College is (NOT) the best four years of your life!
How many times have you heard that it just doesn’t get any better than college? I know that this “secret” was shared with me time and time again. Maximum freedom and minimal responsibility. Ah, the life…
Imagine what that means to the college senior. Every time that advice is given, what is essentially said is, “It’s all downhill from here.”
I wonder why so many people are content to grind it out in jobs they hate? Do you think it’s partially because we program each other to expect and accept that as normal and inevitable? I do.
The peak of human achievement?
That being said, I understand why the phrase is so often used. I loved college, and to this day, there is no bigger college football fan than I.
If you are in school, about to be in school, or plan to offer your opinion on school, here’s what you should say: Do college the right way and don’t consider those years to be the best of your life.
How to “Do College Right”
College is fun. If you do it right, you’ll meet more people, learn more, grow more, and play more than ever before (and sleep less).
College is hard. If you do it right, you’ll study more, work harder, and push yourself more than ever before (and still sleep less).
Don’t focus too much on being comfortable at college. Take care of yourself, do get at least some rest when you need it, and make sure you stay grounded in your core values and principles, but keep growing and keep going.
The people who tell you that life goes downhill after college are the people whose lives did peak in college. If, after graduation, they are dissatisfied with work, no longer pursue growth and learning, and aren’t challenging themselves, it’s no wonder!
The thing is, those are all matters of choice, not laws of nature. (If that sounds like you, please explore other articles on this site for motivation on making a change.)
Pay Attention Advice-Givers!
If your idea of the perfect life is limited to beer, parties, the opposite sex, and fast food, then college can certainly be the best years of your life. That sounds like a fun weekend, maybe, but the best part of life? You can think bigger than that, I’m sure.
College is, however, a huge opportunity to impact who you are going to be and what you will value for the rest of your life. It’s a fantastic chance for you to plant some important seeds, so to speak.
Do college right. Make new friends, learn, grow, play, study, and above all, learn how to stretch your boundaries.
In my opinion, it’s this group of people, the ones that make the most of college as an opportunity, who have truly the best, most meaningful experiences while they are in school.
Ironically, along with having the best possible four years that college can offer, that approach to school has another, more important benefit: You give yourself the best odds that next year will always be better than the last.
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20 responses so far ↓
1 Rebecca Thorman // Jul 23, 2007 at 3:52 pm
How funny, I just did a post on why not to go back to college! I never understood when people say high school or college is the best years of their life either. Each year, my life gets better and better. Settling for anything less is, well, stupid.
2 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 23, 2007 at 4:30 pm
@Rebecca– I actually noticed that after I posted. Great minds think alike : )
3 Bush Mackel // Jul 23, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Another FANtastic post! Personally, I wish I had more fun in college, but that’s ok because I’m having a great time now!
4 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 23, 2007 at 10:13 pm
@Bush– Thanks for the kind words!
5 Tiffany // Jul 23, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Great ideas here, Chuck. It’s true that so much of college is a matter of choice - not a law of nature, but that’s easier to see in hindsight. Just like paying attention to advice-givers.
For me, the best part about college was simply learning how to really learn - not just in class, but in observing life and relationships and all the other things a person can learn from if they just decide to.
6 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 24, 2007 at 8:14 am
@Tiffany– My point exactly. College is a chance to prepare to live the rest of your life. Thanks!
7 swollenpickles // Jul 26, 2007 at 4:30 am
They were the best years of my life… [sniff]…
8 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 26, 2007 at 9:33 am
@swollenpickles– Cheer up, SP! Your life isn’t over yet, I assume. That doesn’t make you a bad person, it’s very easy to end up in a place that’s less rewarding than college.
The point of this article is to help college students and graduates lift their expectations about what the years after school can look like.
Reach back to your college years and recall what it was that made them great…
9 80's rock forever // Jul 26, 2007 at 11:07 am
but … but ….
