Everyone knows the standard message you get when you go off to college (well, depending on what kind of college you're going to) "don't party too much!" "make sure you get some sleep in between studying!" "beware of the freshman 15!" (Yes, that is a REAL thing and it will creep up REALLY fast if you're not careful). Although those are all valid suggestions, people don't warn you about what really happens in college. Well, let's go on this eye-opening journey together and uncover some hidden facts.
1. One in four females will be raped.
Picture yourself in a quadruple room with three of your closets friends, statistically, one of you will be raped. Whether it's at a party, on a date, or even with someone you consider a friend. Of all women currently enrolled in classes at any college or university, over five percent experience rape during their years at school. That may not seem like a large number, but when we do out the math, that's 300,000 rapes that occur every year. Some of these rapes occur due to an attacker drugging the victim, others occur by the attacker forcing himself onto the victim. NONE of these rapes are caused by the victims clothes, the victim's attitude, or if/how much the victim was drinking (contrary to what a lot of the human population thinks).
2. You're at the highest risk to experience abusive relationships.
Twenty-one percent of college aged adults say they have experienced abuse from their current partner. A staggering thirty-two percent have said they experienced abuse with a previous partner. The warning signs may not even be visible to you. You meet a nice guy, agree to a date, and after a few months he takes more and more time from you. He may come up with reasons to keep you from going out with your friends. Abusive behavior can also come from women,as your girlfriend may call you incessantly while you're out. She may question you when you make plans, or tell you to stop communicating with others. Abuse comes in many forms, thirteen percent of college aged women say that they have been forced to have sex by their partner. "Force" can be when a partner makes you feel guilty for not wanting to have sex, getting angry and intimidating you, or even threatening to leave the relationship. If your partner ever makes you feel isolated, unworthy, or just doesn't show you love and care, reach out to someone to get help.
3. There will be drama.
Lots of drama. If you thought college was going to be a place where your fellow students would be adults and show maturity, I'm sorry to bring you this bad news. Drama is everywhere, especially if you choose to go to a smaller college or university. Once you graduate high school, it's almost as if you never left. People are still going to be petty, they are going to be backstabbing, rude, snobby, and sneaky. The trick is to not feed into it. If you're able to look past the drama, your college years will be a lot happier. I also suggest learning some problem solving skills and mediation tricks, they will definitely come in handy.
4. Debt will pile up, fast.
By the time you graduate from a four year school, most students will have incurred some type of student debt. It was found that the class of 2016 student has $37,172 in debt from student loans. Right now, there are 43.3 million Americans with student debt (that's almost twice the amount of people living in Texas). It takes years to pay off these loans, if they ever get paid off at all. One of my high school teachers had told me that 15 years after graduating, he still had over 30,000 dollars to pay towards his loans. It creates a cycle of going to a nice school to get a nice job.....but just to pay off the loans you took out to get into the nice school? It pays to be financially aware of any and all resources that can help you pay for school. Look for local scholarships, grants, and ask your school's financial aid office for information on paying your bill. The financial aid office has a ton of resources for any student, and they are more than willing to help you find ways to pay for your tuition (and usually, they have all of the best places if you absolutely need to take out a loan).
5. You will meet lifelong friends.
There's something about being crammed into a small dorm room that makes new friendships bloom. You and your roommate(s) will become so close, you'll start to question if you all have telepathy. Going through stressful semesters, late night food runs, various love-life crises, and everything in-between brings you closer together. by the end of your first year, you'll wonder how you ever got through life without your roommate(s). You will form a bond that will last a lifetime, and memories that will last longer. Cherish the years you have with them, because four years flies by and soon you'll be walking across the stage to get your degree and reminiscing the past.
They say high school is "the best four years of your life" but I wonder if those people have ever been to college. College not only educates you academically, but also spiritually; it's an experience you will never forget.
