Graduation season is in full swing and a new class of students will soon matriculate at colleges across the country. I can vividly remember the excitement surrounding my high school graduation – The senioritis, grad night, and the thrill of being an independent adult in college.
While I don’t regret anything about my past because it molded me into the person I am today, I do wish that someone told me a few things about how to view college and optimize on my experience. Looking back, here are the 5 things I wish I knew about college before I started.
1. Find mentors.
It wasn’t until I got to law school that I understood the value of mentors. Mentors are great resources for life and career advice. My fear when I was younger was that I would be “bothering” them with my questions. But the fact is, everyone successful had someone who helped to guide them (myself included). So they’re usually very eager to “pay it forward.” Find mentors with different backgrounds, gender, etc., that way you’ll get a variety of opinions.
2. Join clubs.
I was painfully shy when I was younger (and still am to an extent). So it took me a couple years to come out of my shell in high school and in college. It wasn’t until my junior year that I finally decided to join student organizations. It was the best decision and I wish I did it freshman year.
A club is the fastest way to make new friends and explore new interests. Whether it’s a Greek, academic or philanthropic organization, there’s lots to choose from. And if your school doesn’t have something you’re interested in, then start the club yourself.
3. Date strategically.
One of my favorite aspects of college was meeting new people from all walks of life. It’s like going from shopping at a boutique to shopping at a mall. Lots more options to choose from; lots more styles to try on. Meeting and dating different types of people helps you to learn more about yourself. You get to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t.
So be open to dating different personality types (which can easily be grouped by their major), even if they’re not your usual “type.” At the very least you’ll learn something new about yourself and their major.
Just remember to date responsibly.
4. Don’t rush adulthood.
I get it. You’re on your own for the first time and want nothing more than to assert your independence. But trust me, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for that after college. And once true adulthood sets in, there’s no turning back.
So while it feels good to brag about graduating from college in 2 years, allow yourself to be enjoy this transitional period for as long as you can. Live on campus and have a bad roommate story; eat the cafeteria food until you get sick of it; go on road trips with your friends and get lost. All those experiences give you a story to tell and laugh about later on in life.
One regret I have from college was that I didn’t live on campus. At the time, I let all the horror stories about roommates deter me. Well guess what? Even though I had my own apartment, I still experienced roommate drama. At least if I lived on campus, I would have the benefit of those shared experiences and making lots of new friends.
5. Travel.
Your twenties are the best time to start getting your passport stamped. Trust me, finding the time to travel, especially internationally, gets harder as you get older and have more demands on your time. So take a class in Spain, or even sign up for a semester at sea. Spring, Summer and Winter breaks don’t exist after college. So use that time wisely to explore.
Congrats to all of the graduates!
What other advice do you wish someone told you about college?