Tom Petty quoted:
“You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink 'til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does...”
This couldn't be more true. This year, i've taken 10 courses. I've read a lot of books and text books, including classical Greek plays, sociology, political science, and religion text books, as well as novels, graphic novels, and screenplays. It's a shame, but do I really remember half of what I actually read? No. Do i remember most of what the professors spoke about in lectures? Not really. Do I remember anything I studied, if I studied? Not at all. But, I can still leave freshman saying I learned a lot about myself, people, and living.
This is only natural. Within 24 hours one late August afternoon, our world turned completely upside down. We are thrown into this community without knowing anything or anyone. Without our friends and family who know us best. Our completely stable life leaving senior year in high school didn't even matter anymore because now, it's completely unstable. We're told to wake up on our own, make our own class schedules, wash our own clothes, and make our own beds. I don't know about anyone else, but before college, I never woke up on my own for school, never made my own schedule, never washed my own clothes, and rarely made my bed. And, a personal problem: I'm infamous for forgetting or losing my keys and now, I had to have them with me at all times.
So what did I actually learn after this roller-coaster year?
1. not to care. You probably hear this a lot, but it's true. I learned to care a little bit less about what people think about me. Who cares? Let them think about you. Say your opinions (in a respectable manner, of course). Saying your opinions may better the world a little bit at a time. Who cares if someone disagrees with you? Let them. Who cares what that person did over the weekend. Whatever. It doesn't matter. It doesn't affect how you live your life... and if it does, I'm sorry, you have problems. No one's perfect. WHO CARES.
2. care. I know I just said not to care, but there are still things you must care about. You must care about your morals. You must care about your self-respect. You must care about your passions. You must care about your hobbies. You must care about your friends. And you most definitely must care about your family, even while you are miles away.
3. be friendly. be a friend to everyone (a REAL friend). make tons of friends. college is mostly about the people. those who are meant to stay in your life will no matter what so don't be afraid to make tons of friends.
4. laugh at yourself. i'm always laughing at myself, but this year I had to do it a little more in order to survive. after waking up some mornings, knowing i made a fool of myself the night before, how could i not laugh at myself? if i fall down the stairs, am i going to cry? no. if i fall off my uncomfortable, but necessary, lofted bed, should i cry? no. it's funny - laugh. laugh at yourself, dammit. like i said, no one's perfect, might as well enjoy the imperfections.
5. to be proud of yourself. be proud of where you come from and where you've been. share your experiences because it's awesome hearing about others'. i'm extremely proud of where i come from. i've proud of my family, my friends, my high school, my lifestyle, and my neighborhood.
6. that i already have some of the best people in my life. i am fascinated by the friends in my life. the fact that they were able to keep me strong and grounded this year is fascinating. i can call them from miles away and we'd be able to relate to each other's happiness and sadness. i'm grateful for my family's strength this year. it's been hard, but having frequent phone calls letting me know that they care kept me half sane. they are fascinating people. look around at the people in your life.
7. go out on a tuesday. i have not gone out on a tuesday, only thursdays, but thursdays seem to be the best day. i don't know why. it's probably because it's a week day and all of my life i've been told to go to bed early and do homework on week days. relax a little. don't be so uptight. as long as you can make it to class the next day, go out, have a good time. everyone deserves a good time every once in a while.
8. take vitamins. stay as healthy as possible and take vitamins before you need to take them. everyone gets sick in college. it has to be avoided as much as possible because it's easy to miss a lot. always drink water, too. it helps prevent hangovers.
9. kids are awesome. when i say kids, i mean college students. we're a bunch of kids living together, 24/7. everyone's always full of life. running around, playing, doing something, talking about something. we all have these great opinions. it's refreshing hearing the opinions and ideas of great minds. if that doesn't sound like the time of your life, i don't know what is.
i'm sure there are plenty more, but some things are unexplainable. you just take them and grow with it.
i wanted to make a list of 10 things or more, but i couldn't think of anymore. if anyone would like to add, tell me =D
This made me think a lot. Good stuff!
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