Going to college or university is one of the greatest experiences of your life. You’ll have the most fun you’ve ever had, whilst being the freest and most independent you’ve ever been. Well, at least, that’s what everyone tells you.
Of course, given the current financial and career-based climate, college and the world looming at the end of it can be quite daunting for the majority of young people who simply want to learn and achieve a successful, happy life at the end of their studies.
So, what is the answer? How do you turn college from a stressful experience into the fun, life-changing adventure it’s supposed to be?
Make friends and learn together.
College is all about the transition from a teenager to an adult, and that doesn’t have to be quite as boring as it might sound on paper. It’s a learning experience – you should be exploring and learning about the world with other people. This is a time to make new friends, have a laugh and learn about all the major elements of independence such as travelling and paying for things by yourself, along with the minor elements of independence, such as washing white clothes separately to avoid colours running onto them. We’ve all been there.
Take all the chances to do things you’ve never done before or may never do again.
Some of the things on offer may seem a little weird, but that’s exactly the reason you should be doing them. Never again will you have so much adult responsibility and independence, but all the freedom in the world to spend chunks of your time relaxing, having fun, meeting thousands of likeminded people in your age group, and absorb all the information you need at any time you want. There are people floating around, ready to help you, and you’ll have an abundance of resources at your fingertips. Make the most of it!
Find alternative ways to fund your studies.
Perhaps you’re realising that college is a much costlier experience than you had previously imagined, even if you have help from a grant or a scholarship. If a federal student loan isn’t enough to cover your costs, then there are alternatives you could consider. Student employment may sound like a dull way to spend your time, but it can help to prepare you for the real world, whilst offering something great to put on your CV and giving you something to do other than studying. Most colleges can help you out with Work Study programmes, so you get a helping hand and spending money for the weekends.
Of course, if working in your free time doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, as you’d rather have more time off studying to relax in your room or see friends, then you could always consider private student loans as a way of funding your college experience. At the end of the day, this is your degree on the line, and people want you to succeed more than you might think. You’re intelligent and employers are always looking for the next generation of bright individuals to help their companies excel.
