College, in all aspects, is a learning experience. Whether it be dorm life or classroom style instruction, living in and attending a university definitely teaches a wide variety of career and life skills; but what have you learned about yourself? Here are a few things I've picked up along the way.
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I’m capable of more than I think.
Through my first weeks of college, I definitely experienced culture shock. Classes that I couldn’t get away with not studying for? Being held individually accountable? These were all concepts that I thought I had grasp before entering college, but I VERY quickly learned that I was wrong. However, the silver lining was that when I accepted that I had a lot to learn, I grew very quickly and began earning positions that I never anticipated and truly experiencing education. By the end of my first year, I'd taken 59 credits, was selected to lead incoming students through a summer program, and became a performer and musician that my high school self would have looked up to. I realized that there were amazing opportunities sitting in front of me and it was up to me to take them, and that I was capable of great things.
I am habitually in autopilot.
College takes a lot more than autopilot to get good grades and learn the material I need to be a great teacher, and one of the most difficult transitions for me was turning this automatic mode off. In high school, it was easy to earn good grades by simply showing up and retaining enough information to regurgitate it on an exam, and I'd gotten in the habit of doing this. College quickly taught me that this is no longer an option, partially because I actually needed to know this information for my career and partially because it became impossible to get by with this learning method. I quickly learned the extraordinary amount of effort I would have to put in to earn the grades given to me in high school and ultimately succeed in my career field, and had to master self discipline.
I’m not always aware of other’s feelings.
Being around others all the time definitely takes some adjusting. Not only that, I quickly noticed that not everyone was raised in the hustle and bustle of a New York City suburb. Many of my classmates took life at a slower pace and had different values than mine. For example, I found it rude when people would show up late or refuse to make concrete plans, but to some, that's ordinary. I had to learn be more sensitive to different cultures and ways of life and ultimately become more patient, which brings me to my next point.
Friendship requires patience and effort.
Being around people so frequently causes you to make a lot of friends quite rapidly, which is awesome and arguably one of the best parts of being a college student, but maintaining these friendships can at times be taxing and require consistent effort. It is very hard to keep and maintain a ton of friendships, and at times you will blow off people accidentally. I've learned that acquaintances can be really great and are vital, and you can have really great acquaintances, but keeping your core friendship circle to a select few goes a long way. I know that if it weren't for my best friend on campus listening to me, supporting me and keeping me grounded, I would not be as successful and to her I'm extremely thankful, and it's important to make sure that she knows that. I would not trade my friendship with my close friends for anything, and although I enjoy having friendly relationships with many people on my campus, it is extremely important to prioritize and put effort into those highly valued relationships.
The real world is coming.
The future is coming — a future in which I will be expected to be a professional. I will be looked up to by students, and will be put in charge of shaping them and guiding them. I will be a friend and parent to several students who don't have one. I will be someone that other's are looking up to, and I will have to learn how to independently govern myself and my classroom. I will learn to take on this huge responsibility, and...
I’m not ready for it, but I’m confident that I will be.
I'm not 100% sure where I will be in five years. I know that plans change, and people change. I know that I have a ton left to learn, and at times I am nervous about that; but I remain confident that I will be prepared to take my career by storm and be a memorable educator who was so much more than a teacher. I fully trust my professors and my ambition to guide me, and I am sure that I will succeed. I will be an amazing, successful teacher. Just wait and see.
