College experiences are different for many people. A lot of what makes them different depends on multiple factors: public or private schools, location, size, housing, personal preferences, and many other things. What is misconceived about college are many of the things we watch and read which glorify it—a place where greek life takes over campus, partying is endless and the only fun thing to do, being best friends with your roommates, having professors that are mean or stricter than highschool, and so on.
For me personally, the college experience hasn’t been “all that.” In other words, while I have found that my first quarter of college to be fulfilling and enlightening, it isn’t like most. I’ve realized that there are a lot of things that I wasn’t expecting before I came to school and many freshmen alike don’t really know what to expect. Even if you think you’re prepared—you’re not. There are a multitude of things that I never thought of or expected before coming to campus, big and small:
1. Living Situations Are So Different
I never thought I would have to share a room with two other people, let alone one. There are many little things that you will have to make compromises towards. Even when your roommates are totally opposite of you. When it comes to these types of situations, you have to really let go of the smaller stuff because you just have to live with them for a year.
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2. You Learn the Value of Sharing
You will have to share a room, bathroom, sleeping schedules, eating schedules, and a lot of other things with your roommates that you wouldn’t have to at home. Everyone in a dorm has to be open to sharing a space with someone who’s lifestyle could be the total opposite of theirs. It builds character, I guess.
3. Partying Isn’t Everything
Coming to college, I thought that all there was going to be to do was party and the pressure to feel like you have to go out and drink (which is illegal if you are under 21), was very high. However, there is a surprisingly large amount of college students and a lot of my good friends who don’t choose to go out. We’ve found many things to do for fun without feeling like we needed to go to some random, sweaty apartment to find it.
4. You’re There For a Reason
Having the pressure of being a lot more social kind of overpowers us and having the perfect “college experience” is what blinds a lot of freshmen to prioritize the things that really matter—like actually going to school to learn and get a degree. I would know because there have been plenty of times when I felt like I should be doing more than studying.
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5. College is What You Make of It
Everyone has a different college experience, and it will only matter most if you actually embrace it and apply yourself. I’ve only been in college for six months, but I know that these will be the best four years of my life because I’m ready to learn and make mistakes.
College is full of experiences and it’s going to be a roller coaster ride for everyone.