Graduation is in the air! Caps are flying, tears are being shed, and the class of 2017 are closing out the final chapter to their adolescence. I can't believe that it has been almost 2 years since I graduated high school, it still feels like it was just yesterday. So, as a fellow graduate to another, I would like to give some advice to the graduating class of 2017...
1. It's okay to not know what you want to do in life.
Everyone's currently talking about which school they're going to in the fall and what they're majoring in, but there are a few people that still have no idea what they want to do after they graduate and that's perfectly fine! No one said that you have to have your whole life in order right after you graduate high school! From graduation to your early 20's is the part of your life where you get to figure out who you are and what you want to do. It's a time for experimentation and trying new things! There's nothing wrong with not having everything figured out just yet.
2. The Freshmen 15 is a real thing.
Welcome to the adult world where living on your own means cooking your own meals...or surviving on ramen noodles and TV dinners. Now that you're on your own, you may not have enough finances for the extravagant dinners that Mom used to make and you'll start to miss her cooking more and more as you stand in front of the microwave heating up a bowl of Easy Mac. Which makes coming home on breaks ten times more special as you have the home cooked meal that you fantasized about for the past nine months.
3. You'll be lucky if you use your textbook even once.
Say goodbye to free textbooks ladies and gentlemen, because now you're going to be paying hundreds of dollars for what ultimately turns into a really expensive coaster. I have a few money saving tips when it comes to purchasing them:
-Don't get your textbooks until you've already attended the first day of class. Sometimes your teacher will tell you truthfully if you'll need your textbook or not.
-RENT YOUR TEXTBOOKS!!!!! Believe me, you are not going to need that physics textbook later in life. If your school's bookstore has the option to rent your textbook, jump on it. I recommend Chegg.com for majority of them, but sometimes they're prices aren't all the greatest either. It all depends on the type of book. Definitely try comparing prices between your school's bookstore and Chegg. There are a few other rental places, but I have not done much research on them.
-Online textbooks are a pain the butt. If your internet is out or the website that supplies the textbook is down, you have no way to access it. It becomes ten times more stressful than if you had just gotten a physical copy of the book.
-If you buy your books and decide to sell them back, you will not get the price you paid for them. I have no idea why this is, but think of it like GameStop. You could bring in a thousand dollars worth of books and the cashier will only be able to offer you $25 for them. It's all about profit when it comes to textbooks and sadly you're the one that ends up with the short end of the stick.
4. Going to community college is not a bad thing.
Going to a big league university is not always financially possible for some people, me included. That's why community college is great! You have the same opportunities there that you would if you went away to school, all within the comfort in your own hometown! It's a lot cheaper and you don't have to worry about finding a place on campus or dealing with living in a dorm room! Community college is becoming a lot more popular nowadays due to the economy and is nothing to be ashamed of. You're still continuing your education and working towards gaining more opportunities in the work force!
5. Don't work yourself too hard.
Whether you're going to school full-time and working part-time or vice versa, trying to do both and maintain your social life can be very taxing. This can cause your grades to slip and your stress level to rise. Do your best to pace yourself and don't take on more than you can handle. All your friends are going through the same things you are and will totally understand if you can't hang out for a few days while you study for that big test or work your butt off to save up for next semester.
6. You'll meet tons of new people.
Being in a new environment is both a scary and fun experience. Once you start attending classes you'll see faces both old and new. Most people find their forever friends in college and make wonderful memories together. Just don't forget to hit up your friends from high school every now and then.
7. Be careful.
Now that you're away from home, you don't have your parents around to tell you what you can and can't do. You'll want to attend frat parties, drink until you pass out, and experiment with drugs (if you haven't already). I will not promote or discourage anyone from doing these things, but if you decide to do it just make sure you're being safe about it. Date rape is more common on college campuses than anywhere else. Never drink and drive. And always go to a party with a friend, maybe a few. College is a time for exploration and making your own decisions, just make sure you're making smart choices. If you wouldn't want your kids to do it, odds are you probably shouldn't be doing it. And if you are doing it, take the proper precautions.
8. Mom and Dad are just a phone call away.
Yeah being away from Mom and Dad can be fun, but it's okay to miss them every once in a while. Odds are they probably miss you too. There's nothing wrong with calling home and letting your parents know all about your adventures on campus. You're still their "baby" so call them. They're not always going to call you because they don't want to overstep their bounds on your newfound freedom.
9. You don't have to go to college.
While it is the preferred norm to go to college right after high school, there are many people who decide not to. There's always trade school or not going to school at all and kickstarting your life in the work force. Whatever you decide, it's not the end of the world if you decide not to go to college.
10. Make sure to have fun!
Being in college is a great time! The freedom, meeting new people, starting a whole new chapter in your life is all so exciting! It might feel like it's happening all at once, but just like time flew in high school, it will fly by even faster in college. Your four years of higher education will make it seem like you graduated high school just yesterday.
So as you're walking across that stage to get your high school diploma, just remember that it's your life. You've worked so hard to come this far and your life is just beginning! There's nothing wrong with not having it all figured out yet. Enjoy your last summer before you start your new life. Congratulations Class of 2017, you did it! Time to party!
