As the school year comes to a close, college students are preparing themselves for the upcoming semester. Some may have already scheduled for classes, some might be in the process and some may be thinking only about the upcoming finals they have to take. As a graduating senior, I worry only about finding a job after graduation. However, as I fill out application after application, I can't help but think about the classes that I took during my four years in college that helped me along the way. Some were fun, some were challenging and some were surprisingly easy. No matter the difficulty or excitement of the class, there were several courses that helped me along the way and will continue to help me long after graduation. For incoming freshmen and those who have yet to schedule for classes, consider taking any, or all, of these five at some point during your college experience.
1. Sociology & Psychology
Although I took these as two separate classes, they are important for the same reason—they help you understand the people around you. While psychology focuses on the behavior of people, sociology helps with understanding society and social behavior. If you plan to work with other people, whether through a business degree, nursing or public relations, both of these classes would be extremely helpful in the workplace.
2. Astronomy
The problem with gen eds is that your forced to take a lot of classes that you don't care about and that don't contribute to your major or minors. Science requirements could be a problem—especially if you're not in a science-based major. Sometimes, people tend to shy away from physics because it seems like a lot of math. As someone who will do her absolutely best to never do another math problem again, I understand the fear. However, if your school has some sort of astronomy program, I highly recommend it. Yes, it does involve math (gasp). However, for the most part, basic astronomy math is relatively simple and the class is totally worth it if you have any interest in stars, the sky, planets or life outside of Earth. It's also a great class to take to stay up-to-date on all the recent advances in space travel. After all, it's entirely possible that the future of humanity lies among the stars.
3. Creative Writing
People like to roll their eyes when I recommend creative writing. Who would subject themselves to even more writing, in addition to all the papers that college students already have to write? While it might seem like a dumb idea from an outsider's point-of-view, writing is a great way to relieve stress. And, although it's creative, it's another great way to improve your writing skills. So all of those research papers you have to write before the end of the week? Set them aside for a moment and get creative. Creative writing will not only help your skills as a writer, it will also give you a creative outlet to let go of your frustrations and think through any ideas you may have.
4. Literature
Sometimes, people hear the word "literature," and they immediately cringe. You're already reading enough in college—why subject yourself to more torture? When I say "literature," however, I don't mean regular old American lit that you read in high school. Try something completely different—something that you would probably never have thought to read on your own. My freshman year, I took an African Literature class. Not only did it fill a requirement for me, it was also one of the most interesting classes I've ever taken. It definitely opened my eyes to the history and stories of various African cultures.
5. Language
A lot of colleges and universities have some sort of language requirement, and for good reason. As the world's population grows, so do the number of non-English speakers. For those with plans to travel the world, learning a new language is extremely helpful. Personally, I took both Spanish and Chinese and while I enjoyed one way more than the other, they were both extremely useful in their own ways. Not only do you learn the most useful phrases, you also learn the culture of the people who speak that language (helpful if you plan to give in to your wanderlust and travel).
