“They” really weren’t lying when they said college was going to be hard. High teachers weren’t lying when they said college professors are tough and honestly don’t care whether you pass or fail. Our parents weren’t lying when they said we would lose some friends and gain some new ones. Older college students weren’t lying when they said you’d have to chose between the three “S”s: a social life, sleep, and school.
Even though college beats high school by a long shot, I’ve learned that college is a constant learning process and you know what? It’s okay not to have everything together. It’s okay to change your major a couple times. It’s okay to pursue things that are totally different than anything you’ve ever tried. Your life isn’t a straight path. You aren’t expected to pick a plan and follow it perfectly. College is about exploring your boundaries, finding your passions, and setting your own limitations.
People have told me that college puts people in a box. You know what? That may be true for some people, but I’ll be damned if that’s true for everyone. There are people who may not need college. Frankly, there are some who don’t want to go to college. Although, no one can sit there and tell me that college is a waste of time for the people who want to learn.
One university holds some of the greatest minds who get paid to share their knowledge. Ranging from your Chemistry professor to your Art Appreciation professor, their job is to challenge what you already know and to teach you things you’ve never thought about before. Becoming a doctor, become a lawyer, becoming a “whatever you want to be” starts with the fundamental things you learn in college.
College has taught me how to be myself. Aside from chopping off 8 inches of my hair and getting new piercings on my ears, I’ve changed in college. I’ve learned how to live as an individual. I have formed my own political opinion. I know how to be myself. I’ve learned what makes me happy and what doesn’t. I have balanced a working life and school life. I have taken responsibility for my own life.
I would have never learned any of these things without going to college. College is hard, everyone is right about that. Although, aside from the papers, quizzes, and exams, the life lessons you learn are more than worth it in the end. And you know what? It’s okay to still be figuring it out. Even though, I’ve learned things so far in college, I’m nowhere near done. You’re never really done learning and I’m okay with that.
