Graduation ….. moving forward …. and words of wisdom

So a few years ago, my oldest nephew was graduating from High School and starting his journey that would lead him to Auburn University and eventually to Pharmacy school, which he is currently in. Now I sit here after a day of celebrating nephew #2 who is about to embark on a similar journey. A week from Tuesday he will walk across that same football field and graduate with his class before heading to Auburn in the fall to study engineering.

I’ve posted on this blog a few times about my college experience, how it led me to find my bestest friend in all the land (@theonlygolden) and how it shaped me into the person I never dreamed I’d be. Back in 2014 I did a post called “college advice” which highlighted some things I wish I had known as a little Tiger for those joining the work force. This time I’ve decided to highlight some things I wish I had known as a little Tiger that were more general words of advice for your college experience. So consider these more advice to make your college experience more enjoyable.  

So here goes ….

Be open to change

Right now my youngest nephew is leaning towards Civil Engineering but who knows what’s in store for him really. I mean when I started at Auburn I was heading for Communications with dreams of being a researcher at CNN. I quickly ended up making a bee line to the left and ended up with a BA in English with no clue of what to do next.  My aforementioned oldest nephew started in Chemical Engineering and is now in his 2^nd year of Pharmacy school. My point is you know the path you’d like to take but don’t be afraid of the exits along the way. Sometimes those unexpected detours take you where you need to be not where you thought you wanted to be.

Career Student

That said avoid being a career student. That kid who is like a semester away from graduation and freaks out about it so they change their major buying them more time. Eventually you will have to choose and in the time it could have taken you to get multiple degrees you end up with say an Accounting degree you can’t really do anything with in the real world.

Be Social

I’m not saying go to that frat party and get hammered. I’m also not saying stand in the middle of the concourse in the quad and scream at people about religion, what I’m saying is find that happen medium where you can talk to classmates, go to a few parties, attend the get to know you events freshman year. Who knows your bestie could be there and change your life. Or you’ll meet your soul mate or you’ll find out that you want no part of those people what so ever and narrow down the path to finding your tribe. Your friends, your ride or die partners through college. Know that some will be forever friends, some will be blips on the radar that is your college experience, some will be footnotes in the stories you tell after getting out of school and some you won’t even recall when you really try to. They are all important. They all have a meaning and there is a reason they have been sucked into the vortex that is your life. Learn from them, grow with them, grow away from them but they will in some way shape the person you become even if you don’t realize they are shaping you at all.

Drinking …..

I’m not going to tell you not to do it, that will just make you want to do it more. Just learn what you can and can’t handle and learn it quickly. You will likely drink, sometimes you will drink too much, know that you don’t have to drink to have a good time. I know that sounds hard to believe but often you’ll find that not drinking opens your eyes to what’s really going on around you and you will learn just how little fun most of those guys are having. That’s not to say that drinking can’t result in a good time cause it can. It can make you relax and allow you to let loose and enjoy yourself but only when used correctly. It’s going to take time to learn that. Surround yourself with a crew that will take care of you while you figure that out. Every once in a while be that person in your tribe.

Drugs….

I didn’t do them. I knew many who did. I did not. I can’t give you advice on this but I can tell you that most people will be cool with you saying no. Cause that’s more for them. So feel free to be different and say no. If you do partake, have a tribe around you that will take care of you, will lead you when you need to be led and that will make sure you get home safely.

Get Involved

Attend things … sporting events, socials, and special event days at your school. My school has what they call “Hey Day” every fall where you well say hi to each other and there are events throughout campus. I wish I had taken more time to attend more of that. During the first few weeks of the school year there are all kind of welcome events, some specific to your college, others more schoolwide, there are also events like this during finals week. Free food is always a good thing and these events have that and more. Take the time to stop and enjoy these things, even if you are just grabbing a  plate on the way to your next destination.

