It is often said that college is the best four years of your life. But how do you ensure that you’re really getting the most out of your college experience? Simple: make a bucket list. While bucket lists vary from campus to campus and student to student, here are five essential bucket list items for every collegiette.
1. Take a Class Just for Fun
It’s easy to get bogged down in pre-requisite courses, classes for your major, and finishing everything on time, but don’t let that stop you from taking one or two classes just because they seem interesting. College is about branching out and learning, and what better way to do that than by taking “Topics in Creative Expression: the Hula” or “The Situation Comedy”? (Both of which are actually offered by the university!) Plus, “just for fun” classes can serve as those much-needed sources of stress-relief during your most academically intense semesters.
2. Study Abroad
Students who study abroad say it is a once in a lifetime experience, and those who don’t study abroad often say they wish they had. Even for the less adventurous collegiette, studying abroad is an excellent opportunity to gain perspective on different cultures and learn outside the bubble of an American University. Whether you choose to fully immerse yourself in a foreign way of life, or merely spend time living with other Americans in another country, studying abroad should certainly be on your college bucket list. As a student, you’ll be able to travel more extensively (and economically) than you’ll likely be able to at any other point in your lifetime.
3. Participate in Community Service
While people of all ages certainly become involved in volunteer projects, college campuses have an abundance of philanthropy opportunities. Between Dance Marathon, Relay for Life, and the smaller organizations and clubs on campus, collegiettes have a range of options, making it easy to find a cause you care about and a philanthropy activity you enjoy.
4. Paint The Rock (or statue, or wall)
At Michigan, painting “The Rock” (located on the intersection of Hill Street and Washtenaw Avenue) serves as a rite of passage for all undergrads. As a Michigan Daily article put it in 2010, “In your quest to complete [the list of college] must-do’s, you’ve probably painted The Rock on the corner of Hill and Washtenaw. If you haven’t, you will before you graduate. And if you don’t, you will be seen as a college failure.” Grab a group of friends, or sorority sisters, or fellow teammates, or complete strangers, and paint. No further explanation necessary.
5. Learn to Cook
Throughout four years of college and, presumably, at least one of those years living off-campus (without the comfort of the dining hall food), learning to make at least one simple meal for yourself is an achievable goal. You don’t need to be able to whip up gourmet dishes, but it’s nice to know how to cook a respectable egg, boil water for pasta, and be able to treat yourself to a balanced homemade meal. Added bonus: cooking for yourself is much cheaper than dining out!
Which items top your college bucket list? Are there any you think we missed? Add to our bucket list in the comments section!