99 ways to make the most of college life

Many people have perhaps gone on to tell us that one’s time in college is the best part of their life. It’s difficult to argue with that statement or prove it completely false, but an idyllic, romanticized version of college life is constantly presented in popular culture. However, very few people would tell you that college life can be incredibly challenging and demands a lot on effort, introspection and self-discovery on the part of the youngsters. However, there are reasons to believe that if one does the right things, they can emerge stronger and more ready to face different challenges of life in the long run. Let me tell you, these pointers are no commandments or prescriptions, but suggestions and observations from one learner to another. So here are a few suggestions that may help youngsters in the present day make the most out of their time in college.

WHAT CAMPUSES TEACH US:

1. Give regular classes a chance: There is a chance you may not like them, but the only way to find out is to try and attend them regularly for a while.
2. Enjoy your chosen field: Believe it or not, you will be in college for quite a long time and even though your chosen field may not be your passion, there is a need to make an effort. This also makes choosing the right course so much more important.
3. Feel proud to be where you are: Just walking within the campus of an institution providing higher education is an awe-inspiring feeling. So it’s good to be proud and revel in it.
4.  Make use of campus facilities: In an age of ‘smart campuses’, it is up to us to use the infrastructure to our benefit, be it the cafeteria, the library or the common room. It’s fun to explore the unique hangout spots that can be found in almost every campus.
5. Give yourself ample time to socialize: There could be hardly any doubt about this. This is what makes college life exciting.
6. No form of interaction is wasteful: There will be plenty of these in college, so instead of valuing them in hindsight, it’s important to make the most of them while they last.
7. Express yourself: We all have a unique voice, and this is the time and the opportunity to make ourselves heard.
8. Trying to excel in one’s chosen field: We all try to give our 100% in board exams to reach where we have, so this is not the time to slack off or hold back.
9. Career introspection is a constant: It’s important to think how the skills acquired in college will help us establish ourselves once we step out of here.
10. Get expert advice: Professors, elders, and especially professional counsellors can help give us direction. However, it’s also important to prioritize our own dreams and wishes.
11. Approach your professors: A teacher-student relationship is special, and that remains true even as we grow older. Talking to our professors is bound to make us wiser in one way or another.
12. Be humble and uninhibited while seeking help: Our attitude matters and becomes a part of who we are.
13. Making learning fun: It is true that if people follow their passion, work does not seem like a burden. But in spite of this, we need to set off boredom every now and then. Learning from external sources, discussions and group study sessions can really help in this regard.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       BEING PROACTIVE:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
14. Rely on all available resources: A direct offshoot of my previous point, in an age of information and technological advancement, the onus is on us to take the initiative. Ignorance can no longer be an excuse.
15. Stepping out of one’s comfort zone: From time to time, we need to identify the thing that intimidates us and do that very thing. It’s not daredevilry; it’s just plain, simple learning.
16. Participation in Student Presentations: The ability to form a coherent argument and hold the attention of your audience comes naturally as a result of participation in student presentations.
17. Attending seminars and workshops: Esteemed educational institutions introduce events relating to various disciplines to help students learn beyond the confines of the classroom.
18. Talking to seniors and peers: It takes self-awareness to learn from one’s own experience, but the truly resourceful individual seeks to learn from the experiences of their seniors and peers.
19. Read in between lines: Sounds vague? But it is true that we learn more not from what is explicitly told to us as much as we learn from our own observations and insights to things happening around us.
20. Think beyond the syllabus: It’s high time to let go of all that which limits our search for knowledge and probe further to gain better understanding. It is not about learning what is prescribed but learning as much as possible.
21. Finding the way to make the best use of our time: Pretty much conveys the gist of this entire article. However, time is a precious commodity and so this point cannot be stressed enough.
22. Participate in competitions: A spirit of healthy competition helps us know where we actually stand. More than winning or losing, it’s about giving us a platform to present to the world the best version of ourselves.
23. Look for circles outside college: College seems like an all-encompassing microcosm but our reach should not be limited. It’s important to interact in social circles, groups, clubs and organisations that are outside the college.
24. Cherish the company of like-minded individuals: They are comforting and also give you a sense of who you are.
25. Retaining a sense of wonder: Millions of interesting things happen around us, demanding our attention.
