Coming from family where I am the oldest child, I had no idea what to expect coming into college. No one told me what I was going to be up against once I graduated high school. Although high school was tough at some points, overall it was a breeze. Way back then, I was able to exceed and not have to put too much effort into my studies. So naturally, I thought, “college should be the same, right?”.
I was far from being right.
College is different than anything I’ve ever thought it would be. Although my high school teachers and guidance counselors helped prepare me for what I was about to face, it didn’t really sink in until I experienced college.
A big aspect of college is of course the classes, which are FAR much harder than any class I took in high school. In each and every single class, I learned the hard way that you have to put in as much effort as you possibly can, to even make a B in a class. Back in high school, I would be devastated if I ever made a B in a class, but making a B in a college class (especially in science based classes) is heaven to me. This is after studying late most nights whereas in high school I “looked over” my notes and still was able to exceed. Of course, some classes are easier than others, but for the most part all of them you have you do your best and put in as much effort and studying as possible to get the grade that you want in the class.
But there is another aspect of college that no one emphasized that would happen. And I never really saw it coming.
You really start to find who you are, and learn things about yourself.
Despite the constant studying and stressing, you slowly to find who you are deep within you. You learn about things you never caught on to when you were in high school. You become more independent and you grow into the person you want to be. You start to find your passions, and you surround yourself with people that build you into the person you are today. You are always able to meet new people, and learn new perspectives on life. You learn about different ways of thinking.
College is a time not only to get an education, but for also a growing experience for yourself. Some people do not realize it now, but you are growing into the person that you are going to be for the rest of your life. This is a time for you to make mistakes and learn from them. This is a time for you to gain experience in the real world.
But never forget the people that got you to this point in your life. Your parents, siblings, cousins, friends, high school teachers, guidance counselors, and mentors all helped you get to where you are today. While college is a time for finding who you are, go back to your roots and always remember where you came from and remind every single one of them how thankful you are for them. They love you and always will and will always have your back when you go through your hard times.