Stay with your group

I learned this one the hard way. When you go out with your buddies, your friend, be it a frat party, a house party, a sporting event, a night at the movies, whatever. STAY WITH YOUR GROUP! Remember your training from elementary school and keep the buddy system going. If you are at a party and don’t want to be there at the very least find your group and let them know you are heading out. Don’t be woken up 2 hours later with your group frantically banging on your door cause they couldn’t find you and were worried about you. Don’t be that person. Be the worrier not the one that’s making people worry. Most definitely don’t do it twice. The third or fourth time people might not worry and they definitely won’t look for you and that might be the time you really need them to do so.

I’m sure there is more I could tell you and more you could learn from related to my experiences in school but I’ll leave it here. The best piece of advice I can give is ignore the advice from most. Listen to it, take it in but know your experience and theirs are going to be different. Different time, different events even if it’s the same place. You will need to find your path, find your way and you will. Just breathe and most of all enjoy it. On the other side is at least 30-40 years of work. So make the most of your time to make mistakes, to be silly, to be stupid, and to learn from all of that before you hit the real world.

                                     

Congrats class of 2022 …. And good luck!

Marcy  (@beaslma) 

College Advice...

In May our office is taken over by all these bodies that no one really knows, who are really quiet and typically just blend into the woodwork. By the end of June these interns start to come out of their shells a little bit, talking with people at the copier, and getting to know people outside of their own department. By July they are starting to come out of their shell and really start to become part of the office. Then in August/September they vanish. Some come back the next year but most of them are never heard of again as they head back to school. Sometimes there is a roving intern that spends a week with each department to get a “real feel” of the company and what we do. Other times the intern is the son/daughter or niece/nephew of one of the mangers.

This year we got our own intern she was really sweet and really nice and did a good job with everything we gave her. She left last week to get ready to head to college for the first time and it got me thinking about what I wish someone had told me when I was headed to college. Granted I wouldn’t have listened cause I was 18 and knew everything but maybe someone will get something out of this list….

If you live on campus or in an apartment you’ll likely be in a place that does not have it’s own washer and drier. You will need quarters and LOTS of them. Hoard them like they are GOLD and beat anyone who tries to take them.

A DVD collection is the best bartering tool in the world. However be warned you need to label your DVDs or you will forever lose your copy of the Labyrinth, or worse your copy of Howard the Duck!

If you live in a dorm, talk to the hall director about being a hall monitor. You basically sit at the front desk, meet all the people in the dorm, and get paid to do your homework. What more could you ask for?!

No matter where you live you will not be living there alone. You will have a roommate or neighbors and you’ll need to get along with those people. They can make your life a living hell otherwise. So kill them with kindness or if it comes to it just kill them but make sure your best friend is ready for your alibi. One must always plan ahead.

DO take the time to do an internship. That experience is invaluable when you are on the job hunt after or near graduation. You can only hear “you have no experience so I can’t hire you” so many times before you go spastic on the interviewer, which will really make you feel better but not help at all in getting the job.

DO take the time to visit your guidance counselor. Don’t wait until the week that everyone else is going (AKA when its time to sign up for next semester’s classes) go between peak periods and really talk to her/him. She/He may be all that’s standing in front of you when it’s your senior year and there’s one spot left in that last class you need for graduation.

Don’t sign up for an 8 am class if you are a night owl. If you like to stay out and goof off at night sign up for late classes. Miss too many of those 8am classes and you are in trouble.

Don’t get in trouble. Definitely don’t fall into a hole that it takes you the next three years of your life to crawl out of. That kind of pressure sucks all the fun out of college. When you are too worried about failing a class than the actual participation in the class you are really selling yourself short. TRUST me on that.

So those are a few of my suggestions on how your time in college can be more enjoyable, who knows I may add to this as things pop up into my head, it’s hard to put 4 years of lessons learned into one post after all. The most important thing I did while in school was walk through the bathroom knock on the door and meet my suitemates. One of whom I’m proud to still call my friend, my best friend, the person that no matter how long we are apart we fall right back into our friendship like we’ve never been apart.