We all remember our high school days. For some, the high school experience was a nostalgic and pleasantly memorable time. For others, maybe not so much. Many were ready to break out of the high school cliques, drama, and immaturity, and move on to bigger and better things. I was one of those many people that was ready to focus more on what is important in life. In no way is this an insult to those who enjoyed high-school thoroughly, and this is not to say I didn't enjoy my high-school experience. However, I have found that graduating from high school and experiencing (almost) a full year of college has matured me in so many ways.
First of all, I graduated from a very large high school. My graduating class alone was over 1,000 students. While going to such a massive high school did have its benefits, it also showed me that I prefer to be in a smaller, close-knit environment. The one aspect of college I've loved the absolute most is the fact that all my professors and advisors know me by name. They know my strengths and weaknesses, how to guide me, and most of all, they have the time to help me, because there aren't 25,000 other students that they have to tend to as well. The University of Tulsa only has a little over 4,000 students on campus, and there are many different degree programs split among four equally respectable colleges, in addition to the John-Rogers College of Law. For this reason, I feel that the students are very spread out in their interests, therefore, the advisors in each college get to know their students much better. It is so very refreshing to be a name instead of an ID number.
Secondly, academics are taken very seriously at the University of Tulsa. Although academics were important to a certain degree in high-school, and I received a lot of concurrent credits that transferred to my degree, the level of work students put in during high-school is a lot less than in college. Being that I have always been a serious student, academics being put on the back burner in high-school was a bit disheartening for me. A lot of the time, I felt alone in the fact that I wanted to succeed so badly, and that I didn't care as much about fitting in, being popular, going to all the best parties, and having the top socialite best friends. That's just who I am. Now, I am around highly-motivated people that love to learn, and have the same strong passion to succeed, just as I do. There is nothing like being around so many groups of people that are aspiring for the same dreams that you are.
Finally, the most humorous difference I have found between high school and college is the fact that no one really cares about your image in college. You could be biking around campus with pajama pants and a Minecraft t-shirt, and no one would give you a second glance. There isn't a dress-code. Men can somehow focus on their schoolwork in college, even when girls around them are wearing shorts above the knee. It's an incredibly enlightening experience to be able to show your shoulders and your knees in college, without getting reprimanded, made to change, or even sent home. Additionally, you find so many different friend groups in college. You are friends with absolutely everyone, no matter how they dress, how much money they have, or what their personal views are. College is a place to focus on one's success, not a place to judge others on what they're wearing, who they're sitting by at lunch, and how many friends they have.
High-school was a wonderful experience in its own way. It taught me a lot of life lessons, helped me form my basic education foundation to propel me into my college career, taught me that forming relationships with others is incredibly important, and that being a part of a team is very beneficial to your success. However, college has taught me how to manage my time, how to network myself, how to utilize resources to guide me through obstacles, and has already allowed me to form close relationships with my peers, advisors, and professors. Being in college has matured me as a person, and has made me ready for what challenges life has to offer.
