I officially graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in Apparel, Merchandising, and Design. Words cannot explain how the past 4.5 years have shaped me into a new person and a better woman. Also, being a first-generation student has put so much fire into my heart to continue striving for myself, my family, and the future generation.
Returning to Ames, Iowa, from Honolulu, Hawai'i was refreshing. The cold, the white snow, and my home for the last few years. I missed everyone profoundly and was very happy to see some friends before we all went our separate ways.
Graduating from college can feel surreal. Although you are left with endless worders of what's next; for many, you accept the journey and go along. A college education can give you significant personal and professional development and even more long-lasting friendships. It will be hard to see everything go, but like I said, the journey is all you need, and when you leave, you will be on the road to success. These are the top 5 things I have learned as a college student.
1. Balance
In school for years, I have always been a good student. I have been honor roll, involved in my community, and balanced my mental health. Once I got to college, all of that changed. I was so involved on campus that I gave an average work ethic in class (my teachers would probably say otherwise, they like me), but trying to balance everything at once made my mental health non-existent. I never thought of myself, just what I needed to get done. Once Covid happens, that's when my grades start to drop tremulously. I had to learn how to say no to opportunities. I was only offered them because I was a college student. After all, that was why I was there - to get an education.
Once this happened, I started to focus on what I wanted. I stopped partying to relieve stress and cut off friends. That's when I saw my GPA go back to 3.0. Luckily the resources at my school provided me with counselors and free tutoring. Balancing these showed me that I was capable of doing it all.
2. Healthy Friendships
The friends you start with will differ from those you end with. Most of the friends I started with are different from those by my side today. Throughout college, you will change and grow so much that you must let people go.
The people you keep around can affect your mental health and grades; the right ones will enhance your qualities. Losing a friendship can be a hidden gain, so it should not be taken lightly. After changing my environment, I started to like college and the people I was around. I began to gain friendships that could last forever.
3. Asking For Help
If your self sufficient and think you can do everything yourself once you come to college, you are right, but having people by your side is much better. I would have never thought I could call on people when I needed them the most. This made me vulnerable and open to trusting people when completing specific projects. Many universities offer so many resources anyone would be crazy not to take them. Conversely, this has made me and my friends more dependable. Many think asking for help is a crutch, a sign of weakness, but it is a sign of improvement, growth, and vulnerability that many need.
4. Perseverance
The college will push itself on you with challenging classes and different environments, but you must adapt. Covid-19 coming into the middle of my college career, showed me that I could make it through anything. Many people decided to leave school during this time, but I decided to stay because I did not want to add an extra year to my timeline. I did, however, take fewer classes. I also had opportunities like the studying abroad and National Student Exchange lineup, but unfortunately, they got canceled because of the pandemic.
Nonetheless, once covid was fairly over, I hopped back on the idea, and that's how I made it to Hawai'i. College work takes work. I failed a couple of classes that I had to retake later, and instead of being sad about it, I learned what not to do and how to ask for help from my teachers and classmates which helped me pass classes with a B or higher. I spent less time being sad because I knew the only person who would help me was ultimately me.
5. Effective Communication
Most of your college education is about communication, which plays a vital role during your years there and afterward. This is an important skill when talking to your professors about your needs and wants. This also helps the professional world when looking for a job/internship. In addition, you can join clubs and organizations in college and take on leadership roles. It is important to listen and communicate with your peers about what is needed and being done. For example, once I failed classes during the pandemic, I talked to everyone I knew that could help me achieve success. I also took on leadership roles in different clubs and organizations, and communication has always been the key to having a successful four years.
I am glad about all the opportunities and experiences I have endured in college. Finding a community with people, I would have never imagined being friends with, fighting through challenging situations, and getting everything I came there for has shown me college is more than what meets the eye.
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