20 Life Lessons From a Recent College Graduate

I'm a couple months into post-grad life and still find myself reflecting on my college journey. Those final days came full speed ahead, and I am still processing the fact that I will not be walking back onto those magical bricks in a few weeks. It seems like yesterday I was moving into my freshman year dorm at Ohio University; hauling in too many bins of clothes and excited to show off my new Bed, Bath, & Beyond bedspread. I'm sure many of the recent college graduates out there feel the same way. Those first few weeks were magical. Lets be honest: we strutted around in our free t-shirt from Convocation, wore our dorm keys on a lanyard with pride, and walked door to door telling people way too many fun facts about ourselves, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

For those of you about to embark on your own college journey, here are some words of advice from a girl who has been there.

No words can describe what the journey is like. Fun and exciting, for sure. However, there are times when it seems monotonous, challenging, or maybe even a bit scary. The four years of college are a mixture of all different types of emotions that we find ourselves feeling upon the bricks of our magical college town. Coming into this, I knew this would be the best four years of my life. But I don't think anyone could have prepared me for the amount of wisdom and lessons I would learn throughout my college journey. So, in typical gemini fashion, I have compiled a list of the lessons I've learned throughout my college experience.

1. Life isn't measured by the fullness of your resume, but by the fullness of your heart. You don't live to work, you work to live.

2. Don't compare yourself to others. Sure, she might be interning there. Or he might be the President of "that club." So what? Do what makes you happy, not because you feel like you have to prove something.

3. You'll never regret staying up until the early hours of the morning to talk about life and laugh with friends. Sometimes, the most important conversations come out of those nights.

4. A fresh cup of coffee can fix most of life's problems. It'll get you through any day or night.

5. Act on impulse sometimes-- life is too short.

6. Never be afraid to make a change in your life. If you feel that the change will make your life better. After all, you're always a work-in-progress.

7. Speaking of changes, if you want to change your major: change it. If you want to change it a second time: do it. No one should be expected to know exactly what they want to do at the age of 18.

8. If you like someone, let them know. That person could be needing to hear those words today.

9. Always check the laundry basket before you do a load of whites. You'd be surprised how one little yellow sock can affect your wardrobe.

10. You're never too old to ask Mom how to cook chicken, do your laundry, or how the mail works. You're also never too old to ask Dad how many miles you have once the gas light turns on, how to change a lightbulb, or how insurance works. Lean on your parents, sometimes they need to feel needed.

11. Find your passion and chase it with reckless abandonment. Don't waste time joining clubs you don't care about or majoring in something that doesn't set your soul on fire.

12. You have your whole life to be an adult. Take these four years of college and fill them with funny moments, mistakes, nights out with friends, or going on spontaneous food runs.

13. It's worth putting your heart out on the line. Don't be so afraid of heartbreak that you don't take any chances. After all, that's why God invented chocolate, girlfriends, romantic comedies and wine-- to mend the broken hearts of the world. Whatever happens, you'll be okay. The sun will still rise tomorrow.

14. You are a product of the people you surround yourself with. Don't waste time with negative people because sooner or later, their energy will rub off on you. True friendships bring out the best version of you.

15. Speak your truth, even if your words shake.

16. Don't let your success be defined based on if you're in a relationship or not. Your accomplishments should speak for themselves.

17. Sometimes being there for a friend is more important than perfecting that paper.

18. Never stop accepting applications for friendships. You can never have enough friends. Don't close yourself off to meeting new people. No matter how short or long someone is present in our lives, they have the ability to change us forever.

19. Sometimes people just aren't meant to stay in your lives forever. You might loose a couple friends along the way. However, that space allows for other people-- people that might even be better.

20. College doesn't last forever. Therefore, don't just keep talking about "someday" because before you know it, someday turns into today. Say it. Do it. Nothing lasts forever.

To my incoming freshmen, I hope you're excited for the journey that lies before you. The only advice I have for you is to live. Just live your college journey to the fullest and have no regrets. Join the clubs that interest you, take the classes that challenge you, and meet as many people as you can.

While this chapter of my life is over, I am so excited for the next chapter that is about to unfold. As I look back, I am happy to say I have "no regrets." I truly lived life to the fullest in that little college town and intend to keep living my life to the fullest wherever I end up. Future-- I'm coming for you.

#life #college #adulting #pearlsofwisdom