What did another year of college teach me?
Looking back at this past school year, I have learned so many important life lessons outside of the classroom. Yes, analyzing lines from Macbeth and learning whether you need a debit or credit account are important; however, Sophomore year proved to be a wreaking ball when it came to my personal life. Here are eight important things that I learned:
1) Disappointments happen. They’re unavoidable. Don’t view them as the end. It can be hard, but try to find the upside. Disappointments are experiences from which we learn and grow. If we’re lucky we don’t repeat the same ones over and over again. With time, you will be able to look back and tell yourself that you got through it and that it didn’t break you; it only made you stronger.
2) Relationships can come to an end, whether it’s breakup between girl and boy or just friendships drifting apart. In short, we are young and still trying to figure out who we are and what we want out of life. This is what our parents mean by “becoming an adult.” It’s a scary thought that we are no longer teenagers. The majority of my friends and I turned 20 this year, and we realized that we will never be teens again. In that process of “becoming an adult” we may start to head in different directions with the people we were once close to, and that is normal. Though it may hurt it at first to lose a relationship, it’s usually for the best. And who knows, those people sometimes come back into our lives one future day.
3) Give people a second chance. In the community of Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame and Holy Cross, our faith teaches us that we should forgive others. Forgiving people and letting go of whatever you have against someone is much easier than holding onto that negative energy. Try doing a re-fresh with someone you’ve resented, you might actually become friends all over again. People can surprise you with their generosity. Also, life is too short for long-held grudges.
4) Keep your friends close. Your friends at school are your world. Who else would you go to the dining hall with, unload your problems on, or ask whether you should wear leggings or jeans with a certain top? I have cousins who went to Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame, all of them have said that the friendships they made a these schools are special, and they are still friends with the same people to this day. They will be your support system throughout life if you’re lucky.
5) Find something that makes you happy. Go out and do something that makes you genuinely happy. Whether it is joining a club, trying out for a team, or running around the lakes, take time out of your week and do something for you. It’s important to clear your head of the emotional clutter in your life. For the past two months, I have been going to the Compton and skating on my own, simply because I love to skate. It is the one thing that I can do that makes me feel better. It’s the chance to get out of my room and practice something I love.
6) Experience something new. Make an effort to do something you have always wanted to do. Let’s say it’s sailing; go sign up for the sailing team. Or go abroad to a new country and immerse yourself in its culture. Learn about others who are different from you. Go travel to a state that you have never been to. Your new experience can be as small as eating at one of Notre Dame’s dining halls, I suggest South (the food is better than North).
7) It’s okay to not do well in a class. Your parents may not be thrilled with seeing a dropped class or a deficiency on your transcripts. However, there are plenty of people who graduate college and have failed or dropped classes. It’s not the end of the world. There are classes that we will struggle with more than others. No matter how hard you try, you may still not get the grade you were expecting. I have personally struggled with Statistics this entire semester. To me, deciding whether to reject or accept a null hypothesis makes zero sense to me. Realistically, the real world does not care if you dropped got a deficiency in your Sociology class. Classes can always be retaken, and you will eventually get your credits one way or another. Don’t sweat it, you will graduate.
8) Keep in touch with your family. Your family will always be there for you. They love you unconditionally. Shoot them a text at least once a day and see how they’re doing. Moms especially love getting updates about what is going on in your life. Try to call them as you walk to class and see what’s new with them. I recently found out that my mom is making my dad, who is 6’3” and 250 pounds, go to hot yoga (I don’t think this is realistic). Your family is everything so make sure that you let them know you love and appreciate them every chance you get, even when they are all over you for grades or going out too much.
College is the path to a degree and eventually a job. It is also a training ground for finding ourselves. These eight lessons were very important to me this year. I believe there are more to come. It’s hard to believe that I’m halfway done with my college career, but I’m so excited for next Fall and junior year to begin. Thanks Saint Mary’s for being my guide.