Finding Fulfillment
Friends, classes, clubs, greek life, profs? My opinions and advice from graduating seniors & recent alums.
College is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When else are you going to be in a space 24/7 for 4 years with people your age and the only goals to learn and have fun? No where, exactly. This time of your life is a monumental transition in growing from a teenager to a full-grown adult. You learn how to manage your budget, cook your own meals, and when to stop drinking fun liquids. But at the same time, college can be daunting. You’re stripped away from your old friends and family and dropped in a place full of strangers who comes from various backgrounds, have diverse perspectives and goals, and whom also know no one else. So at the end of the day, what makes a fulfilling college experience? Everyone’s time at college will be unique, but here’s some general advice and words of wisdom from graduating seniors, recent alumni, and yours truly.
While you attend college to further your education, it’s not the most important reason. If you ask any college student on what they got most out of their four years at college, the majority of them will say life-long friendships and an amazing network of people. With the exception of a couple classes, you won’t remember a thing about what you learned in your 9:05 AM lecture or what you discussed in your 2:20 PM recitation. What I’m trying to say is that while academics is a crucial part of school, it’s not what’s going to fulfill your college experience.
But then you may ask, how am I going to make these lasting connections with people I don’t know? As I’ve learned (and am still trying to come to terms with), forget the end goal and focus on the next task in front of you instead. To apply this idea to finding fulfillment in college, forget about the notion of having the perfect college experience and think about the next small step that will get you there. Stop and reflect on what your current situation is like. What’s missing? Is there an opportunity you are holding off on? Are you truly happy? Self-reflection will help guide your journey to fulfillment.
