What are you doing in college? What are you looking for? An actual education? Fun? Lasting friendships? A relationship? Experiences that will help you get a job? Life lessons? The chance to experiment?
Honestly, why are we where we are right now? Past the reasoning that my father paid for this academic pathway and that's how I'm in this dorm, what am I REALLY doing here?
Success, I just overused my question mark key. But seriously. Answers appreciated.
6 comments:
I have a relatively simple view on the purpose of college. It's all about personal growth.
This is the only time in their lives for most people that they are around experts in a range of fields who are open to questions and willing to explain things to pretty much anyone. Take advantage of professors' knowledge. Go to class and go back with more questions if the subject intrigues you. Remember that they work for you and don't hesitate to show up at office hours in search of a tidbit of interesting information.
It's about social education as well. For a lot of people going off to college is the first time since elementary school that they have been thrust into a new community of people and really had to make new connections. This is a vital life skill and anyone who is having trouble connecting with people should approach it as a deficiency to be solved, just like being bad at math or english. Highschool friends don't last forever, aren't going to be in your field of specialization, and will probably end up living further away from you than people you meet in college. Lasting friendships are nice, but I think it's silly to go into anything attempting to have one, since the process is so organic.
It's a great time to experiment and learn some lessons, as long as you really do learn something useful about yourself. Go out on limbs occasionally even if it means they might snap off and leave you a little bruised up in the end. At least it'll be a good story for you kids.
Most college students are in class something like 15 hours a week. Plus sleep like 55 hours. That leaves every student with right around 100 hours a week to do what they please. It's probably a good idea to devote a few hours of that to studying. Plus 15 or so on eating (survival is good). That's still 80 hours every week that you have completely open to do what you please. Take advantage and do things that are legitimately interesting.
Sometimes I will use the parent test. I have pretty relaxed, open parents who like me to try random things and don't push me only in academic areas. If something I am spending much time on regularly is too "out there" and non-useful for me to tell them about it, it's probably not doing me any good in the first place.
We're in college because it's the societal norm these days. It's the equivalent of graduating from high school a couple decades ago. Don't let it being normal take away from how special a situation it can be. Take advantage of your surroundings and do your best to thrive in every area.
And I'm off to work!
well, i'm not going to a dish out four page paper like nate over here, but i see college as basically a time to figure out what i want to do with the rest of my life. and that applies in all aspects: work life, social life, activities, hobbies, friends, etc.
college is there to see what we are really ready to work and sacrifice for. in my opinion.
i'd say its also most people's first experience with real independence.
p.s. i lied to my parents and ditched my AP homework at 1130pm on a school nights to go eat your delicious cupcakes. thats a huge fucking compliment right there.
The key is to start out by saying it's simple before going into six paragraphs about it.
ohhh nate.
i believe that there is a purpose in everybody's life. it is hard for us to see it right now. better things are yet to come, be patient and have trust and faith.
i kind of wrote about that in my blog too. feel free to talk to me anytime :)
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