Lessons from a Year in College
This May, I finished my first year of college. It was a year of highs and lows, with experiences I will cherish for the rest of my life, but also a few that I will try to forget. While I still have a long way to go, I am beginning to realize what my parents meant, when they said that college is the most transformative phase of one’s life.
In this post, I would like to share a few of the lessons I’ve learned over this past year, and give my advice and tips to those about to embark on the same journey. Obviously, my experiences have been influenced by my personal background, the college I attend, the friends I made etc. But I will try to keep my advice as broadly applicable as possible.
Have a plan, but be open to changing it
You’ve likely heard that “College is the time to explore”. This is true. The open environment offered by colleges is an ideal place to explore your interests, hobbies and passions. However, I’ve found that having a plan has helped me immensely in determining what I want to do, and who I want to be.
I’m not refering to a rigid, detailed, 4-year schedule, that must be followed to the letter. Arguably, that’s worse than not having a plan at all. Nothing’s worse than starting from scratch because you didn’t end up liking the specific courses you’d picked out (and trust me, you will not like some of the courses you’ve picked out).
No, what I’m refering to is a broader framework. I did not come in thinking “I will major in Computer Engineering”. Rather, I came in thinking “I want to major in Computer Engineering”. I did end up choosing Computer Engineering, but only after I’d explored other fields.
Most importantly, be open to change. If you don’t end up liking your plan, change it! Pursue another interest, or take the time to find a new one.
Talk to everyone
No one faults a freshman for being curious, which gives you almost free reign to talk to people as much as you want. Talk to professors, upperclassmen and (most importantly) other freshmen. Talk to men and women from all walks of life. If you bump into someone in the hallway, talk to them.
I was fortunate at Purdue to have a great orientation program in the form of BGR (Boiler Gold Rush). If you have the opportunity to attend a similar freshman orientation program at your college, I would highly recommend you take it - and talk to as many people as you can.
But if you really want to form relationships, simply talking isn’t going to be enough, which leads to my next point.
Set aside time for relationships
This is one of the glaring differences between high school and college. Keeping in touch was easy in high school - you saw your friends almost every day, and likely even had a class together.
Not so in college. The size of most college campuses ensures that you will likely not ‘bump into’ a friend or acquaintance, especially if you don’t share classes. In this case, it’s important to remember to stay in touch. Dedicate some time to spend with friends you don’t see often. If you want to get to know someone better, take the initiative and fix a time to hang out.
I remember reading a post a while ago, which said that if you aren’t invited to hang out with other people, it’s possible that they expect you to take the initiative and plan something. Of course, there’s a line to be trod here, but it’s worth remembering nonetheless.
Finally, remember to set aside time for past relationships. Friends from high school, from your hometown. I’ve felt it important to keep these relationships alive, as I likely wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
Learn, learn, learn
I lived in a dormitory this past year. There was a janitor in this dormitory who would start her work every day before the sun was up. She had to deal with the remnants of drunk freshmen shenanigans, and I can only imagine how terrible her job was. But she did it nonetheless, and despite speaking very little English, greeted every single student with a smile and ‘Hello’. Her work ethic had amazed me when I saw it, and continues to amaze me as I write this.
My point is that everyone - and I mean everyone - has something to teach you. Doubly so in a college campus, where you will meet the sons of millionaires and the sons of plumbers. Humility and a willingness to learn will go a long way in such an environment.