Throughout the past couple of years attending a large state university, I've learned some things along the way that I didn't truly understand the importance of until after the fact. Succeeding in college isn't necessarily all about doing well on everything, rather learning from your experiences and figuring out how to thrive. Although I'll never have it all figured out, I don't think I'll ever stop trying to. Maybe you've learned a couple of these things already too, but I thought I'd share in case you haven't:
1. You'll never regret going the extra mile.
The chances that you'll regret things like "over studying" or going out of your way to attend your TA or professor's office hours are slim to none. Based on personal experience, doing more than I might think I need to, always paid off in the end, even when I didn't think so at the time.
2. Having a bad semester doesn't make you a bad student.
Someone once said "Everybody makes mistakes, everybody has those days." Well, it turns out you can have "that semester" too, where you may not have done as well as you had hoped. However, we lose sight of the fact that one college semester out of 8+, will probably be insignificant in the long run. We are humans and humans mess up, and that's okay. One bad semester, doesn't define you as a student. It's probably more productive to use it as motivation to move forward, instead.
3. It's okay to take a break.
Keeping up with your extracurricular activities, your academics, and your social life of course, can be pretty exhausting. After a while of non-stop grinding, I've learned how important it is to make time to relax and take some time to breath. Whether it be watching a movie, to going for a long run, don't forget to make time for yourself.
4. Social media doesn't go well with productivity.
The influence of social media in our day to day lives, is something our generation will probably always struggle with. I'm not just talking about putting your phone down in class or to study; try putting your phone down when you are doing anything at all for even just a small period of time. It might sound silly, but removing yourself from the virtual world can be pretty eye opening. Not only is social media a huge distraction from getting work done, but it often times prevents people from truly absorbing/enjoying their surroundings.
5. The importance of being able to advocate for yourself.
It seems like an obvious skill you need to have in life, but you'd be sadly surprised at how many people are still unable to communicate for themselves. Spending time at a large state university, has pushed me to learn that being able to self-advocate is an invaluable skill required to succeed in the real world. Whether it has to do with academics, your social life, or whatever it may be, at the end of the day, you are the only one who can speak up for what you feel you deserve.
6. Academics are important, but there is more to life/your college experience, than getting good grades.
Of course academics should be a top priority, but realistically, we are just beginning our twenties. AKA the best decade of our lives. It's okay to not always take yourself so seriously.
7. Treat every class like it’s going to be a hard one.
One of the BIGGEST mistakes I have made (several times) throughout the two years I've spent in college, is treating a class like it's a blow off. Just because one or two or five people told you a course was "easy," you will only hurt yourself if you treat it that way. You most likely never regret taking a course too seriously, or at least at first, until you can test the waters.
8. ALWAYS do the extra credit.
How are you supposed to know the first few weeks into a class if you will need extra credit points? The answer is simple, you won't! And I am finally learning that that's the point of most extra credit opportunities. Who cares enough about their final grade, from the start, to maximize their potential in the class?
9. It's okay to sometimes miss out.
I don't know about you, but I've come to the conclusion that getting my work done is ultimately more fulfilling than one night out. Trust me, I get it, FOMO hits hard those Thursday nights before Friday exams. But, with that being said, sometimes you have to step back and look at the grand scheme of things.
10. Never sell yourself short.
The closer you are to knowing your self-worth, the harder it will be to settle. Don't tell yourself you can't get that A or you can't be in that major because you aren't smart enough. College is the time to really challenge yourself and learn what you are capable of. And in most cases, you have to fully apply yourself to find that out. One of the biggest mistakes you can make, is letting someone tell you that you can't succeed.
