Everyone worries about how they look, what people think of them, and who's thinking that about them. Well, that's the mindset that most people have coming out of high school and entering into college. You think, "I'm the new kid, no one's going to like me, I'll never make any friends, how will I ever do this?" Well a big issue about this that tends to be overlooked is that even though you're thinking this, so is everyone else. And not only that, most people are probably thinking it even worse than you.

Most people think that others will not accept them for who they are, so they put on a facade, a mask even, and make it as "people-friendly" as possible. This is a strategy that may have worked throughout middle school and high school, but will not work once you get into college and continue on into real life. People don't want you to fake it, they want you to be you. they want you to be as real and normal as possible, just like them.

Many people do not realize that college is like nothing that they have ever done in their life. College is not like middle school, where even if you and another student disliked each other, or had nothing in common, you were still forced to see them for 8 hours everyday and associate with them. This is a perfect reason to why most people learn at a young age how to just fake being friends with others, because they have to. In college, if you don't like someone, you don't EVER have to see them. No matter how big or small you're college is, there is no one that forces you to do anything. If you don't want to see "person A", then all you have to do is mind your own business.

So when it comes to friends in college, you most likely will make a completely new group of friends. So the first thing you should do when coming to college is take that mask of and be yourself. The first group of people you associate with will most likely be your main group of friend for the next four year. So make sure you pick the right group for you. Seriously, you'll thank me later.

No Location Has Been Related To This Article Yet.

If it's going to put you in debt and you don't have something you're really burning to study, I wouldn't recommend going to college straight out of high school. I went right away to placate my parents, who thought it was the best thing for me. I had never supported myself, had never worked a full time job, didn't appreciate college while I was there.

While I was in school studying English, I just wanted to be traveling the world and playing music. I hated a lot of my classes, a lot of the people in them. I hated the weather and the vague plan I had to graduate and then go to law school. I never really planned on doing that, just told people it to make myself laugh.

Now, I'm out of college, supporting myself and more than ever, I wish I was in college. I might even go to grad school at some point, something I would've never considered while I was in school. If you aren't appreciating college, I highly recommend you drop out, get a job, see how much that sucks and then go back with the wonderful new attitude you'll have toward education.

At all costs, appreciate school while you are there. Don't take it for granted. Get really into your classes and if your professor seems like a wanker, drop the class immediately and enroll in something else. Play ultimate frisbee as often as possible, start a band, sleep till four in the afternoon, start your own club dedicated to something you think is cool, make a film. You should try to do everything during college because after that, doing these things requires more sacrifice.

College Advice

No Location Has Been Related To This Article Yet.

The only specific statement that I can recall from any of my professors here at Loyola came from an American lit class I took my sophomore year. Honestly, the class was nothing special--read this, talk about that, write a paper the day it's due and move on, just like any other class. The matter of attendance has always been an issue with me. Let me interject quickly and say a quick piece: Attendance helps! I am a master e-mailer by this point, having spent more time trying to get extensions and make excuses as to why my such and such wasn't completed on time than what it took to complete the actual assignment. Go to class, you're better off for it. I would know.

Now, let me contradict myself. I can't remember the context, but I do remember my professor mentioning Mark Twain. I think we were talking about writers & the matter of attendance--not quite sure how it all fit together, but that was the conversation. I do recall my professor saying that, had old Samuel Clemens been registered in the class, he would not have been showing up for it. That's the gist, at least. Point being, while the English professors (at least this one, in particular, but I would argue there are others here) must consider matters of attendance and grades, they recognize that the very writers they are paid to teach probably wouldn't have given two shits about their "classroom education." Take your education seriously, but take your work even more so.

Loyola has some enlightened cats teaching in its English department. They'd rather see you "set the world on fire" than read mindless papers and look at blank faces around the classroom. They know their field and they will help you along your way if you show that you are in it for more than an easy ride to that piece of paper. Loyola offers a great balance to the creative writers’ education. Classes and teachers will help you in your craft, but it’s the experiences and the people within the city that will give you material. If you are interested in creative writing then you probably know exactly what I’m talking about and don’t have any lofty aspirations for perfect attendance. I’ll let those of you in on a little secret: if you can prove yourself intelligent and worthy, the professors will respond. Go to class and do your work, but maintain your writer’s perspective.

No Location Has Been Related To This Article Yet.