Five Things I Learned In College (Outside of the Classroom)
Photo courtesy of bluefield.edu.
At 18 years old, coming to college can be a scary thing to do; however, leaving your family, friends, and home for a whole new place can offer some great life lessons. Here are five things I learned during my time at Bluefield University, so whoever reads this maybe doesn’t have to start from scratch with the learning process.
1: Those High School Teachers Were Just Trying to Scare You
Number one, college classes are not as hard as your high school teachers made them out to be. When I was in high school, my teachers would make comments about how things would be much harder for me and my classmates once we got to college, but I found that the work is really not so different from high school. Sure, there are harder classes and teachers will give you more work, but college and the assignments it has to offer is not as frightening as your high school teachers claim it is.
2: Dorm Living is What You Make of It
Number two, living in dorms is not that bad, and your experience with it is what you make of it. I lived in a dorm room my first two years of college, and what I found was that when I added my personal touches to it, I really liked it. The dorms have their problems like anything else, such as the beds being a little hard or the lighting in the room not being that great, but that’s nothing a mattress pad and a lamp can’t fix.
3: Getting Involved is Invaluable
Number three, participate in some of the college activities, even if it’s just a few. I played volleyball throughout my time in college, so my participation was forced sometimes; however, I found that I enjoyed some of the things I did when I went to the events and even went to a few on my own. I am a pretty introverted person myself, and do not like to go out to meet new people, but going to events and activities helped me make new friends. Whether it’s playing on inflatables or hanging out by the bonfire, activities like this are opportunities for students to meet interesting people that you might not otherwise meet.
4: Eating Out Too Much Can Hurt Your Budget
Number four, do not blow all your money on eating out and partying all the time. This one is a hard one for most people because sometimes, depending on where you go, the food your school’s cafeteria serves may not be great, which tempts you to eat out a lot, but do not do it. By learning to budget yourself early on, you learn to take responsibility for your money, and it will help you in the future when you are trying to rent your first apartment and juggle your bills. As for partying, of course you should go out with your friends every once in a while to have fun, but do not make it an every weekend thing. Contrary to popular belief, college is not like the movies and TV shows where there is no homework or teachers that do not punish for tardiness and late work.
5: All Work and No Play Makes College a Boring Experience
Number five, just try to enjoy your time in college. College can be a stressful time for students as they are trying to figure out what they want to do for the rest of their lives, while also trying to find things they like to do and people they like to hang out with. It is important to stay on top of your work and be focused on your studies, but do not let your drive to succeed in the classroom get in the way of your experience of a new place and meeting new people.
College is a not going to be a walk in the park, but with these tips and a few I know you’ll pick up on your own, things will be fine. Work and study hard, but also let loose and have a good time.