Congratulations, you made it to college! You graduated from high school and decided to take up the route of higher education. You have settled on a college, and now you are about to take up the next stage of your life. But, if you, like any other freshman in college, you might not know where to begin and how to go about the next four years. Well, I am here to help guide you into how you could take advantage of the next four years.
Before I begin to list some things, if you feel uncertain about the future and scared of what could happen in this next chapter in life, it is essential to realize that life is about trial and error, and it’s okay not to get things right the first time.
Join Clubs, Organizations and Take classes that align with your interests
I know this seems so obvious but hear me out. Being active on campus is something that I feel helps with a lot more things than students realize. When you join clubs on campus, you learn to network, better understand your interests, and overall take in the college experience. The club or organization you choose to join does not have to be anything pertaining to your major; in fact, I recommend joining clubs that are not related to your major and more that are close to your interests. There are things that these clubs can give you, such as leadership, team-building, and time management skills that you cannot learn in the classroom. This also applies to class; if you have extra credits, take courses that interest you. The earlier you learn these skills and explore your interests, the more well-rounded you become.
Look into Internships and jobs
This tip may seem a bit stressful, but you will feel better if you do this sooner. As you become more active around campus, you meet many people and learn about their aspirations and interests. In doing so, you also know about different jobs and career paths. You don’t need to do a deep dive into job listings and internships offered, but whenever you learn about a specific career path or discover a skill that you enjoy using, write it down and learn what it takes to go into that particular field. Again, this should not be something that overwhelms you but whenever you have some time on your hands, take a moment to take a peek at a job and see what you could do (shadow or intern) to go into that path. The earlier you start doing this, the less stress it can be once it becomes time to hunker down and pursue those jobs because it won’t be anything new to you.
Regularly Visit Your School’s Career Center or resource site
I cannot stress this enough. If you have any concerns with your major or even need any documents for job/internship positions looked over, take some time to look into your college’s career resource center. Whether it’s an actual building or the website, make yourself familiar with them because they will be your best friend once you begin the search for internships and job opportunities during your last two years of college.
Practice Mindfulness and have fun!
As you start your next stage in life, things will slowly get scary and new. You will begin to feel anxious about something you thought you had time to deal with later. As a result, it is crucial to be present and be excited for what could come tomorrow! Take some time to meditate or look up a short motivational video once in a while. Spend time with family and friends, make memories! Your time in college will be a rollercoaster of emotions where you will feel happy and sad or worried about what’s to come, but what is essential is to embrace all of those moments and take them as they are because that will prepare you most for life outside those college gates.