Never in a million years did I think college would come so soon. It just seems like the time is flying by, and before I can blink my eyes, I’ll be a graduate. My mother always told me that I better grow up, learn how to do things for myself, and stop depending on her to do everything. Now I see what she meant. College is very different from high school in several different ways. High school is mandatory and usually free. College is voluntary and expensive. Your time in high school is structured by others.
In college you manage your own time. You can also depend on your parents and teachers to remind you of your responsibilities and guide you in high school. However, in college you must balance your own responsibilities and set priorities. Being an adult student forces independence on you and make you get rid of your dependent ways. High school is mandatory because without a diploma or GED you cannot move to the next level. You receive free books, meals, and classes. Not in college! You have to pay for everything, and it’s expensive.
Most students take high school for granted because they don’t understand the importance of the materials and teachings that are given for free, but when you attend college, students become more appreciative. Students seem to complain about everything in high school. However in college you get what you pay for. In grade school, your time is structured by others, whereas in college you manage your own time. You choose what time you want to take your classes, study, and even decided the type of organizations you want to be a part of. Many times in grade school your parents picked activities for you that they felt would be best for you.
For example, my mother was a part of every organization her high school had, so she felt like I should do the same. I’m more of a worker and getting paid on the outside of school so we always bumped heads there. While you attended high school your parents would often wake you up because they never wanted you to miss the bus. In college there’s no more parents waking you up. Buying an alarm clock was the best investment I’ve ever made. Students not getting enough sleep can cause a waste of time, education, and money. Grade school teachers would make a late student go get a tardy, or if not attend detention.
Well no more tardy days because now every penny counts towards education and not stupidity. You use to be able to count on your parents and teachers to remind you of your responsibilities and guide you to success. However, in college you must balance your own responsibilities and set priorities. If you missed an assignment in high school you always had a chance to make it up. If you failed a test you could always count on a retake. Well that doesn’t exist in college. Students’ studying in the library was never that popular until college professors stopped going over the book word for word, and made students read the chapters.
Becoming more organized for classes cause college students to be more prepared for their responsibilities, and gives a reminder of what needs to be done and when. For instance, every once in a while my parents touch base with me to make sure I’m focused, but since I’m the one in college I make sure my priorities are straight if nothing else is. All in all, high school treats you like you’re helpless, and college treat you like you’re a responsible adult. . High school is mandatory and usually free. College is voluntary and expensive. Your time in high school is structured by others. In college you manage your own time.
You can also depend on your parents and teachers to remind you of your responsibilities and guide you in high school. However, in college you must balance your own responsibilities and set priorities. Many challenges have been made to adapt to this new experience, such as the way I study, live, eat, think, sleep, etc. I’ve realized that a successful life is not handed you, and you have to work hard to receive any degree. Education is not free and any degree worth having is forth fighting for. I’ve made many opportunity cost, for example, not hanging out with friends to study for a test.
Personally, what I used to think was important back in high school, isn’t important at all now that I’m in college. I love college, and it’s definitely preparing me for the real world. The only challenges I have faced so far in this college experience is the resident halls. Studying is not quiet with a roommate. We both study differently, so that causes a lot of complications. Space is limited in my dorm, and having to share space with others is difficult, but I’ve realized that if I stay focused and accomplish the goals I set for myself then everything else around me will not bother me. I am in college for a purpose and I plan to fulfill it.
