latter of the two questions I apologize but you need to get a life, seriously. I do mean this in the sincerest form of tough love. While resume building is an essential skill in life it shouldn’t be killing your college experience. This is your one chance to let loose and have fun. It is a time to explore and meet new people. The social skills that you will develop in college will eventually define who you are in the real world. If you spend days on end at the library and are doing activities only to boost your chances of getting the job you think you want, you are going to miserable. Find what you're passionate about and have fun. If you do those things future employers will look at your resume and see that you are not following a formula but that you are following your heart. This shows vigor and enthusiasm. Who wouldn’t want to hire a person with those qualities?

That being said, let’s backtrack to the first question I asked. If you answered yes to that one well I'm sorry but you aren’t making the most of your college experience either. Yes, you’re having fun but how much of your time at university have you actually remembered? How are your grades? It’s time to put down the red solo cup and start thinking seriously about the future. We all know those people; the one’s whose grades are tanking as their BAC’s go up. Of course, you should party in college but at some point, there needs to be a line. College is an opportunity to socialize but it is also a precursor for your future. Practice makes perfect, therefore if you want to be successful in the real world it is important to practice in the sheltered sanctuary of your university.

So, at this point, you may be feeling as though I have left something out. I seemingly forgot to explain what the third type of college student is. Well, if you are in this third category you may be able to guess who inhabits this grouping. These are the ones who do college right. They make the most of their experience by walking the line of socializing and studying. Yes, these people make mistakes but they can handle their alcohol and their exams. They know when enough is enough and when it’s time to grow up. On the contrary, they also know how to have fun. Four years go by in the blink of an eye, so make it count.