Graduation is just (insert number here, I’m too scared to check) days away, and I decided to ask some graduating seniors what they regret most about these past four years. A harsh question to ask during the most exciting and happy time in a college student’s life, I know. But I was thinking of all the things I wished I had done differently (more on that below) and wondered if I was the only one who had some regrets. Spoiler alert: I most definitely wasn’t.
Mal: My biggest regret in college was definitely how I treated it freshman year. I thought I could get away with doing the bare minimum like high school and not put the work in. My first semester I got the WORST GPA I had ever gotten in my life. It messed with my program I was in and my scholarships. So, if I learned anything, it’s never to underestimate, always talk to professors, and actually work for the results you want to see!
Kelly: I regret not applying to more schools as a senior [in high school]. I regret not going to as many events as I wish I did. I regret not exploring Boston as much. I regret not getting to know people in my major.
Katie: I wish that I hadn’t been so set on laying my bricks in one path. When I came to Simmons I had planned to be with my high school boyfriend from Tufts (don’t choose a school based on a guy, I learned that the hard way), I had planned on playing soccer, I planned on being in an accelerated program and planned to have the perfect college experience. Well guess what… things don’t always go the way you planned and that’s okay! It’s okay to stray from your set path. Breaking up with my high school boyfriend was a godsend. I met an amazing guy who I wouldn’t trade anything in the world for. I tore my ACL again and ultimately had to stop playing soccer. As hard of a decision as this was, it forced me out of my comfort zone and make friends outside of the team (something I had never done). I got a couple B-‘s and had to redo the classes (there’s no shame in retaking a class, literally just do it) but guess what? I’m still going to graduate school and simply delayed my program. This allowed me time to minor and participate in internships that I never would have been able to in the accelerated program. My college experience was nothing like the movies. Quite frankly if I were to do it all again, I’d do it way differently. But there’s no redo button. So my advice to you would be to get out of your comfort zone, take chances, meet new people and live in the moment. Grades and awards aren’t everything and quite frankly if you try to make them be, you’re in for a rude awakening when “real life” starts. That’s not to say you shouldn’t study, because you definitely should! But instead of studying for the grade, study for the knowledge. If there’s one thing to take away from this all it’s that there’s more than one way to lay bricks in order to get to your destination.
Kathryn (author): I regret not being friendlier to people. It would’ve cost zero dollars and zero cents to make small talk with the cashier at the coffee shop and foster a relationship where she knows your regular order. How could things have been different if I’d just reached out to the girl I thought was so cool in my Poli Sci class and just told her? I got hurt a lot my freshman and sophomore years by a few bad eggs, and that sucks, but I wish it hadn’t turned me off from people in general so much. But when you’re eighteen and so goddamn vulnerable, one person’s harsh words can stick with you for so, so long. Don’t let that be the case. People are going to be mean. Just keep smiling.
A big thank you to these seniors for taking a few minutes to reflect on the less pleasant memories and share what they’ve learned.
Some responses have been edited for clarity.