What to Take and Leave Behind From College

The semester is coming to an end and for us seniors it is the end of one very big chapter and the beginning of the next. Most would say that the college years are the best of our lives and, as a senior about to graduate, I can truly say college has been one heck of a ride. There were moments of complete uncertainty, anxiety, excitement, adventure, and change. College doesn’t just prepare us for our careers, but we learn, outside of the classroom, about the world and mostly about ourselves. Here are some life lessons you should take from college and some habits you should leave behind.
 
Leave Behind
The drama – We thought after high school there would be none of this, but in the land of sleep deprivation, more hormones and alcohol, among other things, drama is bound to happen. Leave all that extra baggage behind and grow from it rather than dwell on it. Hopefully upon receiving your diploma, petty things like what he said or what she said will remain just that and you will be able to truly focus on what’s important in life.
 
Your diet – The dollar menu, ramen noodles, vending machines and caffeine are the usual during these four years (or more) for college students. Leave that crappy diet behind! There is a reason these food choices cost less than a dollar and a reason why food in vending machines takes forever to spoil. Treating your body right will result in long-term health benefits mentally and physically. Hopefully we will have the financial abilities to afford healthier food choices. :)
 
Your alcohol intake – You have heard that after college, it is called alcoholism. Well, it’s true! Unfortunately our bodies just can’t take the amount of alcohol we’re used to consuming without abusing them. Your body can’t be 21 forever…oh and there are no “beepers” and “safe ride” in the real world, just taxis that cost you an arm and a leg.
 
Your not-so-professional Facebook and Tweet posts – They may have been funny during college, but there comes a point in all our lives when we have to be just a little careful about what we’re posting on our social media. Sure we can make things private, but are things on the Internet ever really “private”? Try to be more aware of what your posting. Your cyber reputation is just as great as your real world one, so treat it as such!
 
Procrastination – While this may be a norm for college students all around; this is one norm that doesn’t cut it post graduation. Have you heard of the saying, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you could do today”? Deadlines are way more hardcore in the real world than they are in college and in some cases they definitely cost more monetarily and can even cost you your job. Don’t risk it. The time-management skills that have been engrained in us should be practiced. Work doesn’t get easier after graduation, but the way we handle it could make it a little more bearable.