April 17th, 2023 10:35 AM
College is a funny thing. It is the only institution in the world where you can spend your time bettering yourself and preparing for the unforgiving pace of the real world; and on the same day, act more childish than a middle schooler.
One of the first classes I took was a creative writing class in which we were asked what “college” meant to us. I remember coining it as a fresh start, a new beginning with unique opportunities presented each and every day.
The definition most certainly was not too far off. It is nearly impossible to predict a day in the life of a socially active college student. Parents and peers warn incoming students of the parties, bars, and other alcoholic activities that are the mere tip of the iceberg throughout the college experience.
The biggest threat to a proper “college experience” is the sweet temptation of staying inside alone or even with the friends you already have.
As corny as it sounds, during my time spent at Fredonia I have learned that social interaction and collaboration is what drives concepts and communities forward. Spending days seldomly locked away in a bedroom will garner the toxic relationship with a safe and stagnant standstill.
There’s a common misconception between feeling comfortable and surviving. The only way I feel truly comfortable no matter the location is when I’ve given maximum effort in my goals for the day. The feeling of comfort is something that’s earned rather than a given.
Think about it; whenever you have a mission and you’ve accomplished it to the best of your ability, there’s nothing in the world that can take that feeling away from you.
That is comfort in its purest form, whereas mere survival can often blend in the monotony of a mundane life.