The True College Life

Lots of people say college is one of the best times of your life. You get to hang out with friends, build connections, and experiment with things you want to do in life, and yes, all those things are true and are great, but something I have realized is that college can be one of the toughest times of your life. As someone who is going to graduate this year. I've realized that although there have been many great moments I've experienced in college so far, these past years have been pretty tough, at least for me. With the heavy workload and the intense academic pressure of doing well and excelling. Sometimes it just all piles up.

Now, let me be honest about what college life is actually like (at least in my opinion):

• It's not like how you see on social media, especially if you choose to go to a community college like myself.
• You're going to be hungry most of the time, almost like you're starving (okay, joking, it's not that exaggerated). With so many classes in a day and constantly needing to move around, it's sometimes difficult to find time to properly eat. My recommendation? Bring a lot of snacks. You'll need them (like seriously, don't go hungry). 
• It's fast-paced. University is usually slower because you have more years, but in college, where you only have to do 2 to 3 years, everything is very fast-paced. For this, I would recommend getting an agenda, whether it be physical or digital and developing good time management skills.
• Get a laptop. I understand that it may take time for some, but investing in one would greatly help, especially if you're taking a program where you will be writing a lot.
• Professors don't really care. Now, don't get me wrong, they will help you and whatnot, but you need to ASK, otherwise, they won't know that you need help (They aren't mind-readers), and they are also really busy people.
• It's stressful (obviously). You will have times when you are really stressed. With everything piling up, it's going to be a lot. I would recommend doing things that help you relieve stress, such as going for a walk, watching a movie, or simply taking a break to nap or let your mind rest and always make time to do other things that you enjoy. Everyone needs a break sometimes, after all.

Overall, this is just my perspective on college life. I'm not perfect, and everyone is different, so if these things don't relate to you, that's fine. College is different for everyone. Just because it's like this for me doesn't mean it's like this for everyone. My final advice? Take care of yourself. Education is important, but so is your well-being and mental health. Do what works for you and enjoy that moment in life, even if there are times when you face difficulty.