It can be hard balancing schoolwork, clubs, keeping in touch with friends, and your busy social calendar, but whenever some free time pops up, it’s always important to take advantage of that. College is a great time to open up your world to new experiences, and really find out where you see yourself in this world after you complete the four best years of your life so far. Here are a few things that can really make a difference in your college experience, and may even open up new paths for when you’re out there in the real world.
Study Abroad: I have yet to do this, but it’s at the top of my list! I know that traveling to a different country may be time consuming and costly, but in the end so many benefits come with this opportunity that’s right at our fingertips. Many times, summer programs are offered so specific classes won’t be missed out on during the school year. Most colleges have a study abroad office specifically dedicated to guiding students through the entire process, making it a breeze. I have talked to countless students who have taken the opportunity to travel to places like London, Costa Rica, Beijing, and India. As soon as they started telling me about their trip their faces instantly lit up as the memories of their amazing time there flowed through their minds. I truly feel that students should be aware of other cultures, even completely opposite ones than they’re used to. You never know what kind of people you’ll come across afterwards, and maybe that future job interviewer just happens to be fluent in Italian and you, being the one who traveled to Italy before, may put you just a wee bit ahead of others. Hey, you never know! My point is that traveling abroad can open up so many doors for you, and the chance is something students should grab while they can. You’ll learn things you never know even existed as you surround yourself with beautiful culture and all new sights to be forever enclosed in your memories of wonderful experiences you’ve gotten to witness.
Get on the jumbotron at your school’s football or basketball game (whichever’s bigger!): I am proud to say that my friends and I have successfully made the jumbotron almost every football game we’ve gone to. It’s seriously somehow satisfying to just watch yourself look absolutely ridiculous screaming on the big screen in front of thousands of fans. It’s so much fun to get decked out in your schools colors, wear face paint, and bring any and every prop you own that has something to do with your school. This is the best time to be overly school-spirited. Embrace it! Don’t forget to just be silly and dance around the entire game, as you’re sure to be seen as the spirited little fan who everyone else has to look up to! You’re on the screen to get everyone else pumped about the game, even if your team’s losing horribly. So be goofy, don’t sit down, and start cheering! Those players rely on the fans to get them excited to show the crowd a good game.
Be the healthiest you’ve ever been! No more freshman fifteen clichés for you! College is a turning point in your life that you can use to your advantage. Be in the best shape of your life by utilizing all those free gyms and workout classes your school offers. It takes a lot of restraint, but those dining halls do actually serve healthy food. You really have to be self-motivated to push yourself to feel and look your best, but college is one of the best times to do so. You’ll be more confident going through school, and all that stress from finals feels much better after you’ve let off some steam at the gym. Friends you only see over the summer will really notice how much happier and healthier you are too! It’s good to start good eating and exercising habits before we start climbing up the ladder in all our careers, when the stress really hits us. Luckily, those good habits we picked up in college will put us off to a great start!
Become an officer of your favorite club or organization: Here’s where you can really become a role model doing something you already love being a part of. Whether you’re interested in taking organized notes during meetings, managing money your club raised, or running the charity events your club puts on, there’s a position for everybody. Run for a leadership position to make changes for the better and to show that club that they’re lucky to have you and everything you bring to the table to benefit the organization. Taking on a leadership role sets you ahead of others who have no experience making big decisions that will move an organization forward like you have. So next time your organization announces elections are coming up, don’t hold back!
Expand your talents/ interests: You’ve got some you never even knew about! An easy way to keep an open mind is to take a class that’s totally outside your major. If you’re thinking about pre-med, look into taking maybe a film or art class aside from your typical bio courses. Want to be a psychologist? Awesome! Just stick in a cultural Latin America class and you’ll be sure to be surprised at how much you never got the chance to know before! In an enjoyable extra class you’ll probably come across people you haven’t met before, and maybe they can share some things they’re involved in as well that could spark some interest in you too. This year, I tried sign language, something I never thought I’d be able to learn, and it really has blown my mind at how much I’ve gotten attached to learning about the deaf culture and being able to communicate through sign. Expanding your interests can set you on track to a new hobby, a huge resume boost, and a group of new friends as well!
So get started on these goals and look forward to a graduation that’ll have you feeling like you did everything you could while you were in college, living it up to the fullest.
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