When I was still in high school, I began looking for colleges, half humoring my mom and half hoping I could avoid going for the rest of my life. But here's the thing; I do not regret going to college. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, that I will be going back next fall. Here are some things that I learned in my first year of college.
1. College is nothing like high school. If you're like me, you don't really care what people think of you. I never liked the cliques and the drama and never really cared if people liked me or not. In high school, this is almost impossible to do. But in college, I felt right at home. I could tell someone who didn't like me to go screw themselves at no cost to my "reputation," because I didn't care. I'm here to learn and make friendships; I really don't care who is dating who thank you very much.
2.The food is great. When I first arrived, I was expecting bland and tasteless food. What I got instead were home-cooked meals. Now some college students have the luck to be able to cook their own food, so I heard many conversations about how the food was gross. But if you live out of a ravioli can and cup noodles, being able to go eat fresh soup for dinner is a miracle.
3. In college, you are responsible for your grades. The best thing about college is that I have the ability to say "you know, I'm happy with that C+ on my paper." and I don't have to worry about my parents screaming at me. I know my limits, and I know how to schedule and I love it. I am responsible for me, and if I'm not happy with something, it's my responsibility to change it.
4. The people are great. Once you get past the culture shock, you learn how to find friends. Actually, finding friends was a lot easier than I thought. Sure I don't have a lot of friends in college, but I have good friends who care about me. All I had to do was be myself, and be nice to people.
5. College professors are at most times very understanding. I have depression, so there were some days that I couldn't make it to class. One professor actually helped me get a counselor on campus and expressed concern in my mental health. Professors usually understand if you miss class or an assignment.
6. Having a roommate can either be a drag or a blessing. I had the good fortune of being able to see both sides of having a roommate. My first roommate and I didn't fit well, so when second semester rolled around, my best friend moved into my room. We got along great and I learned the good traits of being a great roommate.
7. Knowing that you are literally paying for all of this is a great motivator. This wonderful experience comes with quite a price tag, so reminding yourself that "hey, I'm paying 20,000 a year to go here" really puts things into perspective. It also helps you work harder to pass that class you absolutely hate.
8. College is full of new experiences. I have learned so much about myself in the past year. I have learned even more about the world around me. So if you can go to college, do it! There is so much waiting for you there.
