The time you spend in college not only gives you a valuable education, but it also teaches you lessons about life that you can’t learn anywhere else.
This article lists eight important life lessons you’ll learn in college.
1. Time Management
Often, college is the first time in your life where there are no parents, teachers or authority figures looking over your shoulder to make sure you’re completing assignments and studying enough to do well.
Time management is one of the most important skills you’ll learn early in your college career.
After a few stressful, last-minute cram sessions, you’ll develop a system that allows you to balance schoolwork, studying and free time like a pro.
2. Speaking Up For Yourself
Up until now, you may have let your parents or counselors make decisions on your behalf. In college, you will learn quickly that if you don’t speak up for yourself, nobody will.
If you need help, you have to seek it out.
If your questions aren’t getting answered, you have to be persistent. It can be frustrating and disheartening at first, but learning to speak up about your needs and wants is the only way things will get done.
3. Taking Responsibility
Now that you’re living on your own, things like chores, food shopping, laundry and sleep schedules are 100 percent your responsibility.
In addition, you have to own all of your actions, good and bad. Learning to own up to your mistakes will get you far in your adult life.
4. Money Management
This is a big one.
It’s easy to take out loans and open credit cards thinking you’ll have plenty of time to pay them later. However, later always comes a lot faster than you think it will.
Your college years are the best time to learn how to make monthly and yearly budgets before your debt gets out of hand.
Remember to ask for help when you need it.
5. Critical Thinking
You probably hear this phrase tossed around a lot in the classroom.
Problem-solving and thinking logically are extremely important in all aspects of life.
Critical thinking is what allows us to shift our viewpoints and challenge our assumptions.
6. Communication
The ability to communicate your thoughts clearly and intelligently will help you land a good job and can even help with professional relationships.
Learning to communicate well through your words and body language is an important skill in and out of the classroom.
7. Conflict Resolution
Handling disagreements as an adult is very different from any other point in your life.
Mastering how to navigate delicate situations and deal with all kinds of people will prepare you for adult life outside of college.
8. Relaxation
If you don’t allow yourself time to unwind and do something you enjoy, you’ll wind up a nervous, stressed-out mess.
Figuring out how to unplug and unwind is a quick way to increase your chances of success.
Finding the right college makes all the difference.
What do you think the most important part of the college experience is?