WHAT COLLEGE TAUGHT ME

Walking into college, I did not really know what to expect. I was a little scared/anxious because for me, it would be a totally different experience compared to my prior twelve years of public school education. I would have to branch out of my comfort zone, on my own, in order to fully make the best of my experience. The fortunate thing is, I was also very excited to start a new chapter. 

First things first, college taught me the value of independence. As a commuter, I took the city bus everyday and had to plan out my schedule according to the time of my classes. Traveling by myself was a little different for me at first, because it was not something I was used to, being that I grew up in a very sheltered suburban town. It was either my mom dropping me off or the school bus. I never had a real need to travel. With all of that being said, traveling by myself was very empowering  because I did not have to lean on anyone else, and it forced me to learn how to find places on my own. This led me to be more comfortable being by myself, whether it was eating at a restaurant by myself or running errands/shopping by myself. That was very powerful for me. 

Traveling by myself also helped me learn how to approach people. In a city atmosphere, people may come up to you and ask you things, and in my case, I felt trapped and uncomfortable when it would happen, because I never knew what to do/say, and did not want to come off as rude, but I learned it is okay to not respond or say “no,” if I felt uncomfortable. I really started to tap into my own individual power.

Secondly, college taught me the value of friendship and connections. I did not walk into my university knowing anyone I was super close to, so I had to start over and make my own friends. As a commuter who was not always on campus, I learned that making friends was not hard, but making long-term friendships was the harder part. I made friends in the majority of my classes, but after the semester was over, it was possible I would never see them again, because they were only “class friends.” I was not the type of person to force friendships either, so if something fizzled, I let it. I had to learn to be patient and to not force a connection because of how much I wanted it, but because it may not have been for me. This helped me to remain comfortable, even if I was by myself. However, there were many moments, where I would see other students walking around with their cliques and I would feel a way. There were definitely some days, specifically in the beginning of my college career, where I probably did not speak for a whole day, and it felt like prison. But I learned that it was all a part of my maturity and growth. 

As time progressed, my connections with other students became more fruitful and substantial, as my confidence and faith grew. I realized that my days were so much more fulfilling when I interacted with students and had connections waiting for me at my classes. God blessed me with individuals who not only shared some of my values, but were GOOD for me, and helped me to enjoy my college experience. God knows best. Although I did have some lonely moments, it was those moments that taught me how VALUABLE friendships and connections are. They ENRICH your life, if they are the right people for you.

Thirdly, college taught me the value of learning. I took classes related to gender, race, and different cultural backgrounds. I was shocked at how much I did not know: it was a like a whole new world for me. College opened up my eyes to a plethora of perspectives and experiences. This allowed me to view the world in a different light. The information you get in college, you most certainly would never get in a high school, and may never get anywhere else. We had access to multiple databases, archives, articles, books, newspapers, etc, and the list goes on. The learning is endless. I was very excited to go to my classes (well depending on the class and professor) and I truly enjoyed joining in on discussions by offering my opinions or perspectives while hearing those of my classmates. It is one of the reasons I want to be a professor in the future. 

Lastly, college helped my confidence. I walked into Rutgers very timid, not thinking much of myself. With the help of God, he molded me through my different experiences. I learned to be more confident by myself, and trust me, I was by myself a lot during my college career. I learned that I do not always need to be with someone else in order to feel significant, and can walk in any room with my head held high, knowing I am enough. I participated more in my classes as time progressed, and this helped me to discover my voice. It is still something that is developing in me, but I learned there is power in your voice and what you carry, and you do not need to feel intimidated to share it. I was surrounded by a lot of strong minded students who were not afraid to speak their minds, and it was very inspiring.

In college, you have more freedom to express yourself, so I started to wear my curly hair out more, and dressed up in my own individual style, which I loved. I started to become more comfortable in my own skin.

College overall brought out a side of me I was not aware of and that is why I hold my experience so deep in my heart!

THANK YOU, COLLEGE!