Categories: College Life

5 Things to Learn Before Entering College

When entering college there is a lot that is to be expected. You just finished 4 years of education and are expected to do another 2 to 6 years of it. A lot of students feel as if they need to enter college already knowing what to do with their lives. The truth is that it’s okay to not know exactly what profession you plan on going in. There are so many jobs out there and it’s okay to want to do as much research as possible before committing to one. Sometimes you need time to find what you are good at. There could be multiple subjects that you excel in, and you need some more time and experience to see which ones you personally enjoy. Just because you are good at something doesn’t necessarily mean that you will enjoy turning it into a profession. A lot of students entering college need to understand that it’s okay to take some time to find your calling. Don’t expect to want to do the same thing through all 2 to 6 years in college. Take your time and get your requirements out of the way. Once it’s time to get onto a track, you’ll have a better grasp on life and on what you enjoy doing.

Another thing that a lot of people need to learn before entering college is the true meaning of friendship. This mostly applies towards high school students that are entering college at a young age. A lot of times, friendships are forged in high schools and are meant to last for a long time. Unfortunately, a lot of variables can affect a friendship. A lot of students need to know what true friendship is. Your best friends can be counted on one hand. A true friend will value you and never throw you under the bus. It’s okay to have plenty of acquaintances, but your best friends will always be there for you. A lot of things can make people stop wanting to be friends with someone else. Relationships, distance, maturity, etc., can all affect someone’s perspective on a friendship. A true friend won’t allow small things like those to affect how they view you. A true friendship will last through thick and thin. When entering college, it’s important to know who you surround yourself with and what kind of person they want to become.

Too many students entering college get consumed by the number of commitments they make. One person can only handle so many tasks at once before losing their minds. Make sure you aren’t draining yourself too much. A great way to organize your tasks and your commitments are by organizing yourself and allowing yourself to manage time. Managing time is something that anyone can learn to do. It may involve a little less of the phone usage and a little more of mental concentration. Once you begin to juggle jobs with school, you will see how quickly your free time gets consumed. It will get to a point where the small amount of free time you have will be the time you need for yourself. Build up your tasks slowly and prioritize everything you need and want to do. There is a lot of pressure of college students, but your mental health and well-being are more important than anything. It’s a horrible feeling when you feel as if you’re drowning in everything you have going on in life. Give yourself the chance to learn how to properly manage your time and juggle everything you’ve put on your plate.

Now this may seem like common sense, but you’ll come to find that a lot of young college students are not equipped to take care of themselves. When entering college, it’s important to know how to do the basic necessities in life. Things such as doing your laundry, washing the dishes, cleaning your room, and taking out the trash are a few examples of things you should know how to do on your own. Before entering college, learn how to cook some meals you like from home and also learn how to clean up the kitchen afterwards. If you plan on driving during college, make sure you know how to properly park. Parking is a big issue for college students as you’ll come to see. It never hurts to learn some basic car militance as well. Depending on how far you’ll be from your family, you might need to go through some emergencies all on your own. It will be a lot easier for you and everyone that cares about you if it’s known that you know how to handle yourself. Of course, everyone is going to need some help at some point, but part of being an adult is knowing how to tackle the real world on your own.

College is a time for parties and going all out. It’s perfectly normally to go out and party and have a good time with your friends. However, we live in a world where it’s very easy for things to go wrong very fast. When entering college, make sure that you are looking out for yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable somewhere, then listen to your gut. If someone is making you feel very uncomfortable then leave their presence and inform someone. Always be aware of who is around you and try to stay with your group when you’re out. Too many accidents have happened when people have left their guards down. College is a fun time meant for plenty of memories, but it’s also a time where you need to be able to get yourself home every night. The stress of safety only becomes more and more prominent every single day. If you feel like a situation might be heading south, then get out of there and inform someone immediately. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be safe. No one is going to get upset at you for doing the right thing.