26. Go all out creative!!: There’s nothing to stop us, nothing to lose.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           MAKING OF A WORLDLY INDIVIDUAL                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
27. A sense of professionalism is key: While retaining our individuality, we can come across to other people in a way that makes them notice us and take us seriously. Dress and deportment, way of speaking and overall demeanour are all part of it. It’s not conformity, it’s just being smart.
28. Looking, and feeling good about ourselves: While it is important to not let anyone body shame us, or discriminate based on our appearance, we all have an innate desire to look into the mirror and see the best version of ourselves. But it is important not to let anyone else indicate to us some stringent standards of beauty, but let us redefine beauty for ourselves.
29.  Creating a positive self-image: It’s good to know one’s faults, but they are balanced out by unique positive attributes too, and with concerted effort, we can make the most of our lives. All we need to do is set our own standards and realize that confidence can be worked towards.
30. Take up internships: Internships have now been largely accepted as a great way to start one’s professional career from the bottom, yet getting hold of the very basics, and a good way for companies to tap into the young workforce.
31. Real world experience: The closed walls of the college must not be the only place where we thrive. Rather we must get a taste of reality. It could be through internships, voluntary work or helping out communities.
32. College clubs and societies: They have been established for a purpose, i.e. to make college life richer and more wholesome. I was particularly fortunate to be involved in these societies and their activities. So nothing should stop us from finding out which one’s best for us and becoming a part of it.
33. Joining youth organisations:  Groups of committed, exciting young people looking to learn, grow and spread awareness about things they care about? What could be better! Joining such organisations really open up new avenues of exploration.
34. Not hesitating to take up responsibility: By being involved in different activities, within and outside college, we are often placed in positions of responsibility, where we become responsible and accountable for our own, as well as others’ actions. Such is life, and thus, its better we get used to it as early as possible.
35. Take charge, lead the way: When others look towards you, then it is time to make the most of it.
36. Respect work: Pretty self-explanatory. But useful throughout our lives.
37. Strive towards financial independence: It’s a lot of responsibility, and we must also know how much of it is achievable. But we can always try our best. For a lot of us who come from privileged positions, our family is happy to take care of us, so we must be responsible and grateful, and keep trying on our own.
38. Handling real world situations: Patience, self-belief and calm nerves can help us overcome daily hurdles, our own fears, awkwardness and anxieties.
39. Soft skills go a long way in building personality: Take up courses and attend events where you can be trained on these skills.
40. Be a decision maker: Choices are the basis of one’s life. Whether it is ordering a meal, or choosing a vocation, we must learn to take decisions.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   FULFILLING OUR SOCIETAL ROLE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
41. Understanding our social responsibility:  A social conscience, empathy and a sense of gratitude for all that we have is perhaps a good place to start, and will naturally lead us to finding ways of giving back to society.
42. Find ways to give back to society.
43. Serve-it makes you humble: Doing something diligently without hoping for direct reward is the noblest emotion there is.
44. Volunteer at NGOs.
45. Learning more about desirable social ends, and finding the means to reach them- It could be reducing poverty, racism, discrimination and a lot of other things.
46. Be vocal, yet nuanced and tolerant of others’ views.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
47. Listen to people talk: Be it an emerging entrepreneur, or your favourite filmmaker, it’s wonderful to listen to achievers talk, and can be a great source of motivation.
48. Looking for inspiration in mundane things: Nothing’s more inspiring than life itself as it unfolds day-to-day.
49. Looking up to those who motivate us.
50. Read, read, and read: One of our much respected professors once said, “There’s one thing I should have done more in college which I didn’t do, and hence suffered, was read.” The message is clear folks!
51. Connect with the world: It is easier for us than for any of the previous generations.
52. Putting social media to good use.
53. Art makes life richer: Whether our livelihood depends on it or not, the arts, including literature, music and the other visual and performing arts help make all our lives richer.
54. Share your likes, dislikes, tastes and sensibilities with the world.
55. Have an ear for music.
56. Pick up an instrument: It will keep you relaxed when alone, and make you the center of attraction when in company.
57. Perform for an audience: Daunting at first, but an unforgettable experience nonetheless.
58. Stage fright-what’s that?: Let us all express ourselves without fear, and as Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage....”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS, AND WISDOM                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
