I'm typing this on the very last day of classes for my fall semester, trying to avoid the apending doom of finals next week. I'm a very sentimental person so I spent today reflecting on everything I've done in the four short months I've been at VCU and I reliazed just how much I've gotten to do, experience, and learn. In fact, it feels like I've been here so much longer than four months. I can say with confidence that college has already taught me so much more than I learned in four years of high school and I don't just mean in an academic sense.
College has taught me how to appreciate being alone. Now I do have awesome friends, family, and a boyfriend that all love me very much but college taught me that I don't need to be with someone 24/7 to be happy. I enjoy sitting by myself to eat lunch now and catch up on homework, I don't mind walking to the store or doing errands alone, and I espcially enjoy studying without anyone else around to bother me. This may seem like a very small thing but I feel like it is so important to learn how to like being alone and more people should try it.
College has taught me how to speak up for myself and put myself out there. The first week of college was amazing. It was before classes started and I just got to go around and see what my school had to offer me, and it had so much. The clubs I have joined this semester have been so amazing and have expanded the way I think. Joining Hillary's campaign and raising money for Syrian Refugees with Amnesty International has shown me how to have a voice, not only for myself but for others as well. For many people, it is a hard transition from high school to college. They go from being a big fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a big pond, but for me it was the opposite. I know I'm in a big pond but I feel like a pretty big fish at the same time.
College has taught me that 3am is basically 8pm. College has ruined any existance of a sleeping schedule that I used to have. I have no idea how I managed to get up at 6:30 am every morning for school when I struggle to get up at 9:00 am for a 9:30 class. I have found myself many times this semster eating dinner at 12 am or staying at the library until 4am without even realizing what time it is. One very good thing about my now insane sleep schedule is all the time I feel like I have. I get so much more done now in a day than before and I love it.
College has taught me many more life skills than just these three and I'm sure it will continue to teach me as the years go on.
*side note* This is a pretty light hearted article for me, I usually write about "heavier" stuff I suppose but I think it is important to take a moment to see everything in your life, the good and the bad. Even in the middle of all the bad that is happening and will continue to happen, there are some good points and important not to let them get forgotten amidst everything bad happening.
