Tips on how to handle the college years from a pro.
Karri E. Smith
Deep, Meaningful and Slightly Displeased
efore I started college I tried to ask all the right questions. These questions
focused mainly around dorm life, athletics versus academics, what classes
to take versus what not to take and college guys.
The high school grads that had gone before me were instrumental in giving me advice. Now as I look graduation and the destitute “real world” in the face, I realize that I missed some important questions and some of the advice didn’t quite fit me. And since I am graduating in two weeks and will say goodbye to West Virginia University, I thought it fitting to tell you guys the extra stuff I missed.
And no, I won’t get sappy on you and I promise not to cry ... sniffle, sniffle.
GRADE POINT AVERAGE: I don’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings when I write this, but going to class and receiving good grades do not always go hand in hand. One of my friends is the perfect example. She doesn’t attend class frequently, however, her GPA is almost a 4.0. I don’t advise not going to class to everybody because obviously this method doesn’t work for everybody. However, to all the important people — mainly professors — there are exceptions to every rule.
CLIQUES/TESTOSTERONE: I was told upon arrival to college that college was not high school, that the cliques and fights would not occur at college like it did in high school. However, I constantly see cliques and portrayls of manly testosterone. For instance, last week a male driving a truck almost hit two guys in a jeep. They missed each other. However, the three of them stood, yelling at each other for 10 minutes about what could have happened. Did this episode of yelling and obscenities make them feel better somehow? I mean, they didn’t hit ... which brings me to my next point ...
“MAN OF MY DREAMS:” All of my friends told me I would meet the man of my dreams at college. WRONG!!! Well, they could be right, but I’d have to meet him in the next nine days, which theoretically I don’t really think is going to happen. Hey, but you never know.
Anyway, my friends who have attended college, for the most part, have found the person they think they are going to marry. Hey, some of them have already married and have started on the whole kid thing. I have been told I am very picky though, so that essentially could be a major problem. Maybe cupid will fall out of the sky and rescue me ... which brings me to my next point ...
THE ONE I PINE FOR: Everyone has that person — that person that you see once and it’s basically over. You can act so stupid around this person and get more and more embarassed with each passing day, but still wish and hope for that one moment where that person will realize you are the one.
These people are not alone — I, too, had that person and for one fleeting moment I thought possibly something might happen, but obviously it didn’t because I’m writing about it.
I am all for taking a risk. I did and even though there are days when I think, “Hello ... what were you thinkin’,” I am glad I did it because if I hadn’t I would be sitting here writing to you about how much I regretted not doing something about it. So, basically if you pine for someone like I did, just take a chance ... it might be worth it.
OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM: I always thought that people were just lazy when they told me they learned more outside of the classroom then in. However, they are right. I have learned so much more outside of the classroom that has been instrumental in who I am and became as a person. And I think that’s more important than knowing which animal has a 28-inch appendix — which by the way is the wombat.
TITLES: Having the title doesn’t mean you have the stuff to go with it. You can be really good at something, but if you don’t possess the passion and love for it then you won’t accomplish anything.
DRINKING: Coffee does not make you sober ... water also makes you feel very ill. The morning after — of drinking that is — no matter how many showers you take, you still reak of alcohol.
Well, I think I’ve covered all the major things ... I told you I wouldn’t cry, but this New York chick is signing off for the last time. Maybe I’ll see some of you on the flipside of this crazy dance called college, but in the meantime tip your waitress. Peace out.
Smith is the news editor of The Daily Athaenum. She can be reached at 293-5092 or at daperspectives.com.
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