Below you will find a full summary of everything I learned in my four years at Syracuse University. Just kidding! I doubt many of you are interested in a thorough breakdown of four years of Music Theory and Piano Skills, even if you do plan on majoring in Music. Plus, I think it’s important to note — as some of you prepare to enter college and others are set to enter the workforce — that what I learned in college goes far beyond the knowledge gained sitting in a classroom.
For me, college was the first time that I lived on my own. This forced me to learn real life lessons on the fly and quickly, like why you don’t put sweaters in the dryer. More than that, I had to get used to motivating myself. Without parents nagging me to do my homework, it would have been easy for me to spend all my time roaming campus with my new friends. On my own, I learned how to set my own timelines and schedules to create a healthy balance of work and play.
In college, I learned how to be a leader. I joined student organizations as a freshman that became the center of my life at Syracuse University, and eventually rose to leadership positions within them. The decisions I had to make and work I had to do in these positions ultimately prepared me to be a leader in the workplace. Without these extracurricular activities, I would not have had access to the kind of hands-on experience that I still tap into as a professional in the workplace.
In college, I learned how to be a friend. As my list of activities grew and the pages of my planner became covered in scribbles, I began to learn that work isn’t everything. A textbook overachiever, I overloaded my plate more than once during my four years. Eventually I learned that being there for friends is just as important, if not more important, than winning awards or getting straight As. Over time, the kids that I met at freshman year orientation became my family. When push came to shove, I put those relationships above everything else. It was an important lesson in loyalty.
Finally, college taught me that there is no magical threshold for “growing up.” I used to think I would be an adult the minute my parents drove away after freshman year move-in. Then I thought I’d finally achieve adulthood when I moved my tassel at graduation. When I finally moved off campus and started my first real job, I realized I’d been immersed in “adulthood” all along, but it felt different than I’d expected. I never had it all together at any point during my four years at SU, but I was constantly growing and learning to manage the many fulfilling aspects of my life. That’s what being a “grownup” really constitutes — not giving up super hero t-shirts for suits. Trust me, I’m wearing one right now.
My point is, no matter what stage you are at in your college career, never feel like a degree is the only thing you’re getting when you graduate. The college experience bestows upon students a plethora of real-life knowledge that will allow you to thrive in and out of the workplace. Enjoy all of it, savor every moment, and honor every lesson — especially the ones that come when you’re not sitting at a desk.
Written by Nicole Milano. Nicole is a writer and yoga instructor from Rochester, N.Y., as well as a freelance writer for NextStepU. Read more from her at The Everyday Yogi and tweet her @nicolemariemil.
