We all know what it’s like living on a college campus. What with numerous events to attend, interesting people to meet, and fun stuff to do, it’s no wonder we lose track of the outside world. Who has the time to keep up with anything else? But, despite the joys of college life, I know what it’s like to pull myself out of the college bubble and take a confused look around. The world outside your college campus seems foreign and weird, and you’re not sure what’s going on around you, if anything at all. So, to remedy this confusion, here are five surefire ways to stay in touch with the outside world.
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5. SPEAKING WITH FRIENDS OR PROFESSORS
Admittedly, this one is hit or miss, because like you, most of your friends or acquaintances are probably living either in or around campus. However, you may know a professor who commutes, or even a friend, and soon realize they have the inside scoop on daily life on the outside. And you’re set. But, if all else fails, you could always try befriending the know-it-all political science major down the hall, so you’ll always know what’s going on with our government. There’s may even be a mass comm major on the next floor. So get cracking!
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4. LISTENING TO THE RADIO
Ah, the radio, one of the more classic forms of spreading information from one place to another. Back in the day, most everybody would tune into the radio, and be instantaneously connected to one another and the world. It was the world’s information highway. Nowadays, the radio is still informative, but it plays more music than it does report news. Although, if you frequently listen to pop stations, you’ll always be kept up to date on the latest pop culture, and that’s something. But, if you’re looking for legitimate news worthy news, just find the NPR station and go to town. You’ll be an informed, worldly individual in no time.
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3. READING THE NEWSPAPER
Newspapers are delivered every week without fail. You explicitly remember when you lived with your parents, and would back your car out of the garage only to roll over last week’s issue, soggy from rain. Inside those pages holds a multitude of information, ranging from world issues, local issues, and movie reviews. With a newspaper, the world is your oyster. There’s something for everyone between those crisp black and white pages. And not to mention the hilarious comics at the end. So once your head is filled with knowledge, you can sit back and have a good laugh.
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2. WATCHING TV
Once the TV came into power, the radio slowly became obsolete. Well, at least news-wise. Anyway, who wants to listen to the news when you can easily watch it? Even on a college campus, you’ll always have a means to watch TV. The difficult part is either obtaining cable or having the attention span to sit down and watch. (I know how hard it is to sit through a class.) But hey, maybe you don’t own a TV. However, there’s a way to find one. Somewhere on campus, a TV is waiting to be watched, and just like all other suggestions on this list, it is a goldmine of information. Want some real-life news? Turn on Fox or CNN. Want something a bit more laidback? Watch some Extra or Entertainment Tonight. You won’t be disappointed. And the best part? You’ll be informed.
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1. GOING ONLINE
Who doesn’t use the Internet? Better yet, who doesn’t love it? If the TV caused the radio to become obsolete, surely the Internet will soon do the same for TVs. It’s already begun, for where else can you have the world at your fingertips? Not watching TV. With the Internet, the world is at your disposal. If a country overthrows a dictator, within seconds this news from halfway across the globe will be displayed on Huffingtonpost or The New York Times, online editions. The Internet is a literal information highway. It is the largest medium for instant news. It’s gratifying, and if you’re ever curious as to what’s happening outside your bustling college town, just open a laptop. Problem solved.