For most of us, going to College gives us the opportunity to experience living independently for the first time. Within a month, I’ve realized that this is one of the most important things about going to college. Leaving home teaches you so much about the world and so much about yourself, we’d spend a lifetime trying to learn it via books and probably still wouldn’t be successful.
The first thing that is explicitly noticeable is the cultural diversity. While I’ve seen this at MAHE first hand, I’m pretty sure it must work the same way in most other colleges as well. Different people from across the world come here with different thought processes and different dreams. Meeting different people and interacting with them gives us access to multiple viewpoints and a vision of multiple realities. You’ll agree with some of them and disagree with others, but the true essence of developing your personality lies in learning how to handle this newfound access and thereby, learning how to make friends. Friendship quickly becomes the most enjoyable part of college life. It’s with our friends that we do everything, right? They’re the ones you turn to in your time of need. They’re the ones who cheer you up when you need it, make you laugh when you’re bored. It’s college… We live with our friends!
However, learning to live independently doesn’t just refer to being able to do your own chores and manage your time without any help. Sure, that’s a significant part of it, but you know what’s more significant? Learning to enjoy your own company. Because even though there are hundreds of people constantly surrounding you, it is practically impossible for us to spend every waking minute with each other. Even if it were possible, I doubt if we’d prefer it in the long run. I think it’s important to learn to be okay with being alone for a while. After all, there’s only one person who’s going to stick around for the rest of your life – it’s you. In my experience, this is one of the tougher lessons to learn and it takes a little longer too.
But the most important thing, by far, is learning how to stay true to yourself. In so many people and an ocean of differing ideologies, it’s easy to wander astray. But find your way back too. It’s essential. Just because everyone around you is doing something, it doesn’t mean you have to do it too. You don’t have to change the way you live your life (As long as it isn’t causing an inconvenience to others) just to feel like you fit in. If you feel like working out, go work out. If you feel like studying, go study. Feel like missing a party to catch up on sleep? Go sleep. You don’t have to worry about being judged or being labelled. You came here with a dream, right? Go make it come true. The other things will fall into place with time. In the meantime, keep making new friends. Keep your old friends and family close. Hustle hard. Stay happy.
Be the first to comment