Well, it's that special time of year again. Across the country teenagers and twenty-somethings alike are packing their suitcases and getting ready to go back to school. Some of you who read this are going to be freshmen and scared for reasons you can or cannot explain. Some of you are going to be upper-classmen and others, like myself, are going to be seniors. Are you guys all packed? Have you figured out which pair of shoes you can live without or how many books you can fit into your Mitlitsky cardboard box before the bottom flaps give out? Have you checked and rechecked your class schedule? Have you packed your toothbrush and toothpaste? If you have, you've made it through the first hurdle. If you haven't, get on that! There is no time to waste.
But all jokes aside, your college years should be some of the most exciting, eye-opening, and enjoyable years of your life. Depending on how far away from home you go, you can sneak a taste of independence without the accompanying reality check, or, if you so desire, you can stay close to home and continue to take advantage of the free food and laundry that commuting can offer. Either way, college introduces you to the world, and, hopefully, to yourself.
You see, I'm graduating this year, and looking back at who I was as a freshman, I can definitely say I've grown a lot, and all of it is thanks to the people I met, the classes I took, and the standard I was held to by my peers and professors. Of all the things you try and prepare yourself for in college, the hardest thing to anticipate is how much people expect from you, not only in school but in social situations as well. I grew up in a small town in Connecticut and knew most of my friends for years before I decided to go to a university in New Jersey. Throughout high school, I had gotten used to a certain dynamic among my friends and teachers. We all knew each other; we were all comfortable. My friends accepted my social awkwardness as just a part of who I was, and my teachers all acknowledged that I was fairly smart and fairly capable, so they let me slip by doing little to no homework all year. However, once I hit college, that comfortable life was blown out of the water. I couldn't slide by with my teachers anymore, and after a class or two, I didn't want to. As for making friends, I realized I had almost forgotten how to actually do it, yet even though it was uncomfortable at first, I put myself out there because I understood that I had left the nest. One of the most important things I can say about going to college is if you are the same person when you graduate that you were when you first enrolled, you missed out on a lot.
When I first enrolled, I had a lot of misconceptions about what college would be like. I assumed it would be just like high school with more freedom, and I was, of course, wrong in almost every way but one. The goal of going to college is almost exactly the same as going to high school. You go to high school too because you are required to, but also because it is supposed to open your adolescent eyes to all that the world has to offer you. You go to high school to learn and to mature, and you go to college for the same reason. The only difference is that no one is making you go for your degree. You choose to, and, once you make that choice and start forking over all your money, your goal should be to make the absolute best of it that you can. Yes, you can have fun, but crazy parties and drunken adventures are only a small part of the college experience. There is so much more to being an undergrad than the wild stories you might've heard. There is a lot of responsibility, but there is also a lot of freedom to decide the direction your life takes. For all the college students out there, incoming or on their last year, here's some advice on how to make the most of the time you have left as a professional pupil:
1. Stay Involved!
By this I don't just mean joining clubs or a fraternity or sorority. Keep up with events on your campus, both social and academic. My school has "Hot Topic" panels almost monthly which cover a whole range of subjects that are relevant in the world at large. If your school has something like that, go to them. You'll learn something interesting, meet someone interesting, or, at the very least, spend an hour or two immersed in a subject that likely didn't occupy much of your mind before. Keep up with your classes as well. This means more than just doing your assignments on time. By all means, turn your work in early, but also talk to your professors. Get to know them. You don't have to be best friends or go out for coffee, but just make sure to create a dynamic that has more to it than your name on their roster. Try to build mutual respect. It'll only pay off in the long run.
2. Take Yourself Seriously!
Remember, you are paying a lot of money to go to school. No one is going to hand you anything, and if you think that just showing up for class guarantees you a passing grade and a degree after four years, you are wrong. I've only known a few professors who have been willing to give me a chance when I didn't deserve one, and those sort of teachers are few and far between.
3. Do What You Love To Do!
This one is for the students who have yet to pick their major.Too often we feel prompted to choose between a field we love and a field that makes money. I'm here to tell you that you can still do pick a field that you love because, in the end, it's your dedication to your work that matters. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life doing something you can't stand and feel no passion for just for the money? No. You Don't. I chose to major in creative writing because I knew that I'd love writing my whole life, not because I expected a fat salary, but even still, there are ways to make good money with any degree. You just need to know your strengths and work hard.
4. And Finally: Smile. You've Made It!
You're in college. You have an idea of what you want to do with your life, and if you don't, you are soon to be surrounded by people who can help you figure it out. You're done with the dreaded high school years, the curfews, the parents breathing down your neck. You can finally do what you want to do (within reason), so now all you have to do is make the next few years the best you can. Don't worry about too much, because there isn't too much to worry about. Just do your homework and get enough sleep and the rest will figure itself out. Good luck!
