Most people’s biggest fear of entering college is their choice of major or making the right friends. My biggest fear is having college be High School Part 2.
Of course, I still fear the former, but there’s something inexplicably haunting about being a high school student for eight years. The weird thing is I loved high school. As stressful as it was, I definitely grew into a hard worker and had some fun. Would I like to go through that all over again? Definitely not.
In movies, college is always depicted as a period of freedom and self-discovery. My favorite show, Community, is about a study group forming at a community college. Despite their varying ages and backgrounds, the college serves as a magical place that enables them to grow stronger bonds and live through unforgettable memories together. It’s those moments that make college better than high school, the moments that define the college experience.
But what is the college experience? What makes it so special, and what sets it apart from high school? As a commuter student, these questions especially haunt me. I’m going to spend the next several months traveling to Stevens, attending class, and leaving. This doesn’t leave any time in my schedule for paintball nights or staying up with friends working on group projects, making me face-to-face with my biggest fear. There’s nothing more haunting than working on a project with an established friend group or not understanding an inside joke everyone gets. For the longest time, I was afraid that those would all equate to my Stevens experience.
After asking around, I realized that no one had a definition for the college experience. However, everyone did have an understanding of what they wanted their college experience to be. Some wanted to make the most of their youth, and others wanted to become a straight-A honors student. We were all certain it was something we were looking forward to despite having no idea what it actually was.
The college experience is ambiguous and different for everyone. My college experience won’t be the same as my peers, but that’s exactly what makes it good. It’s a personal adventure to look back on in the future and a goal to look forward to in the present. I may not be able to embark on 2 a.m. trips to Insomnia Cookies, but I do have the special privilege of staying in my comfortable bed and eating my mom’s incredible food.
I want to spend the next 4 years chasing my specific college experience, one that involves making great memories with my friends on campus while making it back home to continue my part-time job and study in my favorite cafes.
While you embark on your college journey, be sure to not let yourself have fun for the sole purpose of chasing the arbitrary experience. In the end, you’re the one who defines what your college experience is, and you have complete control over what you make of it.
