Lessons from College

Art by Sue Tsai

First things first,
CONGRATULATIONS to all the recent college grads.  Class of 2016, WE MADE IT!

Now that we got that out of the way, lets continue.  I learned a lot from college.  I don't mean I learned a lot from lecture halls, although obviously I did learn a lot in the classroom but I mean the college experience was a course itself.  We all start college wide eyed, not feeling quite equip but yet feeling invincible.  I'm sure we can all agree that college can be quite the rollercoaster.

I transferred to Millersville University as a sophomore in 2012 from Harrisburg Area Community College.  I couldn't afford to go to college right out of high school and that was okay.  I loved walking to campus everyday, then walking from class to work and then walking home.  I came home to my loving family, my dog, and home cook meals.  I had my own room, shared a bathroom with my family and I only stressed when I procrastinated.  Overall, I was really happy living at home and going to a community college. When I transferred, I lost all that.  I came to MU not knowing anyone. I was shy and literally lost.  My first day of class was my first time on the campus. My first semester I cried every night, calling my mom to come get me for the weekend.

So what did I learn at MU?

1. Campus food sucks.  I didn't gain any weight in college.  If anything I lost weight.  I'm not picky but I eat healthy and their aren't many healthy choices on campus.  I lived off of made to order sandwiches and salads, soups, and fruit until I lived off campus the second semester of my senior year.  Only then was I able to cook for myself and eat rice and beans, chicken, platanos, empanadas, the list can go on!
2. Not everyone is going to be your friend.  This may be obvious to some but to me at the time it wasn't.  All I wanted to do was make some close nit friends.  My first year at MU I got played, back stabbed and let down so much and this continued to happened till I graduated. I didn't know who to trust anymore.  People are very deceiving and being who I am, I always give people the benefit of the doubt.  I'm also sensitive and emotional, so every time I got my heart broken by a friend it HURT.  Even till this day it hurts when a "friend' does me dirty.  I feel like nothing compares to the heartbreak cause by someone you thought was your friend.
3. The majority of college guys and 20 something year old men are full on predators.  Let me explain.  I called them predators because they prey on females.  How? They lead them on, deceive them, use them, and abuse them.  I cannot tell you how many times I heard stories of girls being taken advantage of while drunk or completely unconscious.  I've heard stories from my own guy friends in college talking about how many side pieces they have and their girl back at home has no idea.  Even I have been lead on to believe that a guy had genuine interest in me only to find out he only wanted one thing.  I have female friends who say they're "talking" to some guy, and they claim they have a real connection but he's "talking"to three other females.  Now I'm not saying there aren't any nice guys in college or in my age group, but it's safe to say it's rare.
4. Temptation is everyone.  I'm a Christian and whoever else is a Christian knows that's not an easy life to live, especially in college.  Drugs, alcohol, parties, sex.  If you let it, these things can consume you.  If you surround yourself with people who are all about this, you will become all about it.  You truly are a reflection of the people you surround yourself with.  When I transferred, I wanted to make friends so bad, I would attend parties with some of the girls on my floor. It was the worst.  Before we would even get there, my "friends" would make fun of the way I dressed, saying I was too conservative.  Their go to outfits was anything tight and revealing. Not my style.  Never has been.  Then we would get there and it felt like I was a guppy surrounded by sharks and the guys were the sharks.  You can just feel their eyes on you. Guys would literally grab me to dance, not even ask and I would decline because they were just so rude.  After my third party I was done.  I couldn't get used to the environment and with that I lost all my new "friends" I just made.  Oh well.  I didn't want to indulge in any part of that type of environment.  I didn't connect with it and I had no desire to be consumed by it.
5. It's not easy but it is possible.  Everything is possible with God on your side and that's not a cliche. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength".  With classes, work, internships, temptations, self-doubt, let downs, stress, and anxiety, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  If it wasn't for God, I wouldn't have graduated.  I didn't do it.  He did it. There were times I had no money to pay tuition.  He made a way. I felt alone.  He comforted me.  I had worries and doubts.  He erased those. I was stress, depressed and had anxiety.  He brought me peace.  My relationship with God is what got me through the hardest years of my life.  God got me.

Those are just some things college taught me.  There's more but I'd like to hear from you.  What are some lessons college has taught you or lessons you're just learning.  Comment below and share your story with me.

Peace and Love

God Bless

Ash