While the “College Bubble” is something I made up myself, many of you may be living in one and not even realizing it. It is likely that you are only trapped in this bubble from August through May, and your friends are more than likely trapped in it with you. My definition of the term “College Bubble” is as follows: it's the world that college students live in while they are enrolled in classes and living on or near campus. This world is the only world that they care about during the school year. Those trapped in this world give very little thought to anything outside of school and what is happening on and near their university’s campus.

Signs you are trapped in the College Bubble:

• You can name all of the fraternities having parties on Thursday night, but not more than two of the presidential candidates.
• Your only source of news is social media.
• You haven’t given much thought to what you might do after you graduate.
• You forget that you’re actually not allowed to drink yet (unless you’re 21, of course).
• You’re under the impression that promiscuous people will always outnumber the non-promiscuous people.
• You refuse to date someone that doesn’t go to your school.
• You take the fact that you are going to college (something a very small percentage of the world gets to do) for granted.
• You not only don’t know what is going on in the world, you are in denial about the fact that it can actually have an effect on you and your life.
• You don’t realize that there are worse things that could’ve happened to you when you were drunk than hooking up with someone random person or puking in your Uber driver’s car.

Here’s how to not stay trapped in the College Bubble:

• Watch the news. Read the news. Find real news sources. (No, Facebook is not a legitimate news source.) Yes, it can be boring, and yes, it can be depressing, but if you’re going to call yourself a “grown up,” then this is what you need to start doing.
• Make a life plan. It sounds cheesy, but when you actually start to figure out what you want to do with your life, it gives your four years in college a purpose. It also gives you a reality check, because people trapped in this bubble tend to forget why they came to college in the first place (I’ll give you a hint: for an education.)
• Get involved in more than just one thing, Join a club that is related to your major, and another one that is just for fun or fellowship.
• Do something that will build your resume. In this day and age, you need more than just a degree to get a decent job, so do something that will make you stand out to future employers.
• Be very selective about what you’re posting on social media.You might think it’s cool that TFM or a website with similar intentions shared your half naked Instagram picture, but it could lose you your dream job one day. Think about what’s more important.
• Remember that college life does not reflect “real life” at all. The real world is a very different place.
• Remember that most of your professors do not live in the real world, they live in academia.
• Remember that there are worse people in the world than the frat guy that broke your heart. And remember that just being on a college campus doesn’t make you safe from those people.
• Don’t give up on your values just because you’re in college.
• Own who you are. If you’re a nerd, own it. If you’re a goody two shoes, own it.
• Remember how truly blessed you are to be going to college, and the fact that there are people out there (even in the town over from you) that don’t even have enough to eat.
• Stay updated on what is going on in the world, because the presidential election will affect you. And if you don’t know what ISIS is (or if you do and aren’t even a little afraid of them), then you are severely uniformed and likely in denial.

The College Bubble is something I personally have been a victim of. During my freshman and part of my sophomore year at the University of Arizona, I was living in a small world that only involved classes, campus gossip, Wildcat sporting events, and what was going on that weekend. I didn’t give much thought to life outside of U of A and what my life might be life after graduation.

Now, as a junior, I’ve broken free from the bubble. I stay up to date on current events. I have a plan for my life. And I don’t get upset when there are no “good” parties to go to on Saturday night. The truth is, college is just a transition period for all of us.Yeah, it’s awesome and fun and you can get away with much more than you could before, but, though this might come as a shock to all of you, it’s not the best part of your life. You have a lot to look forward to in the future. And if you burst out of the College Bubble during your four years, then your future might start out a little easier.