College is not only a time to learn about what you want to major in and what you want to do for the rest of your life, but it is a time to learn about yourself. Don't get me wrong; I learn something new every day around campus whether it be something in the classroom or outside of it. We have all heard the phrase "college is what you make of it." And it really is. I can honestly say I have learned more from the people around me than anything I have ever read in a textbook.
1. Just because I didn't go big doesn't mean going small was a bad choice.
I go to Adrian College, a small liberal arts school with fewer than 2,000 people. I will never try to compare my college experience to someone who goes or went to MSU, Michigan, or Western. Obviously my experiences are going to be different, but I chose this school because it was meant for me and I get the time and support I knew I needed.
2. Just because college isn't always easy does not mean it is impossible.
You know when you are having a bad day, and you think nothing else is going to happen because it has already been that bad, and then the most unexpected thing happens. That little extra something you needed to flip around your day or at least your mood for even five seconds. A simple "good job" can make someone's day just a little bit better. And why not help someone's mood, especially when it should make you feel like a better person too?
3. You win some, you lose some.
Whether it is receiving a "D" on a paper you thought you deserved an "A" on, or checking your balance on how much you owe for the rest of the semester, thinking you really owe nothing. Even though we wish we didn't have to battle through some of our losses, we get through it and are always able to find a way around things, plus we learn from it.
4. Grades matter; "C'"s do not just get degrees.
"C"'s get degrees" is something you will hear on a weekly basis walking around a college campus. Yes, "C"'s can get degrees, I get it, but are you really benefiting yourself while moving forward toward graduation by only passing with a 2.0? Take credit for things you never thought you could accomplish. Little do you know what could happen when you actually apply yourself.
5. Motivation comes within, and the people around you.
When you walk into college it is important to realize you are now paying to be in the classroom, you are paying for your education, and that should be motivational enough. If that is not enough for you, it should be seeing the people around you doing well that makes you want to do well. I have met some people on campus that I can honestly say I idolize for how much they have already accomplished with only being a junior or senior.
6. The importance of a good friend.
Having someone to count on is important in college. And sometimes some of your greatest friends are not even in your so-called "friend group." Friends come and go; that's a given. Some you trust too much, and some you don't trust enough. Something I have learned is that you cannot leave things bottled up for too long because they will begin to eat at you. So find someone you can trust, and have a good heart to heart once in a while.
7. Loans will follow you for a while.
When I was in high school, I felt as if everyone around me knew where they wanted to go, whether they had take out loans to get by or were lucky enough that their parents could afford it. I can honestly say money was a big aspect in my decision. And just because you have one school in mind, somewhere you've always wanted to go, doesn't mean it is in your financial budget. I have a couple of loans, and who doesn't? But they will follow you and sometimes other schools are worth looking at.
8. Life works when you want it to.
If you want something to work, you have to put forth the effort. Whether it is receiving an "A" on a paper, landing a position in a club, joining Greek life, being on a sports team, or finding an internship, it is important to have a passion for it. I know I won't get an "A" on every paper, I won't be able to join every club I want, or stunt perfectly at every game, but what really matters is what your priorities are -- what is important to you – and what you value as a person.
I have been blogging for years, and was finally bold enough to post one of my newer websites for people to read that I am actually close with. I still "undercover" blog, and I find it intriguing to read people's responses that I have never met on a personal level, some even being out of the country.
I always like to write some advice at the end of my blogs, so therefore, I want to say find your getaway, find a way to clear your mind, may it be through blogging, writing in a journal, or finding someone you can confide in enough to tell them things you never thought you could tell anyone.
I may only be a year and a half into college, but if you go into something with the wrong intentions, you won't end up with the right result. It does not matter what people think about you. And college has a strange way of teaching you a lot about yourself in these short, quick years. So as we all continue to learn throughout our journey, know you are never alone, and know that many of us are tackling the same battles you are whether it is talked about or not! Be you, be bold, be confident!
- JLK
