I’m a senior in college, a fact that I honestly am finding hard to grasp…a senior!
Just like the people I used to look up to not because of their height but rather their ability and perseverance to reach the 4th level of the tertiary realm. Now as a senior, I feel nothing different (other than maybe the intense pressure that builds up in the next stage which is the adul[redacted]) but I can’t help but wonder what change would happen in my trajectory of life if I did some things that I wish I did when I was still new to everything adult and collegiate.
If I am granted the ability to go back in time like Marty Mcfly in Back to the Future, here is what I will tell my freshman self.
Join ANY clubs or organizations I want
In the first year of university or college, flocks of club members and organizations would try to woo you over into joining them, and this could be quite overwhelming as a noob: 1. Because you might want to join in more than one, 2. Because you would want to join none. However, I suggest that you join at least one.
In considering what club or organization to join, choose the ones that you actually want to be at, for instance: If you like sports join a sports club of your specification; if arts, join an art club; maybe you want changes in the school then join the student council organization. There's a plethora of options! Just make sure that the organization won’t lead you to any harm. Another is to consider the benefit that an organization or club would give you, whether you’re looking for a club that could hone an innate skill you already have like writing, maybe try joining the school’s newspaper. On the other hand, you can consider the academic points or units that you can gain by joining a specific club. But out of all these, the most important thing to have is the friends or people you’ll meet along the way and the experience and fun that you will embark on.
Build a side hobby
Why do I suggest this knowing that college is stressful? Do I glorify hustle culture?
Just like I always say, “There’s no time to be sad if you’re moving around”. A hobby shouldn’t be something stressful, it should be something that you could do for hours and not get tired. I suggest getting a hobby as a form of distraction–a worthy distraction, more so, an escape. Other than wasting time doing anything else, why not crochet? You’ll have a moment of peace and a hat! Personally, as a hobby, I write poems in between classes or just when I have time. It helps me practice my creativity and at the same time makes me happy about the outcomes.
Are you a writer or a poet too and wonder what else could your works be worth besides being hidden in a treasure box? This has all the answers you need: NEXT STEP FOR YOUNG WRITERS AND POETS
Save-up!
This is one thing that I absolutely regret not being able to continuously practice back then. I started opening a bank account as soon as I started college but failed to save up and use it in the last two years because of the pandemic and now I’m back to square one. It’s obvious that we need to save up even if we are not in college but with all the miscellaneous fees and of course personal wants, it is important to save up. This is particularly obvious, so let me be a reminder: don’t buy what isn’t necessary–maybe just once in a while or maybe if you come from a rich bloodline, otherwise…SAVE-UP!
Try whatever (Don’t be scared!)
This goes the same as the first one. Like I said, every first can be overwhelming as a newbie and most people tend to be scared or anxious to try and explore. But honestly, if you think about it–if I think about it, the only thing that holds me back is my own fear of failure, and in the last 2-3 years, I realized, that the fear of failure is the most absurd fear that I tattooed in my mind. Of course, you should fear failure and rejection, but as long as you manifest it, nothing will happen, you’ll remain stagnant. Don’t forget that you can’t predict anything, I say just try whatever with all your best, see how it goes, and don’t lose hope.
Go for that contest! Apply for that fun internship! Try that university dating booth! Do you seriously want to shift programs? Go for it!
Breathe (It goes on)
Like what my favorite poet, Robert Frost once said “The best way out is always through” a quote that I always have in my heart. At first of course, things would be hard and scary, but speaking from the point of view of a senior, once you reach your last year and start thinking about what is beyond the tertiary years like graduate studies, getting a job, etc., these early dilemmas in the last few years would seem futile. However, I’m not saying that you should treat your studies as irrelevant but rather, keep in mind that things go on, and you might be stuck but it won’t be forever. And so, breathe and take it easy.
I can't really travel through time, freshman years have passed already, and I made mistakes and things I regret. You will too, but I hope from what you read, you'll learn from my experience.
Read more about changing mindsets in conditioning yourself to see tertiary years as not so scary: Changing my flawed ways of thinking
Related article: 5 IMPORTANT THINGS YOU SHOULD PREPARE BEFORE STEPPING TO COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY
***
Thank you for reading!!
Comments
Post a Comment