How College Will Change You (The Good, Bad, And In Between)

College Kids,

I've heard that a lot of people change after they go to college. Is this true?

Sam
18 Years Old
Sandusky, OH

Sam,

Absolutely. Moving out on your own is one of the biggest changes that will ever occur in your life. I have seen college change people in many ways, so the college kids and I came up with a few ways that many of us and our peers have changed. Some are good, some are bad, and some are in between. Just make sure you avoid the bad.

The Good

You Will Become More Mature

- This happens to almost everyone and is definitely a good thing. With in a few weeks you will have adjusted to life on your own and be totally comfortable being independent. That means doing what you want whenever you want to.

You Will Become More Open Minded

- One of my favorite things about being in college is all the different people and ideas you are exposed to. I grew up in a small town and it was refreshing to go to a school where there is at least one person from basically every country in the world. When you live in the dorms you will experience different ideas, cultures, and music.

You Will Appreciate The Small Things

-I do not quite know how or why, but college seems to make people more appreciative of the small things. Perhaps its the small dorms or crappy cafeteria food. Who knows. All I know is that I have never enjoyed playing Frisbee with my friends more than I have in college.

You Will Make TONS Of Friends

-Not to say that you do not have enough to begin with, but you will make all kinds of new friends once you move in. Of course, you might want to still hang on to your old friends, they could be your best.

The In Between

You Will Drink More Alcohol

- This is good or bad depending on your definition of "more". If "more" means only on the weekends, then "more" is good. If "more" means Monday through Sunday including all holidays then "more" is bad. You get the the point.

You Will Have More Hookups

- Most of the time this is a good thing. The only time this can be bad is if people start to know you as the girl/guy who hooks up with random people all the time. Then you might want to cool it a bit.

The Bad
Watch Your Weight

- I have seen this happen a thousand times. I even got out of shape my first year in college. All the bad food and lack of motivation to exercise can be a bad mix. My advice: go outside and get some fresh air. It will do the body (and mind) a lot of good.

You Will Have More Stress

- The college workload can put a lot of stress in your life. Added on to everything else this can be a real difficult challenge for college students. Everyone deals with stress differently. You should find ways that work for you. Whether it is exercise, reading a book, going out on the weekends, or meditation, you have to always take time for yourself.

You Will Get Bad Sleeping Habits

When you have to cram for a test sometimes you have to stay up late, very late. In fact, sometimes you have to stay up so late you never go to bed. Freshman, allow me to introduce you to the all-nighter. She is not fun and you want to avoid her at all cost. The best way to do this is by not procrastinating and scheduling your time.

The bottom line is that college will absolutely change you in some way. That is what makes it so great! The idea though, is to let it change you in a good way and not a bad way. It is also to let it change you in a way you want to be changed, and not in a way you do not want.


Cheers!

The College Kids