I am now in my third year post-high school, my second away at a college. Over these past three years, a phrase I have become far too familiar with is the following: "college is the best four years of your life." How many times have you heard that?
Many of my friends LOVE college. They seem to think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Now that we are juniors, they recognize that we only have so much time left in college. Some are already getting sad about graduating and are trying to soak up every moment while it is here. Now I may be in the minority here, but I actually don't love college. In fact, I am quite the opposite of my friends in this regard. But that's okay.
College is overhyped. I have been told by many that this is supposed to be the best time of my life. I'm supposed to be having the most fun I have ever had in my life. We live in a culture where we are told all these things, and if our college experience is anything less than astounding, it is a total failure.
For some, college isn't the best four years of their life. The best four year stretch of my life was when I was in high school. My freshman and sophomore years were really fun. My junior year was awful. But my senior year was the greatest year of my life. I had an extremely incredible time. I went to one of the best high schools in the nation, my adviser was a total boss, and my friends were super-fun and incredibly supportive of me. They still are. My senior year, I felt like I stumbled in to the perfect situation and I had the time of my life.
In college, it's been a little different. I have made some remarkable friends. However, the experience hasn't been anywhere near as groundbreaking as people make it sound. I don't want to come off sounding negative. So I will stop here.
For a while I started wondering, "What am I doing wrong? How come everyone else is doing great?". This really bothered me. But then I realized that college isn't the best four years of your life. If it was, that is a very depressing thought. Is it really all going to go downhill from here? Are my best days behind me when it is over? If my college years are lackluster, does that mean that I am going to hate being a husband and being a father? Am I going to hate my job for the next 40 years?
No. Life is still good after college. College can be the best four years of your life. But we are all wired differently. Your college experience is what you make it. In reality, most of us don't go to college for the fun. We go to get a degree. We go to learn. To grow. And along with that growth, comes a lot of stress. Classes aren't easy. Work isn't easy. Being busy all the time, isn't easy, and can be unhealthy.
So really, when it comes to college, it is whatever you want to make it. If your college experience means going home once a week, so be it. There is not one set way to do college. You don't have to go out and get hammered every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. You can create whatever college experience you want. And if it isn't stellar, then so what? It will be over soon. Just stay focused on schoolwork. With each class that you ace, you are one step closer to achieving your goals. Keep yourself motivated, do what you love, and give yourself time to rest and relax.
If you take one thing away from this blog, it is that I hope you do not let yourself get bogged down because your college experience is lacking. Don't give your time in college unreal experiences You may be disappointed. If you aren't having the time of your life right now, you aren't the only one. Keep your chin up. Don't look back on the past though. Even if you had a great time in high school, like I did, you can't dwell on how great the past was. Make the most of what you got now, and keep pushing forward. Because God always has a way of making things better.
"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
-Jeremiah 29:11
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