Professors might only test students on basic terminology and application, but college really teaches and tests us on so much more. In addition to English major studies, like how to properly use punctuation and write a contextual analysis, my four years in college taught me basic life skills and real world instructions. I definitely appreciate learning how to write a resume and grant for adulthood, but some lessons are just timeless.

1. Your past does not have to define your future.

This might sound cliché, but from the moment you step onto your college campus, you have the power to reinvent yourself. I’m not talking about suppressing who you truly are, quirks, flaws and all. Instead, you have the chance to really look at yourself and decide what you want out of life regardless of any past drama or mistakes. Whether the dreaded past includes another decade, semester or even day, each class offers you the ability to press the reset button. Your reputation might precede you, but a new class means meeting new people and taking advantage of new opportunities. Yes, college urges us to learn from our mistakes, especially for our GPAs’ sakes, but it also teaches us to move on and make the most of the present.

2. Others’ successes do not limit your potential.

No matter how many times you might succeed, failing or losing even once simply hurts. Then when it is our friends who win or score higher, we might smile to not only congratulate them but also hide our own disappointments. However, one of the most eye-opening facts that college taught me is that we all have our own skills and areas of expertise, and it is actually fun to discover who excels in different challenges! With this thinking, we all grow together. Also, being a good friend is far more rewarding than being a poor loser. Of course, coming in second place does not equal being a loser or a failure. We win some and we lose some. Fortunately, each loss provides not only the incentive to try harder next time but also the opportunity to become a more gracious person.

3. You should always be yourself.

The only reason people tell me today that college made me come out of my shell is because it taught me that I can be appreciated for staying completely true to me. This might sound silly, but meeting and actually bonding with other students during freshman orientations made me realize I did not have to linger in the shadows. I could actually belong somewhere and befriend other people. For someone who naturally and self-consciously avoided others simply for not fitting in elsewhere, college completely changed my perspective of myself. It stuck me in classrooms with dozens of like-minded people, and I realized I was not so different after all. I even learned more about myself, including my goals and values. Overall, though, I learned that true success comes from being your best self.

4. You do not have to be alone.

In addition to helping me meet new people, college also taught me the importance of a good support system. Even more than that, though, college proved that your support systems needs various people inside it. Family, of course, is supposed to be the group who loves you unconditionally. However, in more academic matters, sometimes it is best to talk to someone who knows exactly what you are going through, maybe someone who is even in the same class or struggle. Fortunately, if anything, college taught me that you do not have to survive it alone. College is one of those milestones that tests a friendship, but I think more often than not it makes instead of breaks. Accept the early morning coffee dates and midnight group texts, because college would not be half as worthwhile without your college crew.