John “Cougar” Melloncamp said “”those were the best days of my life”…
..of course that was before he dropped the “cougar” so maybe those were the best years of his life.
but it’s true tomorrow is my next favorate day after today, college was fun, but there is life after school and it’s goood!… and heck if you don’t like it; thats what Grad schools for!
10 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 26, 2007 at 11:22 am
@ The 80’s– John Cougar, is that you?
11 swollenpickles // Jul 31, 2007 at 7:42 am
Thanks Chuck. Well this year I decided to take the plunge and do some post grad study. Working full time and studying is a bit of a load, but I’m liking it so far.
12 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 31, 2007 at 9:37 am
@swollenpickles– Sounds good. Are we talking an MBA or some other kind of degree?
13 Eric B // Aug 3, 2007 at 1:20 pm
If college was the best 4 years of your life, then try Graduate School! It is a lot more fun, plus you have a little bit of $$.
14 Darin // Aug 14, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Chuck I had too much fun in college and did not study and do what I was supposed to do while in college but I somehow slipped by and have landed a pretty great career. I partied too much and joined a fraternity and did everything I wanted to accomplish while in college. It was some of the best 4 years of my life and would love to do it all over again.
15 Eric // Sep 6, 2007 at 2:25 am
When I was in college, I thought about when people told me it would be the best part of my life. That made me suicidal.
16 Eric B // Nov 16, 2007 at 5:25 pm
One more thing, where else can you mess up 10% of the time and still be perfect!
90%=A=4.0
17 Vladimir Tess // Dec 18, 2007 at 11:50 pm
You are saying, “… if you do it right …” (your wrote only one sentence on that). Can you please elaborate on that a bit more? I’m about to go to college and would love to hear more about your taste of a good experience in college. Or at least, what are the signs of “… do[ing] it right …” I would really appreciate that.
18 Spandrel Studios // Apr 7, 2008 at 10:37 am
Best four years? Hardly! But college did teach me to open my mind and never stop learning or seeking out new opportunities… which is a good thing, because in the time since I graduated with a journalism degree, the Internet forever changed how we communicate. I made the transition from print journalism to online content production to a really satisfying career in marketing communications. And now, with social media opportunities abounding, I’m facing the prospect of still more chances to change and grow in my career and learn even more.
19 Rina // Apr 25, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Nice words here.
Any advice on how to keep on going even though the path is hardeth?
In 48 hrs., Im about to take my past-fail exams. If I dont get a 3.7, I’ll have to repeat the semester, furthermore wait for 6 months before I could retake it, because it’s the nursing school’s rule. I’m supposed to be studying right now but heck, Im losing hope.
Used to be good at school, even graduated with flying colors in high school. I was even able to get meself in the dean’s list in the past few semesters. But now, Im deterioring. But it’s not because Im always out and having fun. No. Im just a coach-potato, challenge-hater, non-risk-taker, parents-dependent, folk. I used to be an achiever, and I get things my way before even when procrastinating. But why not now? Im not liking college at all. Im supposed to earn good bucks if I graduate, is that the only reason why I should keep on going? I wanted to teach, teach kids, instead. But I’m wary that aside from what I’ve been hearing from my past teachers about how their jobs suck because of low pay, I might dislike it in the end.
Should I quit now and continue my passion no matter the risk. Or should I stay? Yet I dunno how to keep on being motivated to keep going. Advice?
20 Chuck Westbrook // Apr 26, 2008 at 3:15 am
@Rina–Two main points in response: 1) Do not quit college just because you’re being lazy. 2) You have many more options available to you with a degree than without one.
It’s good that you know that you tend to be lazy and that you can admit that. You’ve got to decide that that’s unacceptable as a way of life and then focus hard on trying to change. It’s not easy, but it is possible. I realize that you’re about to take your exams. Good luck with that, I hope you get the score that you need. If you don’t, take it as a warning rather than a sign that you should give up.
Staying in school proves your character to yourself, gives you credibility with students you may teach or children you may raise, and helps you be much more hirable. How to stay motivated? That’s a huge topic and a huge issue. Let me know how it goes if you’d like, and I’ll respond if you have further comments.
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