When I started college I just could not grasp why I had to take two whole years, four semesters, worth of general education courses. I mean I just graduated high school where I definitely learned all of this. Why can’t they just let us jump right into our major and minor courses and be done?

I wasn’t necessarily ready to start a real job in two years, but I definitely did not want to take all of these courses that had nothing to do with my major. I spent seven years from Kindergarten through sixth grade learning the basics, and then six more years from seventh grade until senior year learning more information. I wasn’t majoring in history for a reason, so I wasn’t the most excited that I had to take two courses in history during my first two years of college. I totally knew I was majoring in psychology when I got to college, so I didn’t want to take those math courses for no reason either.

Well, surprise, those two years mean way more than I ever thought that they would. First of all, I changed my major three times during those two years, and I absolutely ‘knew’ that I wouldn’t do that, but it happens more than you think. In high school, I thought I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I am a junior in college and I have just now figured out what I am doing with my life. Honestly, some people get to their third year of college and switch majors a few more times before graduating, and granted it takes them an extra year or two, but there is nothing wrong with that. There is nothing wrong with not knowing yet, so slow down.

A lot of times, that first two years of college everyone is finding out who they are. They move out of the house for the first time and learn how to handle money, and car troubles, and buying groceries all on their own. This is a huge step in life, and you begin to learn what your own values in life are. You aren’t making choices because your parents tell you to, but because they are your own opinions and thoughts now, you learn what your own personal priorities in life are.

Life is constantly changing, but as soon as you graduate high school it is nothing but two years of change. You change locations, friends, values, and so much more. Thankfully I have grown up a lot, and I have learned a lot in those two years, however, I am never done learning, though. I am extremely grateful for those first two years of college that I dreaded so terribly much. Now I understand why those first two years of college are so crucial to growing up.