If anyone were to ask what college was like for me my answer would be automatic. I hated it. Did I hate my entire four year experience? Probably not. But I have to say that it was about 95% agony, 5% pleasure. And that 5% was for the handful of classes that I actually enjoyed.
When I graduated high school my parents gave me two choices: get a full time job, or go to school. So I chose college. Since I wasn't sure what I wanted to do I figured that college was the place to figure it out. I majored in something I had no ambition to do and I wasted four years of my life being almost completely miserable. And who do I have to thank for that? Myself.
After thinking this through I've come up with five things that I should have done to make college more pleasant and worthwhile. So whether you are in college now, or just about to start, take my words in and, with any luck, years after you graduate you won't have any regrets.
1. Pick the Major You Want. This is obviously the whole point of college. Most freshmen aren't 100% sure what they want to major in and that's fine. But you should at least have some idea of what you want to do. I knew in my heart that I wanted to be a writer, but I had people telling me that I should have a degree in something else to fall back on in case writing didn't work out. I listened and decided to major in Accounting but soon realized that it was too boring for me. And after I failed a required class I knew that it was the wrong choice. So I went into Business, Management & Finance. I passed all of my classes and graduated. And on my wall is my diploma, the only proof I have that I was even in college. My major was a fine choice. Right now I could have a comfy 9 to 5 job behind a desk making good money. The problem was that my heart wasn't in it. I'm too creative to be "just another suit". I'm not knocking it. Sometimes I think my life would be easier if I worked in the business world. But I won't be someone I'm not for other people or to make my life easier. And you shouldn't either. If you're passionate about something; if you eat, sleep & breathe music, sports, or medicine, then go for it. Put your heart into it and do it. Spread your wings, fly, and believe that you'll land exactly where you're supposed to.
2. Meet People. I know you're probably thinking "Meet people? That's easy, no problem". And for certain individuals meeting people is a cinch. They walk into a room with their heads high, chest out, sweating confidence, and within ten minutes they know everyone. But I think that most people, especially freshmen aren't like this. College can be overwhelming. You're entering a world that is a whole lot bigger then the one you just left. And many students find themselves in a new city and state that they have to now call home. You're finding it hard to adjust and for some strange reason your English class is never in the building you think it is. So for some, you don't have the time or the mind frame to worry about other people. You're finding it hard enough to worry about yourself. But trust me when I tell you to meet as many people as you can. Most of them are in your situation so right away you have something in common. Now you don't have to be friends with everyone you meet but at least there will be a lot of people you can say you know. I can count on two hands the people I met in college. My attitude was that I didn't need or want to meet any new people. I felt I had enough friends from high school who would always be there. But after high school everyone's life goes in all different directions and those friends disappear. In college you are able to meet people with your same interests, who are going down the same road as you. And having people around you makes it a little less scary.
3. Take Advantage of What the College Offers. Colleges offer different things to different students mainly depending on what year you are in. For freshmen, definitely go to orientation even if it's not required. Within a couple of hours you will find out a lot of information about the college itself and what you need to do while you're there. Most colleges offer tours of the grounds which I highly recommend. It's a good idea to map out where your classes are so that you have an idea of where you're going and how long it will take you to get to each class. You should also take advantage of the college staff. Aside from professors, the people who work in the offices can give you a ton of information. I also suggest you check out the bulletin boards that can be found in just about every building. Fliers are everywhere filled with different opportunities. You'll find out when meetings are being held or when lectures are being given on many topics of interest and of benefit to you. You'd be surprised at the opportunities you can miss if you don't ask questions or if you're not aware of what's going on around you.
4. Participate in Groups or Activities. I recently read an article about a group of women who were in a sorority together in college. And after twenty years they were still close friends seeing each other through life's ups and downs. If sororities and fraternities aren't your thing then there are plenty of other groups you can belong to. First off, there are clubs for practically every nationality from the Italian club to the Chinese club, so most everyone can find something there. But if you've learned everything about your heritage from your grandparents, then there are plenty of other clubs you can join. The choices range from the drama club to the chess club; the math club to the physics club and everything in between. Clubs are a great place to learn more about your favorite topic and to meet people who share your interests. Think you're the only one who spends their time reading about astrophysics? In college you'll find people just like you.
If you prefer the outdoors and physical activity then join a team. As with clubs, college is the place to find a team for every sport from baseball to badminton. Want to start eating better and getting more active as you enter adulthood? Where else but college can you take a nutrition class and an aerobics class in the same day? Pick something you enjoy or want to learn and go for it. The best part about clubs and teams is that everyone feels like they belong somewhere.
5. Do Your Best Work. I cannot stress enough how important it is to pick the classes that you want to take. Don't just pick a class because it's there or it gives you a lot of credits. There are classes you are required to take, but the majority of classes are up to you. If you are not into Freud, then don't take Psychology. If you don't want to be in a class then chances are you won't do your best work. My attitude was "give me my C and let me go home". Bad choice because most of my grades were C's. If your heart and mind are into the class then you'll want to be there and you'll want to learn. You'll absorb the information like a sponge and it will show through your grades. The professors are there for your benefit; to teach you what you don't know. Prove to yourself that you want to learn. The information is there. It's up to you to decide what to do with it.
Some say high school is the best four years of your life. I enjoyed high school for the most part. But if I could go back again, I wouldn't. College should be some of the best years of your life because in those four years you will become the person you want to be. You enter as a teenager and you walk out as an adult. You learn so much about the world and yourself that you are changed forever. College can be amazing or miserable. For me it was the latter because I let too many obstacles get in the way of what I truly wanted. I didn't do the five things listed above that I truly believe can make the experience more fulfilling. If I could go back to those four years that I feel I wasted I would. But for me it's enough to say that I learned from my mistakes and I'm finally doing what makes me happy. Did I truly hate college? No. But I hated what I did with that opportunity. Don't let college be something you regret. Don't let the ride pass you by. Buy a ticket, hold on tight, and enjoy every thrill it has to offer.