Congratulations, Seniors!
You made it through high school – no small feat! The long hours studying, taking part in extracurricular activities, and filling out college applications have paid off. You are on your way to the bigger and better things that define college life. As you embark on your new endeavor, consider the following few pieces of advice:
Try new things. By now you probably know yourself and what you like fairly well. But there is still more to learn! During the next four years, you will be surrounded by knowledge and resources. Allow yourself to step outside of your comfort zone and explore. If you know you like knitting, by all means join the knitting club. But also consider doing something with which you are less familiar. Join the ballroom dancing club, the fencing club, or the glassblowing club. Take a class in dendrology or the history of folk music. Take advantage of the variety offered by college life, and pursue potential new interests!
Befriend people from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life. Colleges don’t strive for diversity merely because it looks good to potential applicants. They do it because it’s incredibly important to hear and understand a variety of perspectives on the world. Learn from your new friends, and let them learn from you.
Don’t worry too much about grades. Yes, you want to keep your grades up because employers, and certainly graduate schools, will look at your GPA. However, don’t obsess about your grades so much that it compromises your health – physical or mental. Getting sleep and having fun should also be in your schedule! Work hard, but try to learn for the sake of learning and growing as a person, not for the sake of getting an A.
Think about your career. At least a little. Some of you may have known what you wanted to be since you were ten. Others may still not know. Either way, it’s OK. College is a time to figure out who you are and where you want to go. When thinking about a career, consider your strengths, interests, values, how much you want to earn, where you want to live, and whether or not you want a family. At some point during your college career, take advantage of the school’s career counseling services. They’re free!
Ask for help when you need it. Everyone goes through rough patches in college, whether academic, emotional, or both. It’s okay to lean on your friends and family, go to mental health services, or hire a tutor. Most of all, know that you are not alone.
Shake things up a bit. Figure out how you want to make the world a better place and then do it. Maybe this means camping out outside the President’s office, or working for a charity all summer in a different part of the World. There are so many ways you can contribute to humanity. You are young, smart, and motivated. This is your world, too. Make it the way you want it to be.
Signet Education is by your side through your entire education! If you need help with academics, organization, or time management in your freshman year, we can help!
