When you first graduate high school and are going to college, everyone gives out advice. From parents, to friends, to the old creepy guy living down the street, people seem to know how to “survive” college, even if they themselves have never been there. There is, however, a difference between merely surviving college and actually experiencing it and growing from it. Here are some tips on how to not only survive college but how to grow from it and to have fun too.
1. Go to class and study. This is probably the most obvious piece of advice, but it is the most important, most of the time. It is nearly impossible these days to get a decent job without a college degree, especially in this recession, which is why getting a degree is so important (as if you haven’t heard this a million times). Also, considering most people are probably not getting a full ride at John Carroll, no one wants to pay more for college because they did not go to class or study the first time around, or the second time around for that matter. So put down those red Solo cups and pick up a book, preferably one of your textbooks.
2. Make new friends. Some people come to JCU knowing no one, which is the perfect opportunity to make new friends. Others come to John Carroll with their significant other or best friend, which should not be an excuse for failing to make new friends. Making new friends is an essential part of the college experience and you should keep making new friends all four years of college as well.
If you surround yourself with the same people all the time, you are not going to grow as a human being. Besides, people get tired of hanging out with the same people all the time anyway, which is another great excuse to make new friends.
3. Get involved, but not too involved. At JCU there are over 100 clubs and activities in which to get involved. Join something, anything. However, you do not want to become too involved and become overwhelmed. No one wants to be that person running around like a chicken with their head cut off because they are too involved. Balance is essential, so learn how to pick and choose the activities to be involved in and learn to say no to those activities you can do without.
4. Take care of yourself. Don’t be the smelly kid in the hall that everyone talks about. No one wants to smell bad breath either. So shower and brush your teeth, for everyone else’s sake. Please. Also don’t take life too seriously. While getting good grades is important, it is not all there is to college. So don’t give yourself a heart attack over every little assignment. It’s not worth it.
Have some fun too. Go see a movie, shop at Legacy or attend an SUPB event. Go tour some houses on Warrensville if you want as well. Just make sure to have some “you” time.
Go out, have some fun and experience the sometimes wonderful world of being a college student. If this advice is followed, you will not only survive college, but actually love it … maybe.