Every college freshman has felt it; the honeymoon phase of college. You are finally on your own and everything seems to be going perfectly. You have a bunch of wonderful new friends, a brand new home, and not a care in the world. Well, not to ruin anyone’s hopes and dreams, but this phase doesn’t last forever and it’s important to not be immune to reality.
A year after starting college, not a day goes by where I don’t think about how thankful I am for my college choice. I love everything about my school and all the opportunities it is providing me. With that being said, the harsh reality of adulthood seems to inch closer and closer every single day. It’s important to maintain positivity about the new stage of life we are entering, but it is equally as important to stay realistic with how life is progressing. While life as a freshman may seem to be all rainbows and butterflies, the real world is much closer than you may realize.
As a freshman in college, it’s easy to think that you have a free year. That doing certain things are okay because everyone around you is participating. It’s also not uncommon to think that adulthood is ‘too far away to worry about.’ While these would be nice if they were true, unfortunately, they are not. The real reason that you are moving forward with your life and paying ridiculous costs of tuition is so that you can give yourself an advantage in the playing field of adulthood.
Adulthood brings many new aspects to life, both fair and unfair. You may realize that you have the entire world at your fingertips and endless possibilities to choose from when deciding what to do with the rest of your life. While this is true, it’s also important to be realistic with yourself. You can do anything you put your mind to, but you will only get out as much as you put in. If you want to graduate with honors and snag an incredibly competitive job out of college, you are going to have to push yourself to your mental limits. Skating by with a 2.0 GPA and zero involvement on campus or in the community is not going to cut it. Having realistic expectations for yourself and what you hope to accomplish in your college career is essential for determining your own personal success.
So, college freshmen, take in all of the wonderful things happening around you. Go experience all that college has to offer. But – don’t lose your long term goals for yourself in the journey. It’s okay to take a break from having fun to work hard. It’s okay to give up free time to take up a position in an organization on campus. It’s okay to sacrifice nights out with working a part-time job. College is everything you could imagine and more, but it is also the gateway to the next part of our lives.
