The Importance of College Experience

College does not only prepare people for their job ,but more critically ,it prepares them for their journey of life. College is not just preparing people for their future work life; it is a way for individuals to gain experience for vast variety of things. Going to college is beyond reading a textbook ,it is major step in life that teaches one valuable lessons and prepares one for their life.

Going to college teaches one to be responsible. Individuals have to take the initiative to make sure everything regarding their education is being handled. This also enforces independence. For example ,showing up to class and making sure everything that is being taught and understood is a necessity. They are responsible for their own learning because it is in their own hands. To further elaborate, in some high schools certain things are spoon fed ,where as in college, it expected for the student to have prior knowledge on the topic that is being taught. Everything expected of them is already established on the syllabus. Reading lessons ahead of time before coming to class to ensure everything is comprehended at hand, is their responsibility. They make their own grade.

Being able to manage and make time for your top priorities can be a tough task. Sometimes juggling school ,family, and a social life can be overwhelming. Between going to class and work ,it is up to the individual to make sure their class work is being turned in on time. For instance , being on a tight schedule from leaving work to going straight to school ,teaches one techniques he or she has to do, to get to class and work on time. This urges punctuality. Students learn how to become independent when they start managing their time according to their own capabilities. It also teaches one how to save money. The fact of college being overly expensive is known to mostly everyone. Between buying books ,paying bills ,and taking care of personal needs ,if they are not careful they can end up digging themselves into a deep hole in debt. They must follow a strict budget. For example ,Sondheim graduated college and it taught him life lessons (Hrabowski). Through this experience it was more than just getting a degree; he gained background knowledge which later helped him overcome the difficulties life brought his way.

Over the generations,it has become evident to the students that attend college in America, that in order to obtain a decent paying job one must seek higher education. To be able to attend college and receive a degree in a specific field requires an abundant amount of money; this does not even include the other bills and other necessities that require money too. Not being careful can cause major setbacks in ones takeoff after their college career. But with the practice of being on a budget ,overcoming the overwhelming feeling of paying off tuition should have equipped one to do so.

For example, one may have the choice of going out to eat with a friend or using the same amount of money he or she was going to use for the one meal, and buy food from a grocery store to cook a meal that will last a little longer than one night. This individual could of learned through their college experience that doing this, will help save money that could be used towards other essential necessities. One may also argue, college lacks real world exposure. It can be hard to apply textbook information to real life situations. With the absence of hands on practice in realistic cases, it is a tough task to adjust to. This goes back to what they have learned outside the classroom. They will have to apply the lessons they learned in their college experience. Through their college experiences they have learned life morals which equipped them for certain situations.

For instance ,I know someone who took the opportunity to do dual enrollment. Throughout her experience in the beginning , she had realized how distant her and her “friends’’ were becoming. At first she felt down and sad about it ,but then she realized rocket boosters have to fall off before the rocket takes off. She recognized that she was being elevated and the people she considered her “friends” were no longer on her level. This taught her that some people that are encountered during this lifetime are temporary; once they have no use or purpose they will eventually fall off. This is also just like bringing a friend to salon and her or she not getting anything done. They had two purposes behind going on the trip was; were one actually accomplished what she wanted and the other achieved nothing. What was learned from these situations, was to understand that some individuals will be temporary; simply because entering a higher level or dimension requires one to have higher standards.

Overall ,there is so much more to college than just graduating with a degree ,college experience teaches life lessons that will benefit one in the long run. This experience can not be obtained by reading a textbook, but by weighing into the journey directly. The entire process shapes them for their future in the real life world.