Personal Growth in College
SaveWhile college is a time to grow academically, it is also a time to grow personally. This article will teach you how to use your time in college to develop into the kind of human and member of society you want to be.
By your senior year of high school, it can feel like you're going through the motions. If you went to a small high school where everyone knows every detail about your life, it can feel like an endless cycle of misery. High school can produce amazing memories with your closest friends; however, you may have the urge to get to the next stage of your life. We are always evolving as individuals, but certain environments can stunt our growth after being there for too long.
You will hear a lot about college in your last year of high school. You will listen to others talk about filling out the FAFSA and taking the SAT/ACT. If you're school is well-resourced, you may go on a few college visits and receive a plethora of information about applying to each. Teachers and counselors will do their best to prepare you for the basic things required to get to that next step. What they often do not tell students is that college provides a chance to start over. College is about growing into yourself.
Discovering Who You Are
You are young and, chances are, about to be on your own for the first time in your life. For years you have had the same classmates and friends since pre-k. If you are like me and went to a small school, your teachers probably knew who you and your parents were before you even reach their classroom, or, even worse, they encountered your older sibling first. In cases like this, our identities precede us, and we conform to whatever existing image people already have. This is not the case in college.
The first thing you should do is avoid setting crazy expectations of what college will be like. Expectations this can lead to disappointment when things do not turn out how you imagined. You should enter your first year of college with an open mind and the idea that this is a fresh slate. Get rid of a fixed mindset that prevents you from becoming the person you are meant to be. Fixed mindsets prevent us from discovering new interests and strengths.
One of the best realizations I came to during my freshmen year was that no one knew who I was. They had no idea what I was interested in, that I was scared of public speaking, or anything pertaining to my past. At that moment, I decided to shed all these things, step out of my comfort zone, and expand into new opportunities. It was time to practice having a growth mindset that opened new doors.
Growth is Uncomfortable
A college environment is much different than the one you got used to in high school. You are going to be exposed to a wonderfully diverse population that will bring to the table new ideas. It is the perfect opportunity to learn from others and form your own opinions based on what you have learned. This can feel uncomfortable because it may go against what you have thought in the past, but that is okay! The best way to go about these uneasy feelings is by embracing them.
This feeling discomfort is not exclusive to meeting new people and encountering new ideas and ways of thinking. It may involve discovering that you do not like the same things you did in high school. This is the perfect time to feel out different things whether it be taking classes on a topic you had not considered before or trying new hobbies and joining a few clubs. There is a good chance you may change your major or decide on an entirely different career path. Your moral compass may be adapting as well as you move through this stage of your life. Maybe your strengths are not what you thought they were, and you excel in other areas. It can feel like a total identity crisis. Yet, many of your peers experience the same thing. There is no harm in trying out something new that maybe you would have never done two years ago. You must be okay with growing as an individual and adjusting as you learn more about yourself.
You Are in Control
Perhaps for the first time in your life, you are in control. No one can force you to be a certain person with certain interests. Remember that your growth is a part of life and the college experience. Do not waste time doing things you do not enjoy. The last thing you want is to reach your fourth year of college and be the same person you were when you embarked on this journey. Take the reins and use this time to develop into the kind of human and member of society you want to be. Hopefully, by the end, you have discovered your passions and your voice. Most importantly do the things that bring you joy and forget what other people think of it. Be a better you!
Mackenzie Roberts
Mackenzie Roberts is a senior at William Penn University majoring in History and Political Science. On campus, Mackenzie is an active presence, enjoying her roles as Student Ambassador and the Department Assistant for Social and Behavioral Sciences. Mackenzie loves college student life and expanding her knowledge on various topics.Articles & Advice
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