Many people tell you graduating college will be the best moment of your life. It is, but to an extent. This is my fourth year and a half in college and I’ve barely begun to appreciate the beauty of college. For the longest time, I spent my time in college trying to earn good grades and figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. But now that graduation is near, I have learned that’s not what matters.
College is about personal growth and finding your true identity. The top three lessons I learned much too late (better late than never, right?) are to surround yourself with people who make you better, find something you are passionate about and apply what you learn from your courses to real-life situations.
I cannot stress how many obstacles I went through in college from hanging out with people who didn’t inspire me to be better to feeling lost about what I wanted to major in. But you know what? Without these experiences I would not be the person I am today. And I’m thankful the universe put those situations in my life. The person I am today is much stronger than the girl who walked into the Zura Residence Hall with her parents. From that moment to now, I’ve had the best times. Chatting with the copy cats about some pretty abnormal topics, going to Las Vegas for the Mountain West Conference, experiencing the typical Asher Roth “I Love College” parties and then having an excruciating hangover the next morning, staying in the office at The Daily Aztec until 10 p.m. and meeting the greatest professors and classmates in my communication classes. There have also been the worst of times: pulling all-nighters studying for an exam, having my grandfather pass away, having to do course forgiveness, working two jobs and taking a full load of courses. However, without these moments I wouldn’t be graduating today.
That’s why I am telling you: Carpe diem, bitches. Take each day for what it is, live in the moment and love everyone around you. Life is too short to let people’s negativity get to you. This is why I say, graduating college is the best to an extent. I didn’t take advantage of all the opportunities I had around me until this year.
You don’t want to graduate and regret not taking all the opportunities around you. Opportunities come in all variances from hanging out with a potential new friend to joining a new club or visiting your professor at his office hours for advice. You never know how those situations or people will make a difference if you don’t go out there, make the time and show the effort. Go out there and do it, Aztecs.
