When some people think of a coming-of-age experience, they think of their bar/bat mitzvah, maybe their first communion, a Sweet 16, or high school graduation. While those were definitely milestones for me, I’ve found college to be a prolonged coming-of-age experience so far. I’ve only been here for two years, but I’m definitely deep into this new chapter of growth. I suspect this “growing era” that I and many others are in during our first few years of college will last throughout our entire college experiences, and here is why.
New people
In college, you are meeting so many new people all the time. It’s just that kind of environment. You’re usually in around 10 courses every year, with ten new and different groups of people, all of which you might very well be able to make friends with depending on the size of your class. You are also exposed to new people throughout the extracurriculars you join, whether it be an academic club, interest-based club, house league or greek life, these are all ways that we further our scope of who we know on campus.
If you live in a college dorm, that right there is another experience that will introduce you to loads of new people. Everyone is around the same age and are most likely at similar points of their lives. It’s a great place and opportunity to meet people. For example, on the move-in weekend, you are exposed to so many new faces. Neighbours knock on your door to introduce themselves and you share many common spaces like kitchens, living rooms and communal bathrooms. You’re just always around new people in dorms. And then there are clubs, which many people join with the intention of meeting even more people.
And last but not least, college kids go out in college towns! Just being out in my small university town has introduced me to people. All of this to say, you’re meeting so many people every day in a variety of different places. You’re figuring out who you like to be around and who you want to prioritize in your life. Also, you’re probably living with roommates. It’s the time in your life you’ll probably meet the most amount of people in such a short time. The great thing about this is that new people can change your perspective and promote growth!
daily learning
While in college you’re constantly learning. Whether it be about ancient Greece if you’re a classics major or electromagnetics as an electrical engineering major, you’re certainly learning something and retaining information when you go to class (hopefully) every day.
Even outside of class you’re gaining valuable life experience, which is in itself a way of learning. Living on your own, being responsible for your own academic success, learning time management, working a part-time job, and maybe experiencing nightlife for the first time. There are so many ways that you gain life skills and knowledge just by going to college.
Many say that while scholarly education is the most important part of one’s college experience, the valuable life lessons you learn come in a close second in their importance. This certainly contributes to the growth environment: the more you learn, the more you know and the more you change.
finding yourself
This one kind of stems from being surrounded by new people and daily learning. Given that you’re constantly meeting new people and are immersed in new knowledge and experiences so regularly, you’re bound to discover things about yourself that you never knew. Passions, interests or causes, you name it. There is so much to discover about yourself while in university and there is so much time to make changes in the way you live given these discoveries. Maybe you’ll become a bookworm, start teaching yoga classes or become a vegetarian. College gives you room to find yourself, given that you’re constantly immersed in new things and in a new environment. You are no longer stuck in your hometown way of life; you can and should make changes on how you conduct your life.
Universities are very unique places. If I can give any advice to college students I would say this: allow yourself to change. Growth is healthy and necessary, and college is one of the easiest and most comfortable places to do so.