How to Survive College (A Cheat Sheet of 15 Important Lessons) | A Decade Later
When we reflect on our own pieces of advice for how to survive college, we often hear friends talking about how “shitfaced” they got that one night and the hangover prevention they later discovered, or how many times they got away with skipping class. But, I think it’s time that we abandoned that narrative. I know it’s cool in a societal sense, but with student debt on the rise and a lack of second chances being doled out these days, it's more important now than ever to make sure kids don't spend their parents' hard earned money (or loans/financial aid) on a superficial experience.
My experience had elements of fun, for sure, but college was HARD WORK. It wasn’t a walk in the park! I attended the liberal arts college, The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. You know, the place where the creator of “The Simpsons” and rapper Macklemore went. I loved my school. At Evergreen, there are zero required classes. Yes, that means no calculus, no English, and no social studies. Students craft their own education around their career path and there’s a strong emphasis on internships and study abroad in order to prepare students for the real world. Did I also mention there’s no grades? ;)
Throughout my 4 years at Evergreen, I learned the most important college lessons that I hope to help new college kids by sharing today!
IT’S OKAY TO NOT BE COOL
Touching on my earlier points, you don’t need to smoke weed or drink a lot to “be cool”, and if that is in fact what grants you cool status at your school, it’s okay to NOT be cool! Peer pressure is a real bitch and I wish college students didn’t have to endure it.
IT’S FUN TO EXPERIMENT
On the flip side, if you are willing and open to experimenting with substances or new activities that you haven’t already tried, it’s only human nature to experiment in college and it can be super fun if you’re in safe environments with people whom you trust and care for.
YOU WON’T KNOW WHAT YOU WANt to DO
It’s just fact. Okay, so maybe a select few people truly know what they want to do with their life, but the majority don’t and won’t until after they finish school. I figured it out three years into my four year run. I went in with a psychology emphasis and came out with a love for digital marketing. At least the studies I embarked on within social psychology help out my marketing career A LOT!
FALL IN LOVE + LET IT BREAK YOU
My romantic relationships were the biggest blessing in college, other than the important knowledge I gained in my classes. Relationships can teach you so much about yourself and are great to have during college. Some would argue differently, but I truly believe that journeying through life with a partner is just the right fit for myself personally! They help us learn what we want in life and our partner.
PROFESSORS ARE THE MOST DRAMATIC
I’m not kidding! Although most of my experiences with professors have been overwhelmingly positive, I’ve had some of the most awful experiences with professors. All I have to say is that the drama I endured in my friendships is so different from the drama I encountered with professors. Expect to have to stay on your toes to avoid messing up credits or losing them due to unrealistic expectations of “sick days”, even if you're a 4.0 GPA.
PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE LIFE LESSONS
While of course the intellectual knowledge you will gain at college is paramount, trust me: it's potentially more important to pay attention to the life lessons you will learn along the way. I am very passionate about life lessons and have been since I was a youngin'.
Accepting that you won't know exactly what career you want right away, accepting that it takes a while for the right close friend to come along (and romantic partner), and accepting the fact that life throws you curveballs when you're least expecting it are the most important lessons.
GO AHEAD + GAIN YOUR FRESHMAN 15
... And your senior 30. During school, it's nearly impossible to watch what you eat unless you have the money to go to salad bars every night (which you might if you're in LA or other affluent areas). Don't body-shame yourself or others. And trust me when I say: it's way more than a "freshman 15".
PUSH YOURSELF PAST YOUR BOUNDARIES
Go on adventures that you typically wouldn't try. Go rock climbing, take a road trip with friends to an unknown destination, go on a date with someone you met on Tinder (or Plenty of Fish/OKCupid - my personal preference!). Push yourself and you'll be pleased.
TAKE A CLASS THAT'S NOT YOUR 1ST PICK
At Evergreen, we registered for classes online and it was first come, first serve with extra spots saved for senior level students. On registration day during spring quarter of my freshman year, I tried my first pick class, then my second with no luck. I quickly rummaged through the catalog to find something that sounded remotely satisfying. It turned out to be one of my favorite classes of my entire college career. It may turn out great!
CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WISELY
Keeping in mind the peer pressure issue, choosing your friends wisely is so, so important to avoid these awful situations. I'll admit: up until about my senior year, I chose friends that were convenient because we got along okay. Had I known that most all of my college friends wouldn't be friends after college, I would've avoided many situations that weren't so enjoyable.
GIVE BACK!
Throughout college (and high school), I served on a local nonprofit Board of Directors for a national LGBTQ+ support, education, and advocacy organization called PFLAG. Pick something that warms your heart and get involved to give back. Volunteering your time to a worthy cause looks great on a resume and feels all warm + fuzzy. :)
IT'S OKAY TO TALK TO SOMEONE
"Talk to someone" in the sense of therapy. I mean it. Talking to somebody about your struggles and your past will only make you a better person in your future. I've always dealt with severe anxiety, so therapy was a great outlet for me. However, I truly believe that therapy should be the one item that is mandatory for everyone’s health, regardless of a disorder or diagnosis. It's just good to get that stuff out!
START A BLOG
Having an outlet or a means of expressing yourself aside from a therapist is also key. I loved starting a blog because it gave me initiative, taught me motivation and consistency, and was a platform where I could document my life's journey somewhat like a diary. Starting a blog may be your expression of choice, or you can create social media channels, paint, dance, journal, the list goes on.
HAVE A COUPLE INTERNSHIPS
Trust me: you won't regret it. I was incredibly nervous when I started searching for internships, but by the second quarter of my first internship, I was so ready for the next! It's almost addicting. I'm a big believer in lifelong learning in addition to real life learning. I took any chance I could get to apply my new found knowledge to the real world. This is how I dipped my toes in the world of marketing and never looked back!
Ask a mentor or professor of yours to help you get started. Usually, you can find information about internship opportunities through your school's career development center.
YOU GOTTA MOVE ON!
This 15th lesson comes from my best friend Emily. Let go of things you can't control and have already happened. It's just the cycle of life! She says, "Moving on from different friendships or romantic relationships, people in general, a bad grade, incidents with classmates or a teacher," is necessary. "Remember these experiences for what they've taught you, but don't get stuck in the past. Look towards the future. Use these as a lesson to improve yourself."
ABOUT “A DECADE LATER”
This blog post is part of A Decade Later, a series celebrating and reflecting on my time spent in my early 20s / college as I approach my 30th birthday in 2024. I’m republishing old blog posts from the college vault and reminiscing on the good old days through the process. I hope you find something of inspiration within these pages. :)
