When I was in college, I believed that real life would never be like university life. I wouldn’t have to take tests, put up with loud parties next door, and I wouldn’t have homework and deadlines. I was so wrong!
I’ve been out of college 20 years now and I realize the things I learned in and outside the classroom predicted a lot about my life. So, whether you are struggling or breezing through college, here are some easy activities that take you beyond academics and into life long education:
Pay attention to your habits and preferences
Do you usually sleep through your morning classes? Do you study better in groups, or alone? Do you like eating in the residence hall dining room or grabbing a pizza on the go?
These things may seem trivial, but they actually are indicators of how you’ll behave in life. If you struggle to make it to your 7:40 anatomy lab even when you go to bed 10, you will probably not want to work on Wall Street. If you’re the last one to leave the dining hall at dinner because you find everyone’s conversation so fascinating, you might think twice about becoming a medical researcher.
I studied journalism because I loved to write. But, as an extreme introvert, I felt constantly agitated because I had to attend events, interview people, and work in a cramped office full of other stressed out reporters. I lasted less than two years in the profession. Freelance writing from my computer at home is a much better fit.
Network Carefully
Even if you’re an introvert like me, the people you meet and genuinely like in college will be friends and mentors forever. People who have important positions might be helpful in the short term, but look out! You might think a recommendation from the flirtatious assistant City Attorney who teaches your Business Law Class would look good on paper. But what will he want in return? If you feel uncomfortable around somebody, its best to look for mentors elsewhere.
Many of the people I thought were offering mentorship really wanted to have an affair. (Yes, they were married.) In my day, this was shocking and I was naive. Hopefully you will be filtering out people who lack integrity and avoid my mistakes.
On the other hand, a supervisor for my second political internship liked me so much (and I her) that she fixed me up with her son, Chris. Chris and I just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary.
Make Adjustments to Effectively Meet Deadlines
Finals weeks were among the worst and most stressful weeks of my life. I still have nightmares about them, as do a lot of people. That’s because you never graduate from deadlines and stress. There are bills to pay, forms to fill out whenever you want to apply for a loan or hook up your electricity. There are schedules to follow for things as routine as trash pickup. Even Christmas is a deadline!
So enjoy finals week. If you get migraines, take fewer classes. Don’t be a perfectionist. It’s not worth it.
I was a purist. My self esteem was shot if I took fewer than 18 credit hours per semester. It wasn’t until I had a nervous breakdown my third year in college that I slowed down a bit, at least for awhile. I had several more breakdowns throughout my life before I realized that I’m not like other people. I need a slow and quiet lifestyle in order to be my best.
How about you? Can you see some new things about yourself by observing your college lifestyle and patterns? Do you need to make some changes? Then, do it! You’ll not only have a better college experience, you’ll have a better life!
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