59. Stay aware and up-to-date.
60. Everything will come to you, but only with practice.
61. Learning a new language.
62. Learning and appreciating cultures other than one’s own.
63. Learn a thing or two about savings and investments.
64. Reading newspapers, news app's & magazines.
65. The Internet -An opportunity to learn: Its literally knowledge at our fingertips, so nothing should stop us.
66. Going to the movies: Our age is the age of cinema, the most powerful medium to be entertained and in sync with our world.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   FITNESS AND WELLNESS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
67. Fatigue? Got no time for it: This is the age where we can push ourselves to the maximum limit, and we shouldn’t refrain from doing so.
68. Devoting time to health: Conventional wisdom says it’s our greatest asset, a fact that is pretty obvious. Hence, it requires conscious attention.
69. Maximizing the potential of our own minds.
70. Being respectful of our own feelings.
71. Realizing the importance of mental health: It is an issue of utmost importance and must be treated with seriousness. In spite of the taboo associated with it, we must seek help, if necessary.
72. Finding our spiritual side: It’s different for different people, and nothing should stop us from finding our own truth, whether it’s through scepticism, or belief.
73. Valuing our own lives: Modern evolutionary science suggests that the odds were heavily against us being born. So let’s make the most of our lives since we have made it here in this world.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              COPING UP WITH LIFE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
74. Being persistent and patient: Demand what you think you deserve, but chances are, you’ll have to wait for it. The need for patience is common to all stages and all walks of life.
75. Sometimes we got to take no for an answer: Rejection is common in life, and the cliched saying, “Failure is the stepping stone to success” is most likely true.
76. Being a bully is not cool at all: One must definitely not indulge in or encouraging ragging and discrimination. The world is way better off without it.
77. Start adulating: It is high time to take up responsibilities of daily use, right from making one’s own bed to cooking a meal. All this needs to be done regardless of gender or social position.
78. Learning more about ourselves: It is a gradual process, but essential for a better life.
79. The art of bouncing back: It’s easier said than done, but it can be worked towards if we are determined enough.
80. Working on social skills: One size does not fit all, but as human beings we are in constant negotiation with our social surroundings, and we must try to find our place in it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         THE SUM OF OUR EXPERIENCES                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
81. Travel and exploration: There can be hardly any better way to enrich our experience of life.
82. Don’t be afraid to step out: Many people have to step out of their homes and hometowns for higher education. I was one of them, and I couldn’t be happier because of this. It makes us wiser.
83. Explore your new surroundings: Moving out of home is an opportunity to explore a different part of the country/world, and can be a source of great delight.
84. Indulge your taste buds: Be it the most popular places to eat in the city, or the most loved item on the cafeteria menu, the foodie in all of us must be let loose.
85. Be sensitive to the diversity around you: Being an Indian, I have been exposed to more diversity than probably a citizen of any other nation would. And we must celebrate that fact.
86. Value the comfort of your home: This comes in naturally when we realize how our family sheltered us and gave us a good life. This realization steps in especially in college.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    FUN TIMES                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
87. And of course, don’t forget to have fun.
88. Relax and enjoy vacations to the fullest.
89. Party hard.
90. Go on a date: No matter what the prudes say, this is an important and enjoyable experience.
91. Opening up oneself to different experiences in general.
92. Taking charge of our own safety and being independent.
93. Setting our own boundaries, and not letting peer pressure make our decisions.
94. Cherishing our friendships: They will always be a source of joy and make you smile.
95. Not letting go of one’s hobbies.
96. Laughing our hearts out: Another cliche, but it truly is the best medicine. It heals like nothing else can, and we would laugh at the same jokes many years down the line.
97. Making deeper connections with other people.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   IN CONCLUSION                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
98. Think about what lies next: It is for us to set out a path for ourselves once we step out of college.
99. Cherishing college life: Only 8% of Indians are graduates, and only about one-fourth of the total population receives higher education. We are therefore privileged, and so we must enjoy it, make the most of it and work towards extending the benefit of higher education to all Indians.

I have laid down these points as they are based on what I have learnt. I hope they help you too. It is all a result of what I have either experienced, or am currently experiencing. After all, nothing teaches us better than our own experiences.

- Vidit Sahewala

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