College is, in theory, primarily an academic experience. But, in college, your social life becomes exponentially more important than ever before. You learn a lot of things about people, life, and the world that you never thought would even enter your mind. And I have to say that that is what makes college so great.
In college, especially at a large one, you come into contact with boatloads of people on any given day. You walk past hundreds on the way to class. It can be challenging to remember even faces, much less names. But, most importantly, the sheer volume of people that you get acquainted with, or even see, is overwhelming, but great.
Why is it great? You are not only exposed to a large quantity of people, although that, in and of itself, is a good thing. If you thought you knew a lot of people in your hometown, get ready to meet a lot more in college. More importantly, though, you are surrounded by so many different types of people, from all walks of life. If you thought your high school was diverse, think again. It's definitely true that you can choose however social you wish to be. With that said, if you simply go to class and are marginally involved on campus, you are bound to meet lots of people, whether you like it or not.
Furthermore, in college, you see people on good days and bad. You see people when they are all dressed up and you see people in their, shall we say, laundry room attire. People are often happy in college, and all smiles. But everyone has highs and lows, heartache, and occasional depression. Through it all, college is a very humanizing experience. It often feels like a never-ending camping trip; you're around people your age day and night, seven days a week. In that regard, it's nothing like high school or a job. College is about living with the people that you choose to surround yourself with.
Because of this, college has changed the way I approach other people. Never have I been more convinced that everyone is a fundamentally good person. College has helped me to see that we all have flaws and problems, but that's O.K. Everyone has some skeletons in their closet. We just need to try to bring the go out the good in each other rather than go digging for the bad.
My two cents. That most fundamental lesson and shift in attitude is the single most important lesson college has taught me.
