As a senior looking back on the past three and a half years, I’ve had plenty of time to think about how college has actually benefitted me. About a year ago, I came to the conclusion that I am definitely one of the people that aren't really meant for college, but that went anyways because it’s what is expected of people in our generation. All of my time in college, I’ve cared way more about the work outside of school than the busy work that professors throw in my direction.
College gave me opportunities that I never would've gotten outside of attending my university. In fact, the best thing professionally to come out of college was the ability to write and edit for Odyssey. I’ve also had jobs through the university as well as internships. However, what I learned in those positions is double what I ever learned in a classroom.
Biology, astronomy and algebra were not classes I learned from. If anything, those classes taught me how to memorize information just long enough to get through the exam. I learn from hands-on experience, and like many people, my college classes are just a part of the day that I have to attend, but it isn’t where I learn.
As a public relations major, I learned how to do almost everything required of my major through an internship. I didn’t get that internship because of academic merit; I got it because of my Odyssey articles doing well on campus. Through that internship, I had press releases published online, I managed the social media accounts and did a lot of editing. By the time I was in a class that was supposed to teach me how to do those things, I already knew how.
I will admit that there were a few classes where I learned important things, like how to use a computer program I was unfamiliar with, like InDesign. Some majors absolutely require the class time and the studying. I just think that in my case, and for a lot of college students, college classes aren’t the main reason we are here. We’re working for a piece of paper so that we have a gateway into the industry we want to be in, but that doesn’t mean that our classes are where we are learning how to do what we want to do.
I have loved my college experience. I have made friends and great memories. I’ve become a die-hard supporter of our football team. I’ve learned how to (kind of) manage money. I’ve learned how to be pretty independent, because at this point my dad has learned to say no when I call and say, “Daddy, did you know I love you? I really need blank.” I’ve learned about relationships and I’ve learned about heartbreak. I’ve learned that you can’t put a price tag on friends who will be there for you at 3 a.m. when you’re crying and need a hug. I think college holds a very big function in our society.
I’m grateful for what I’ve learned during my time, but if you asked me what I learned from college, you wouldn’t see anything related to something I learned in a classroom until about number 50 on the list.
