In what other setting do you attempt cure hangovers that were totally worth it for the night before? Be able to meet cool new people seemingly every day? And hopelessly cram the night or morning before your huge midterm?
College is where, and the experience cannot be matched or substituted for.
College exemplifies freedom, and in every way. Being a college student, you encounter that inevitable stage of transitioning into an adult (gasp…) with actual responsibilities (oh my…). But through unique experiences, personal challenges, and trial and error, you’ll be a seasoned pro at it (or at least, that will be your mindset).
Unlike the glorified babysitting-like stage of high school, you are the one who controls your own schedule. If attending a 7:30 a.m. statistics course is the way you like to start up the day followed by a three-hour organic chemistry class, then that is your decision and no one else will make you change that.
Also now, while being a student, more often than not, a common phase occurs. It is the “I don’t care what I look like” look or simply known as the “college guy appearance”. Jeans not close to sitting at the waist, holes in the t-shirt, untamed hair styled by the pillow, and even strange and unpleasant odors sometimes complete this look. However though, that is individualism and an apparent lack of rules that college encompasses.
Along with freedom, the college lifestyle offers countless social perks as well. In some free time away from the hustle of studies and endless reading, perhaps; join a club that interests you, do what students do best and just stay cooped up in their dorms, or find the closest party with a “kegger” (if it’s needed).
Other activities that are desirable to students and need little cognitive abilities to participate in are sleeping (which is prevalent amongst them), becoming anti-social with social networks on the laptop, or watching shows that rapidly speed up the killing of brain cells like The Jersey Shore.
Now being a college student is unfortunately not all about having fun by ditching classes and partying hard all the time, education is somehow incorporated as being part of the process as well. When your rear-end meets the desk and your pencil hits the paper, actual learning and schoolwork takes place. This can be a difficult stage for some people and certainly for particular classes, but that is far from being an anomaly and with the implementation of the magic word “effort” it may not seem as such of a mountainous task.
Believe it or not, classes can be quite bearable and even mildly enjoyable. I mean something has to be for your liking if you’re a U.S History major and you endure two hours of lecture on the Battle of Gettysburg, right? Or if your focus is art so you complete a long detailed portrait of the Sistine Chapel for a project, so you’ll probably end up liking more than a fraction of it.
The unique experience of college is one that cannot be duplicated. This usually crazy, hectic, amazing, unforgettable, and happy time in a young man or woman’s life is special. And it is the last ditch effort to be able to act immaturely, childish, and individualistically before it all ends in a blur, and “life” actual starts with families and jobs.
The "mildly enjoyable" college experience makes me think of how different college is from high school. We get to choose our own classes for once. The way this was written was very relatable.
ReplyDeleteA thoughtful column that blends the social/fun/wild part of college with the educational side.
ReplyDeleteThere is an educational side, right?
Some good description in spots, like this: "and even strange and unpleasant odors sometimes complete this look."
Those sometimes even waft to the front of the classroom where the instructor is.
The lead was very strong and the ending less so. A tie-in between the two would have made this piece better.
Overall though, a good effort.