Before going to college, many students have never been so far from their families nor have they ever been independent. That is why when many students go to college, it's a very big change in their lives. Although students are encouraged to learn before going to school, many learn much more while in college. Students can learn by trial and error, and they expect that there will be some problems in their efforts, and prepare for such problems that may occur. I think college can make students more independent and more prepared for real life. Although it is true that college prepares students a lot, it doesn't always make the proper preparations, and sometimes students still don't come out fully independent.

Students learn important things such as how to do laundry, and how to plan their time in a meaningful way. There is no one to tell when is the best time to do important things, and there is no one to guide you through every challenge you may face. The most difficult thing for many students when they enter college is time management. In high school, many students had less motivation to do their work, because it wasn't always as important. In college, this is very different because there is much more work to do.

It's true that there is more free time in college, but many students do not always know how to spend their time in a productive way. Also, when students go to college, some of them can live off campus, and they must learn how to cook for themselves. If their parents did not teach how to prepare food, then students begin to teach themselves. Many times this is an interesting experience and sometimes it's scary too because students do not know the rules of cooking. In addition, people who are in college need to form relationships and connections for their future.

In my opinion, it is important that students look for these connections early in their lives because it is a way to get information about important opportunities and relationships- this includes internships and job references, and just people who can help as a guide on the path to success. There are many resources available to make students more successful. Resources such as residential staff, student deans, peers, and others help to make students feel and seem more independent and make the transition into "adult life" a little more bearable.

Although college prepares students for real life, I don't think they (myself included) are fully prepared for all the changes they encounter in their lives. Many people still depend on their parents for money and for information, and if these things are just given to them, the students will not learn how to stand on their own. Many people in college do not have the motivation to finish their school work. Others do not have jobs to pay for school.

Of course, it is important that students don't overwork themselves so much that they can't concentrate on their work for school. However, it is just as important that students learn how to balance their time with school and earn money for their expenses. These are useful experiences by demonstrating how life works with many things to take care of and manage. Being responsible for your own actions, and making a steady effort towards maintaining a life suitable for yourself is extremely important to college students, and sometimes being in college can definitely limit this.

Students may not always make the right decisions. they may decide to skip their classes and go out to the bars instead. They may decide to not do their work, or pull all-nighters every night. They may choose to spend all their money, or not make any at all. These are all choices that a college student is capable of making on their own. Even if these are not optimal choices, the student needs to be able to learn on their own that they didn't necessarily make the right choice. It cannot be forced or taught past a certain extent.

There are some students who work hard and are very independent in college. These students are more prepared for real life, and the overall experiences that they will find after college. At the same time, there are some students who are not ready for the real world because they do not have the independence they need to survive in real life. I hope students learn about life while they are in college because this is the best time to learn about themselves and the world surrounding them. There are many options to be independent and to be able to make decisions for yourself when you are away at school, and figuring them out on your own is the best way to learn. This allows them to become adults with opinions of their own, and ways to help themselves out of tricky situations.