The final countdown to graduation has begun. 
I am about 20 days away from graduating with my Bachelors in Communication. I am not ashamed to say (OK, maybe a little ashamed) that it took me a lot longer than four years to earn my degree. Time spent isn’t important. It is how much time I have left in school that is blowing my mind. I honestly never thought in a million years I would actually complete my degree, but here I am.
At the end of a journey, I tend to look back at what I wish I would have done differently. Here is what I wish I would have done differently in my extra long college career.
1. I wish I would have taken the time before school to figure out who I am and what exactly I want to do when I grow up, so I wouldn’t have wasted a lot of time taking classes I didn’t need.
3. Listened and done my best in all my classes. Two reasons, one every class has some benefit to teaching you how to be a part of society, and one bad grade takes five or six good ones to counter the effect on your GPA.
4. I wish I would have kept some of my books. I was always so excited to be able to get a little cash by selling books back. I wish I had some of those books to look at as reference books later on in life. The anatomy book would have come in very handy when explaining issues to people. Plus, when your friends come over and see books like Microbiology and Modern Business Practices, it only makes you look smarter.
5. I would have made more friends and taken part in school activities. As I went back to school later in life, I saw these people having a great time living on campus or hanging with friends at the campus hangouts or wearing sorority gear, and I wish I would have taken part in these when I started to school. I don’t think they have a sorority for the tired, worn out returning student.
6. I would have listened to my teachers more. There are some teachers out there who aren't nice but most care deeply about the subject they teach and want to impart their wisdom to you. Especially as you work in your major courses, the teachers just want to make you better at what you love, and they have a ton of great stories we as students can learn from. Even if the teacher doesn’t particularly like you, and they make that known there is always something to learn from them even if it's the kind of person that you don’t want to be.
7. Keep contact information. If you get a card or contact info from someone, keep that information. Your teachers work hard making sure you come in contact with people in your profession, make sure you network yourself.
8. Enjoy the moment. It is so easy to get spring fever and think about hitting the beach instead of class, but you can hit the beach anytime this time. The time you have to learn from teachers is limited. No other time in your life will screw ups and issues be blamed on the fact that you're college student and learning.
9. Taken full advantage of every opportunity that is opened to you as a student. Colleges have tons of places to get practical working knowledge about the career you want to pursue in life. I wish I would have taken every chance and every little job or extra credit that came my way.
If you are just starting college, it may seem like graduation will be light years from now, but it will be here before you know it. Take the time to smell the roses before you dawn that cap and gown and walk into the rest of your life.
