As I am about to graduate in less than a month, I have realized that the most important and meaningful lessons I have learned in my four years at UNH were not found in my Econ or Marketing books. But, it was from my professors, people I met, projects and my experiences.
Don’t get me wrong, although I can definitely say I learned a lot from my textbooks, I think that we often overlook some of the other important lessons we learn outside of the classroom, which are just as valuable and extraordinary.
1. How to live on a tight budget, and learn to cook. Hey, ramen noodles and easy mac count. I mean you have to start somewhere.
2. How to function on little to no sleep after studying or a late night out.
3. The friends you meet in college can be some of your best friends forever. Your 4 years of college may pull you tighter in friendships than friends you grew up with.
4. People grow apart and people change. Sometimes for better, and sometimes for worse.
5. You might fall in love; you might get your heart broken. College is a great time to meet new people. Some of my best friends are in long-term relationships; some of my friends are engaged, and some are single. Don’t forget who your friends are when you meet that special someone.
6. Take advantage of everything UNH has to offer. UNH has so much to offer, whether you join a club, sport or Greek life, there is seriously something for everyone. We are all busy college students, and it is often easy to become sidetracked and forget how many opportunities there are to get involved on campus. It’s a great way to feel more connected and meet new people.
7. Study Abroad. A lot of my friends studied abroad, and this is something I wish I took advantage of. Everyone I know has always said it’s an incredible experience and the best few months of their lives. The cost of traveling abroad is approximately the same as tuition you would pay for a semester at UNH, so why not travel the world while you’re still young?
8. We all make mistakes. We are all human and no one is perfect. As Albert Einstein said, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” You will continue to make mistakes for the rest of your life.
9. Work hard, play hard.
10. Procrastination becomes an art.
11. Care packages make everything better.
12. It’s okay to not know what you want to do and lack some direction. Don’t stress it. You will figure it out.
13. Blackboard doesn’t work only when you really need it.
14. Reach out to your professors. At UNH, or any university, professors are there to teach you. Most professors are willing to help you if you need clarification or guidance. Take advantage of office hours, and get to know them. You might want to use them as a reference when you apply for jobs.
15. Sometimes it’s the little things that count.
16. Not everything works out just because you want it to.
17. Life goes on.
18. Challenge yourself and take risks.
19. Question everything. A wise man once said there’s no such thing as a stupid question. Even question that sometimes…
20. UNH is not just a school. We are UNH and UNH is a family. We come together for the best times and the hardest times. People who don’t go here will never really understand why I love it so much. I honestly couldn’t be any more proud of my school and in a few weeks I will be so proud to call myself an alumni of the greatest school. These past 4 years have gone by too quickly, but they have definitely been the best years of my life!