You're wondering who I think I am. Telling you how to college, right? I'm not claiming to have the perfect college experience or a flawless understanding of life. I don't think I'm qualified to give life advice this serious. However, I don't think that I'm writing about anything you don't already know. Maybe you haven't put much thought into these things, but hopefully they still make sense to you.
1. School- While finding yourself is important, self awareness doesn't build a life alone. Learn to work hard and commit. Know when it is necessary to focus on your career. Find a major and career path that excites you, but also know the difference between disliking a major and feeling challenged. When it comes to performing in the classroom, figure out a system that works for you. Learn the difference between shaking off a bad exam grade and indifference. You should care about your grades but you should not let them define you.
2. People- A crucial element in developing yourself. When I started my college journey, I felt a new freedom of being myself. Suddenly, I didn't feel pressure from family or friends to satisfy expectations of who I am. College is beautiful because you are put into a situation where you 100% in control of who you are and the people you choose to associate with. For a lot of people, high school is just a matter of convenience. In college, you are exposed to and endless list of backgrounds, experiences, and personalities. Now you can be as selective as you want to be about the people you surround yourself with. Meet as many people as you possibly can. Make friends everywhere you go. Failing to do so is shooting yourself in the foot.
3. Adventures- Say yes to spontaneous road trips. Say yes to hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Say yes to studying abroad. Say yes to every opportunity to experience something new. Take risks. Let the world unmask its possibilities. Love some experiences. Hate some experiences. Then put them in your pocket.
4. Boundaries- Learn your limits and learn the value of your time. At the same time, don't give up on the things that you want. Prioritize. Be selfish about your priorities, what you're willing to work for, and how you choose to spend your moments.
5. Humility- While exposing yourself to all of these new people, opportunities, and experiences don't forget that the world has been shaped in a different light than you. One of the greatest things you can do for yourself is live with an open mind. Perception of life is unique to each individual. If you can learn to appreciate variety and differences, you can do anything.
6. Money- Learn to manage your finances, but know that you don't have to exercise your knowledge yet. While you probably shouldn't buy Lollapalooza tickets, the experience probably won't be the same when you have a grown up job and you can afford it. A little irresponsible spending never killed anyone as long as you know what you should do when you are a grown up.
"If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else." -Marvin Gaye
