1. Nontraditional "College Activities" Are Always Far More Fulfilling Than The Typical Ones.
Sure, college sports games and frat parties can most definitely be an easy default for a Friday night, but don't depend on it always being your go-to. Branch out and think out of the box! My most fulfilling moments in a new city and school were those that occurred at sunrise in a spot on top of a hill with new friends that wanted to hike and explore or a hidden gem of a local coffee shop where my only company was my headphones in an aura that I could get lost in. Stay up all night star gazing in a hammock, or make old mix CDs to dedicate nights of cruising and singing too with people that will belt their lungs out with you. Find a hobby that you never thought you'd pursue, attend a weekend session of karaoke or open mic night even if you're terrified of having all eyes on you. These spontaneous moments will be the ones that stand out in my mind as the most adventurous.
2. Letting People Influence Your Journey/Plan Is Stupid.
As college students, getting thrown into a place where we are supposed to be planning our entire life around is stressful enough without parents, peers, counselors, friends, significant others and whoever else telling us the route that we should take to success. I have learned first hand that the only way I can correctly evaluate the direction that I am heading is to do it within and entirely for myself. The expectations that others set for you throughout the most character building and self-sculpting chapter of your life are ridiculously misaligned with what is realistic and, most importantly, what is going to make you satisfied as you embark on your personal journey. Don't let the opinions of others deter you from what you believe is your truly destined path. Don't let the influences of others persuade you to stray from all that you want to become and experience. If there is one regret that you'll have when you reflect on your college encounters it will be that you were constructing your life objectives around the influence and expectations of others. Make sure you're following your gut entirely as you continue making decisions that are crucial for your own happiness.
3. Sometimes Finding Out What Doesn't Work For You Is The Biggest Hidden Blessing.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 80 percent of U.S. college students end up changing their major at least once. In addition, on average, students change their major at least three times by the time they graduate. If those numbers don't speak for themselves, what they are trying to tell you is this — don't worry about it if that 80 percent includes you! Don't be afraid to take classes that challenge you and spark your interest, even if they are outside of your comfort zone. With just an inkling of knowledge about what we want to spend the rest of our years doing, completely uninformed of the endless options when we are fresh out of high school, I find that it sure is easier said than done to stick to the straight-shot path imagined by an 18-year-old with a one track mind. As your college career progresses and adapts, so do you. This change is something not to be afraid of, no matter how far-fetched and strayed it was from your original "idea" of what you want to do. Suddenly, after years of being set on being a brain surgeon, you just might realize that your knack for writing or eye for interior design is something that makes more sense for your career path. Being money oriented may come second to philanthropic professions. The ability to travel or stay in one place with a family might become more prominent factors when pursuing a career. As discouraging as this may seem, it's more important than you think; as much as you may be in love with the idea of loving your original set of classes, internship or career path, if you realize it's not for you, take from it what you didn't like as an indicator of where to go next. By eliminating factors and choices that don't fit, you are one step closer to stumbling upon the final result. Remember, figuring out what isn't right for you is crucial in order to find out what is.
