The Importance Of Enjoying Your College Experience

Some people on this Earth seem to be born with school spirit and enthusiasm; unfortunately, I was never one of these people. I did well academically in high school, but barely scratched the surface of getting involved. My goal was to stay as under-the-radar as possible. By the middle of my senior year, I had decided I did not want to attend college and was set on this decision until a few close teachers and family members convinced me to go. Begrudgingly, I applied to a random art school in Baltimore, Maryland. At that point in my life, getting as far away from my hometown was my only goal.

I ended up hating college in Baltimore. Luckily for me, I have an incredibly supportive family and enough sadness-driven ambition to admit I had made an awful decision and needed to come home. Unfortunately, there are many people who also believe they made an incredibly awful decision in choosing the college they did, but do not admit they hate where they are and live unhappily for four years.

I have attended three colleges and I am only a junior. While this statistic is not exactly something to be proud of, I know I am getting an experience I am happy paying for. College is traditionally viewed as schooling, but more than anything, college is a business. Students are paying to attend a facility that will provide them knowledge and connections to hopefully get a job in the future. But not only are students paying for knowledge, students are also paying for an experience. If you are a student and the college you are currently attending is not providing you an experience you are happy with, leave. Do not be afraid to transfer. More importantly, do not be afraid to admit that college in general may not be the right avenue for you.

If you feel you are at the right place, try to make the most of your college experience. This is the only time in life where young people have the opportunity to really explore. If you feel unfulfilled, try taking classes that might not apply to your major but interest you, actually read the textbooks you pay so much money for, or try attending a group exercise class at the gym.

In an interview with Rock Sound Magazine, Dan 'Soupy' Campbell, the lead singer of the Philly-based band, 'The Wonder Years', discussed being sick while on tour. He stated, "It's important to me that if I am going to be away from my friends and my family...that I am doing my job at the highest level I could be doing it at." If you feel like you are not doing college at the highest level you could be, then start doing college at the highest level you can: learn as much from your classes and your professors, have fun with your friends, go explore the new town you live in and make connections. If none of those ideas interest you and you just like to lounge and watch Netflix all day, have fun. If you are unhappy where you are, research new colleges you want to go to and then go. This is your money and you are the consumer. You would not go to the store and buy a shirt you dislike, so why would you buy a college experience you dislike?

Life is short, but college is shorter. It does not need to suck.