This semester I began my last year at Texas Tech University and I can't believe I'm actually saying that. I will graduate, whether I'm ready or not. Although I may not feel like I am ready, I know when the time comes I will be. College has taught me more about myself and others than I would have ever thought possible. I've grown up and I've slowly realized what is really important to me, and what isn't. College taught me what I want in my life, and it's given me the resources to get there. However, not all of these lessons were learned easily, some were really hard. Although what I learned in the classroom was valuable, this is what college really taught me (so far).
How to be Alone:
When I came to college alone, I didn’t know anyone. I knew of a few people who went to other schools around me, but I wasn’t a really friends with them. I never realized how alone I could really feel. Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely the type of person who loves her alone time…but at some point you need someone to talk to. Eventually, I branched out and met people in my classes, but it was really hard for me to break out of my shell. I never realized how much of an introvert I really was until I started college. I let it get to me for a little while and definitely got homesick to the point of tears a few times. However, I pulled myself out of it and began getting involved on campus and keeping myself busy. I realized that although I may be alone, I don’t have to feel alone. Through this, I grew up. That was a revelation. Now, I think I like being alone more than ever. I like my own company, and I think that’s something everyone needs to learn.
Be Strong:
News flash: When you go off to college, no one is going to take care of you when you’re sick and your teachers don’t give a damn either. If you miss an assignment, that’s not their problem and you’ll still get a zero. The world will continue to turn as you lay in bed, and I had to drag my sickly self to class on multiple occasions. Not only did college teach me how to be physically strong, but also mentally. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been stressed out to the breaking point. I just had to keep reminding myself why I came to college, what I’m going to accomplish, and who I am going to be. Have there been times that I wanted to quit? Of course, but I didn’t want to throw in the towel. I’ve never been that type of person, and I wasn’t going to start now. I know now that things will get difficult at times, but it is all worth it in the end. I can vouch for that now.
Be Appreciative:
I don’t know about all of my other fellow college-mates, but I grew up with two really great parents and a family that is always there for me and supports me, and still does. I definitely did not appreciate that as much as I should have. I cannot tell you how many times my mom brought my lunch up to the school because I forgot it, or how many times she had to bring me my basketball shoes, volleyball knee pads, or track spikes. I depended on her so much and I didn’t even realize it. I’m also much more appreciative of my mom's cooking and for doing my laundry. That was a struggle. I never did my laundry, and I’m not going to lie, I ruined more than one clothing garment my freshman year. I figured it out eventually, but I was way more appreciative of my mom for doing it all of those years. My entire family has always supported me, and their belief in my ability to accomplish anything I set my mind to is what gives me motivation to be successful and keep striving. I am beyond appreciative of every single one of them.
Who I am and who I want to be:
Have I made mistakes in college? Of course, and I still make mistakes and have regrets. But I’ve learned from them, and will continue to do so. I believe it is perfectly fine to make mistakes, just never make the same mistake twice. College taught me that you could be whoever you want to be, but it’s up to you. When you go to college and no one knows you, nobody has any preconceived thoughts about you. It’s a completely fresh start, and it’s up to you how you use that fresh start. Be someone you will be proud of. Although I am still working on myself, I know who I don’t want to be. I don’t want to be someone that will look back and wonder “what if” and I don’t want to be a person who causes any negativity. I want to be a person that others think of in a positive light. Someone that can be trusted and the person people feel comfortable talking to. I want to be successful, but not by making a ton of money (although that would be nice) but by how I affect others and their life. In the end, I want to measure my success in life by how many people I affected in a positive way. I want to be the person others aspire to be like and can look up to.
How to Prioritize:
This is very relevant right now, as I have just received all of my syllabuses for my classes this semester. Let me tell you, my stress levels are pretty high right now. Prioritizing is something I’ve learned since my first semester at TTU, and something I am still improving on. Taking 15 hours, while also being apart of student organizations, trying to establish another organization, writing for the odyssey, and also trying to get a summer internship is a lot to deal with at certain times, but I figured out that it’s all about how you look at it. I know for a fact there are people who have way more on their plate than me, so I bite the bullet and take care of things. The last thing you want to do is nothing. Otherwise, you will feel like your suffocating. Writing things down helped me tremendously. Although I’ve always had pretty good work ethic, college taught me how to really get a grip and get things done, even if it seems impossible.
How to Let Go:
One of the hardest things for me was to let go of my life in before college. Coming from a small class of about 40, I went from feeling somewhat important to nothing at all. A lot of people will say they hated high school, but I actually enjoyed it. I would say my high school years were some of the best years of my life, right behind college of course. However, no one cared who I was or what I did in high school at Texas Tech. To an extent, I had to let go of that part of me in order to establish myself in college. It was one of the hardest things to do, but I think it helped me more than anything. I had a clean slate, whether I wanted it or not. Eventually, I stopped hanging on to 'high school' Corey and decided to start figuring out who 'college' Corey was.
To Dream Big:
Chancellor Kent Hance at Texas Tech has a favorite saying; “Dream no little dreams”. That is something Texas Tech has taught me. The possibilities truly are endless for you, and as long as you keep your goals in mind, there really isn’t any thing that will stop you. College is the time to figure out what you really want to do with your career and life, and it’s the time for you to set your goals in all parts of your life, not just your career. Set personal goals, financial goals, and academic goals. Setting goals for yourself and achieving those goals will help that dream job become a reality. That’s what I reminded myself all throughout school. I knew if I applied myself a little more than the average student, I would reach my goals. College also taught me that goals change, and your path my go in a direction that you never expected, but that’s OKAY.
To Take an Opportunity:
College is FULL of opportunities and I’ve learned that taking the opportunity when it presents itself is vital if you want to really stand out. However, you also need to create your own opportunities, don’t always wait for something to present it self to you. Sometimes you need to get out there and find the opportunity for yourself. One opportunity I took was the decision to study abroad at the Texas Tech Center in Seville, Spain. That wasn’t an opportunity that presented itself to me, but it was one that I researched and decided to take on my own. Through that experience, I learned so much more about different cultures and customs than I ever would have in a normal classroom. I will never forget the two and a half months that I spent there, and I’ve made it one of my goals to go back as soon as I can. I guess what college really taught me, was that if you don’t take any risks or opportunities in college, you will not gain near as much as you should. That is what college is for; it’s the place for you to take risks without fear of consequences.
Failure is Okay:
I cannot stress this one enough. The amount of times I have been told no, whether it be an internship application, or leadership position has added up. The amount of times I have received a not so great grade has also occurred more often then I would like. Coming from a high school curriculum that was probably too easy, it was really hard to receive a failing test grade on my first exam at college. I remember calling my mom and crying, and telling her I wasn’t sure college was for me. However, she reassured me that I was still a good student and that one bad grade is okay. I realize now more than ever that failure is okay, and sometimes it’s good to fail. I believe you have to fail more than you succeed, because those successes make everything you’ve been through worth it. Will I get every internship or position I apply for? Of course not, and that’s OKAY. I take being told no with a grain on salt and keep going. I no longer let it discourage me; instead, I let it motivate me.
The Possibilities are Endless:
All in all, being a student at Texas Tech has taught me I can be whoever I want to be. When I walk across the stage in December, excitement and nervousness will radiate through me. Going into the “real world” is nerve racking for any student, but I look forward to what I’ll be doing and who I will be afterwards. This is what college has prepared me for; through every class I learned something valuable. After college, a huge chapter of my life will be over, but I’ll get to begin another chapter of new opportunities, experiences, and endless possibilities.
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