College is an exciting adventure to take on. I remember when I was making all the important decisions; where to go, what to major in, what classes to take, well you get the point. All of my peers and I would talk in anticipation for the unknown future. By the time it was to start college, I thought I knew all I needed to know. This was not the case as there were many things I wish someone had told me.
1. It's okay not to go to college.
If you are anything like me, college was not an option, it was a necessity. I used to see college as the only logical pathway once you left high school because of how I was raised. With that being said, I have seen many people that have not gone to college or have dropped out after realizing it was not for them become very successful with their lives. There are many career opportunities out there that do not involve a degree of any kind. If you are having doubts or know college just is not for you, do not let anyone force you into going.
2. If you are unsure, take time off.
I have seen many of my friends struggle to figure out what they wanted to do for a career. Leaving high school, where our biggest decision was who to take to prom or what sports you wanted to participate in, to now suddenly being forced to make a decision that will affect the rest of our lives is a bit unsettling. College not only takes time but a lot and I do mean A LOT of money. My best advice is to be sure college is the best option for you before jumping head first in alongside your peers. Taking time to make sure you know what you want is nothing to be ashamed about.
3. There is no deadline to get the degree.
I was the over-achiever in high school, participating in many clubs and sports while achieving all As. I always was in a rush from one thing to the next, never allowing myself a second to breathe. I carried this attitude with me to college. I was so focused on my future, after college when I thought my real life would suddenly begin, I tried to rush college. I was in such a rush, I took a very full workload and summer classes in hopes to graduate early. Unfortunately, this did not aid me in my path to early graduation, just a path to undue stress. Don't rush it, it will get done.
4. Don't take on more than you can handle.
I made the mistake in my first semester of trying to work two jobs and handle the full class load. I fell behind in my classes which was very much out of character for me and my work. I had to quite one of my jobs just to pass my classes. After I had figured college out and upgraded my organization skills I was able to even have four jobs at once while being a full-time student. The moral of this story is, ease into things. You will learn how much you can and cannot handle overtime.
5. Make friends in College.
College is an amazing experience, but it always comes with a lot of stress, like buckets full. Your friends that are not in college can sympathize for your stress, but your college friends will exactly understand how you feel because they are experiencing the same thing. I wouldn't have survived my undergrad without the friends I had made along the way. I spent a lot of time with my college friends studying and crying together. Having that support system to help me laugh through our bad grades together is one of the things that allowed me to continue even if I felt like dropping out every class I went to. They understand what you are going through.
6. Find your balance.
I went into college thinking it would be just like going to the next grade in high school. It wasn't. The expectations for the work you do outside of classes increases as well as the difficulty. I struggled at first, but after finding a rhythm I managed to conquer college and work while being able to still have fun with my family and friends. It is all about how you personally organize and plan your life. Be prepared to adjust at the beginning.
7. Be prepared for long nights.
We all headed into college with the idea of college parties to make the boring classes worthwhile. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but college is not just a bunch of parties. Sure, there were plenty of parties all of the time, but the people who frequented those parties did not take their academics seriously and were on academic probation within the first semester. I spent the majority of my free time devoted to school. Balancing work, school and my social engagements was not an easy task, but it can be done!
8. Those not in college will have completely different lives.
I always felt like I was behind as I watched my peers that did not go to college start their lives. Most of the people I know are either married or have kids that are my age. What do I have? A degree. You have to be prepared to not have the same lives. I always felt like I was behind, but in reality, I was not at all. I was just working on my career. Don't compare where you are at with others your age, because sometimes your lives will not be the same.
9. It's okay to change your mind.
As I said earlier, it is hard and unreasonable to ask someone so young to make the decision of what they want to choose as a career. In fact, I will be the first to admit that I changed my major SIX times and I still graduated in four years. I started out as an English major, but I graduated with a Psychology major with a minor in English. Explore your options, take classes to see if they fit. It is never too late to change your mind.
10. Don't Stress.
College will be hard, there is no sugar coating that. But at the same time, you will still have fun and live your life. College, like other chapters in your life, will bring stress, happiness and a whole lot of awkward moments. Take it with stride and excitement and enjoy the journey!
