Now that I’ve had ample time to settle down at home I’ve begun to reminisce upon my first semester as a junior. While next semester will bring many travels and new cultures as I go abroad, I still think about what I did as a student in my third year of college. There were many things that I did that maybe I shouldn’t have done, but there are also many things I should have done that I didn’t do. I think you’ll be able to relate to my top college experiences (or lack thereof):
Getting an internship
While schoolwork and extracurricular activities may have seemed overwhelming at the time, there’s one experience I feel I missed out on: having an internship during the school year. You can gain valuable knowledge, meet many interesting people and the addition to your resume can’t hurt. It is also a good way to learn how to manage your time, making sure you have enough hours in the day to both study and socialize.
Going out on a Thursday
While Thursday may be college’s hottest bar night, schoolwork and going to class on Friday is a lot harder to do with a hangover. While social life is important, your parents aren’t paying tuition for you to party every night of the week. I find that if I stay in on Thursday, even if I don’t do homework but just take it easy, I feel much more productive on Friday and I am ready to go out on the weekend.
Exploring the city
For many college students, going to college means taking a train or plane to a far away city, or even country. You have four years to live in a completely different place – take advantage of that! Living in D.C., I have felt so lucky to be just a few blocks away from the White House, monuments and museums. I have also been able to try new foods, go to concerts and explore unknown territories of the city that I have called home for the past two and a half years. If anything, I wish I had taken in more of the city this semester, but it gives me something to look forward to when I come back as a senior.
Paying the $20 cover
This is probably one of my biggest regrets of college. For every time that I paid $20 to get into a club, I could have saved a lot of money towards things more valuable than a mediocre night out. I do not think these clubs tend to be more fun, and sometimes my night is significantly less fun because I am mad that I just wasted $20 to get into a club when I could have just as easily gone to a bar for free. The drinks are usually more expensive and the music is usually deafeningly loud. Not worth it.
There you have it: my final do’s and dont’s of a great semester. Don’t’ spend your winter break full of regret. Think about it as a way to improve for next semester and for the rest of your college career.
Photo: at http://blog.post.edu/2011/08/11-tips-for-fearless-freshman-year.html
