40 Collegiate Lessons

A while back I started a list of things I learned through college, but unfortunately that list is gone after a computer crash.  As I write this, I am sitting in the fraternity's suite during my final week as the secretary and thinking about graduating in just under 5 months now.

I can say without a hint of doubt that I feel like I am a very different person than I was when I came into college.  I feel like I did a lot of maturing during college, mostly mental growth.  While I know that my growth still has not ended yet, I really like where my life is now.

Now, while most of these lessons could use further explanation, I will remain vague about many of the lessons.  If you'd care to ask me about them, feel free, but I will not guarantee an explanation depending on the topic.

1. If helping someone else is causing you stress, maybe you need to step back and reassess if you are actually needed in the situation.
2. It is okay to be selfish and focus on your own needs once and a while.
3. Playing catch with a baseball can be very nerve-wracking if there is something important written on the ball.
4. Going to class is a good way to learn, not going to class is a good way to get a bad grade and a bad reputation.
5. Bad professors exist and when they are the head of the department it may be time to change majors.
6. Changing majors can be one of the best things you can do for yourself, especially if you are going to be miserable doing your day-to-day job.
7. It is really easy for people to list the negatives of a school, but if you overlook them you will have a much better time.
8. Making your own fun is part of life.  If this means playing ping pong against a wall, playing Mao, or going out to see Comedy Sportz Midnight Show, do it!
9. It is very possible to have enough sleep, be social, and get good grades despite what that stupid pyramid says.
10. It is possible to also have a part-time campus job while balancing the pyramid.
11. Some people will never learn to grow up and some people just need to be left behind the herd for the betterment of the rest.
12. Biting the bullet may not always be the easy thing, but there are occasionally benefits from it.
13. Naps are designated by anytime asleep for less than 2 hours, and it is very possible to take 4 of them before 3pm.
14. Free events cost nothing so who cares if it sucks?
15. I regret not getting involved until my Junior year.
16. Starting a fraternity is an ton of work and there have been plenty of times I've wanted to give up, but I feel that it is really worth it.
17. Being involved means giving up some weeknights and some weekends to events and meetings, but it still is way better than sitting on a couch all day.
18. Taking a walk to get a coffee can be rather satisfying.
19. Being shocking to a community can be a great experience, as long as you have talked to the right people beforehand.
20. The freshman 15 is real and will occur each year if you don't do something about it.
21. Intramurals are fun, even if you only can win 1 game a year.
22. The human chest can echo through a gym after being hit by a felt soccer ball after kicked by a soccer player.
23. You have no one to blame but yourself for your grades.
24. Sometimes $5 is too much to pay for something in college.
25. Sitting in the front row of a computer lab is much more beneficial than in a classroom
26. Dating has a learning curve that includes learning about the person, hanging out with the person, balancing dating with homework, and balancing dating with extracurriculars.
27. If you want to save some money, replace your meal plan at school with buying food and making it yourself.  You can save money if you shop frugal and you will eat healthier (most of the time).
28. Some people are fake and will remain that way.
29. Living in campus housing for 4 years is pretty nice even with living in traditional dorms 3 (arguably 2) of 4 years.
30. There will be people that bug the crap out of you and you will have to deal with them more than you will want to, but you have to just deal with it.
31. People who complain on Facebook are one of my biggest Pet Peeves and as a result, I am trying to do it less.
32. Buying books from the school bookstore is a legal form of theft, unfortunately you are being stolen from.
33. Stupid people will eventually weed themselves out of college in some way or another.
34. One person can do a lot of damage to a group.
35. Some of the best nights can be as simple as just sitting by yourself.
36. If you hold yourself with high esteem, talking to people in big and small groups gets easier.
37. It is nice having a couple groups to hang out with in case things get ridiculous in one of them
38. Stressful times suck (who would've thunk?)
39. People do not expect you to pull of a 4.0 GPA in your senior year of college, but it can happen
40. College has changed me and I still feel that living away from home is one of the main ways that you can gain this experience.  If you could learn this while being at home, I would have learned this in High School.

I know some of these seem like common sense, but these are all experience-based lessons.  I'm sure if I came back to this list on another day I could come up with another list of lessons, but I doubt I will do that.

Have a great day!