I wish I could say I’m officially done with school, but my final scheduled for 9:00 am next Friday says otherwise. Everyone around me is slowly finishing classes and some their last day of college ever.
College has been crazy the last few years. My freshman year ended up moving online when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. The following year, my sophomore year remained completely online. In fall 2021, the decision was made to become hybrid and slowly integrate into a “normal” college semester.
As a junior, it’s been strange (for others too I’m sure) to be back in person this school year. I’ve met a lot of people, made new friends, met their friends, went out more, had new experiences, and just learned about myself more. Here are some of my takeaways and the lessons I learned.
Do it for the plot
I’ve gone way out of my comfort zone this year and I learned that sometimes you should just say yes and go along with whatever it is you’re feeling reluctant about. I tend to always get into my head about what if’s and the truth is you’re never going to know what will happen if you don’t do it. I’m not saying you should say yes to every single thing, but sometimes it’s about the experience and you’ll more than likely get a story to tell and a memory to look back on!
It’s okay to say no
Bouncing off my previous point, it’s okay to say no! I noticed growing up I always had people-pleasing tendencies and felt bad whenever I couldn’t hang out with someone. It’s important to take care of yourself and if they were really your friend or if the person cared about you, they will understand. Saying no should not be a big deal. You don’t have to agree to everything you’re invited to or asked to do. Always remember that. It was a lesson I learned more this year and it feels good sometimes to say no when I know I would rather rest or do something else.
Take breaks
It can be easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of college. Between school, clubs, work, or maintaining a social life, it can be difficult to slow down when you are always on the go. I love being productive and having a full schedule of things to do, but I recognized that I needed to have rest days where I take a moment to just relax. Everyone’s busy and you may not be able to afford a rest day, but whether it’s an afternoon, an hour, or even just five minutes, take a moment to stop what you’re doing and make sure you’re taking care of yourself.
Don’t be afraid to hang out with people you don’t know
I consider myself pretty introverted and the idea of walking into a place where I know nobody or maybe one or two people is daunting. I pushed myself more to be open to meeting people and if I hadn’t I would not have met some of the people I know now. I have met some amazing people through my friends and the student organizations I’m a part of. I’m not saying everyone has to be your best friend or that you have to like them, but be open to meeting new people because you never know if you’ll end up with a new friend in your circle.