How to Graduate College with No Regrets
Throughout my years of high school, I had heard what I’m sure everyone else has been told at some point, “high school is the best time of your life.” I’ll be the first to say that anyone who tells you this is either delusional, full of you-know-what, or never went to college. I think it is basically a fact that college has the most potential to be the best years of anyone’s life. I’m here to give you all some tips from my own college experience on how you can make this a guarantee.
First, if you have a shell, break out of it. College is the opportunity for you to really be yourself. You don’t need to fit in with the cliques that may have existed in your high school. College is the time to stay true to who you are, even if that means changing how you have presented yourself in the past. College is also a perfect place to meet new people. Of course we all have those friends from home that we keep in touch with or even attend the same college together, but take the time to make new friends and build new relationships.
My next tip is to go to your classes. Seriously, we all will have those morning classes that seem impossible to make it to, but that doesn’t mean that you should only go to it once a week. I hate it when people complain about doing bad in a class and then proceed to mention how they constantly miss that class because they “can’t even” or whatever reason they considered to be valid at the time. So next time you’re laying in your room rationalizing why you aren’t going to make it to class today, just get up and go, chances are you’ll still be alive to lay in bed and watch Netflix as soon as it’s over.
My third tip is indulging in nightlife at college. I know that nightlife and partying isn’t for everyone and I’m not saying to completely forget the reason that you are in college; but give yourself the opportunity to have those crazy weekends out. I couldn’t imagine looking back on my years in Bloom and not having those hilarious, unexpected, and sometimes mortifying stories from weekends past to look back on.
Next, get involved on campus. Everyone has classes and jobs, but I truly believe that one of the best things a college student can do is join an organization; I’m talking on-campus organizations, academic clubs, Greek life, sports teams, etc. Not only will you have more to fill your days with by getting involved in things like this, but you will also meet so many people whom you would probably not meet outside of the club.
Finally, live in the moment. I know this seems so general and can basically be applied to life itself, but I truly believe it. Don’t stress out about the past or things that may not even happen, it’s not healthy! Obviously, if you don’t do this already, it will take time to get into this mindset. It will absolutely be worth it once you achieve it though. Don’t look back on the bad things that happen to you, rather feel blessed for what you have and be thankful that things are not worse.
I try to be that voice of reason among my friends and really anyone that I talk to as much as possible. These are just a few tips that I have applied to my life in college and stand by them 100 percent. So be studious, have a good time, and don’t sweat the small stuff because college is only four years of your life and I hope that everyone who graduates leaves with no regrets, or as the movie We’re the Millers has put it, “No ragrets, not a single letter.”
