Some Sage Advice to All of You Going to College Soon
Now you may feel pressured to know exactly what to do with your life. As if you are supposed to know what you want to dedicate the next sixty years of your life to. And every public school out there is going to say "We prepare you for college!" Which is a giant load of crap, they don't prepare you for shit. They say that to lure you into a false sense of security and make them look good. What they don't tell you is this:
Number One: No, you don't have to know what you want to do with your life and I don't think a lot of people really do. It is okay to go to college and get your base requirements done and out of the way. Its also a good idea to maybe take a typing class if there is one and one that certifies you for Microsoft because with just that Microsoft certification opens you up for clerical work opportunities that pays at least $12 dollars an hour and I've found a few that paid $16. But while you are there in college, explore majors that interest you and talk to the professors that teach those courses for more info. Its what they are there for so don't feel bashful.
Number Two: DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT GO FOR YOUR PASSION! This may sound terrible and heartless, but go for something that's going to make you money. And by that statement I mean something that will be able to support you and maybe another with pay wise. Its good to have a passion and I encourage you to always have your passion and enjoy it. But you can always have your passion and a way to support yourself. It is a lot better to enjoy your passion and a stable income instead of your passion and an unstable income of which you can't even enjoy your passion anymore because you're to busy making ends meet.
Number Three: Don't take people's word for anything. Do your own research when it comes to the job market. You need to make sure there will be a job for you out there when you graduate. The college will always boast that they have a high percentage of grads that found work right out of college. What they don't tell you is whether its in their field or not. They don't care if its in your field or not, they just care that they got their check and that you got work anywhere after graduating. What they don't tell you is that many of these kids had to get a job anywhere that was hiring just so they could start chipping away at the massive student loans they've acquired.
Number Four: If you are having doubts half way into your major whether this is what you really want or not and are not in love with it as much as you thought. You DON'T have to continue it! Because odds are if you don't like it now you're not going to like it when your working it! Its okay to switch majors in the middle because it is YOUR life and better to do it now than to say "I'm in it this far, I should stick it out all the way through." Well if you do that and get your degree and then end up hating what you're doing and decide to come back to college for another major, not only will you be tacking more college debt, you will also have a harder time finding financial aid because you already have a degree.
Number Five: You really are on your own. There is no one looking out after you but yourself. And to you I say congratulations to your new found freedom! But I do caution you. Your choices are that much more important now. Before there was always someone or something to fall back on. Now, there is not and you'll find out now more than ever that life is all about the choices you make both personal and professional. And you'll soon find out that many college kids lack the ability to tell a good choice from a bad choice. Don't be that kid. Odds are if its something you have to stop and think on before doing, its not a good decision. But along those same lines don't be afraid of new experiences, just be sure to have people you trust with you.
Number Six: Don't make the mistake in thinking that just because its college that people are going to be more mature than they were in high school. That they all are going to operate on an academic level of respect. Oh no, they will be that much worse because now they are unsupervised. You will now be surrounded by people that look they walked right off the Jersey Shore and with the same personality along with the IQ of a toaster.
Number Seven: College is all about "Time Management". Set a pace for yourself and keep it. There are your classes and time where you have no classes. Dedicate a few hours each day for homework and study. But most importantly make sure you have a few hours to yourself if you can manage. Its very easy to get burnt out on college when its all you do. You need to have time to whined down and relax. Midterms and finals will be a real test in itself so save your energy, notes, and all of your work for review.
I hope that this post has been of some help for all of you that are planning to further your education. This is coming from someone that has been to college and learned all of this first hand. I'll be going back to it soon if all works out. Best of luck to all of you, feel free to leave your comments and questions in the comment section below.
