College is a unique time in your life. It's your first time on your own.
On one hand you have tons of responsibility, but on the other it's kind of your last chance to goof off and be a kid before you settle down with your career. The way I see it, you need to find a good balance. Don't spend every afternoon, night, and weekend studying. Don't beat yourself up over a bad test grade. Your GPA shouldn't be the most important thing you take away from college.
Here are 4.0 things more important than that 4.0!
1. Building Relationships
You're gonna meet some of your best friends in college. Make time for them! You're also surrounded by tons of interesting professors and potential business contacts for the future. Getting to know someone in your field is going to get you a lot further than any decimal on a resume.
2. Becoming Independent
Nobody in college is gonna wake you up for class. If you wanna skip, you totally can. Nobody is going to be over your shoulder making sure you did your homework, or make sure you study. It's up to you to make those choices for yourself! If you wanna eat junk food for every meal, you can! And for possibly the first time in your life, you're responsible for all your own grocery shopping, chores, and laundry. Your first taste of the world of adulting! Your quality of life is totally in your own hands. It's your chance to shape yourself into the person you want to be.
3. Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone
Unless every single person from your high school goes to your college, you're going to have to find your place in a sea of thousands of unfamiliar faces. Nobody knows anyone! Everyone is equally nervous! Your weekend plans won't be with the people they've been with for years anymore. It's so important to go out of your way to talk to new people, join clubs, or even just participate in lecture classes. It's a time to grow into a more well rounded person who is proud of who they are!
4. Actually learning something
We've all had that test that we study hours and hours for, only to walk away disappointed in the grade we get. We focus so much on the quantitative gratification that we neglect the qualitative aspect of learning. What really matters is that you learn valuable information and skills in your classes! That's why we're here! Take the pressure of getting straight A's off yourself, and try to really delve into the material you're being taught. What good is a high GPA if you don't have the knowledge to show for it?
