Obviously (we would hope) I’ve learned a lot over the past four years. I’ve learned how to write and cite a 5,000 word research paper. I’ve learned how to study for four exams at once. I’ve learned how to stay awake through a three-hour night class. I’ve learned CP style, kind of. I’ve learned how to write a news story and how to write a press release. I’ve learned that you can bullshit your way through essay questions but you can’t bullshit your way through multiple choice.
I’ve also learned a lot of non-school related things. In the last four years I’ve learned:
- How to cook. Kind of.
- About proper portion sizes and what it means to eat healthy (it does not mean eating one salad per day as I once thought).
- I’ve learned that getting what you want in life takes a lot of hard work and a little bit of good luck.
- I’ve learned to always, always, ALWAYS take a CC or debit card to the bar or you might use up all your cash and end up walking home.
- I’ve learned the importance of having fun.
- I’ve learned that you should never start doing shots of peach shnapps at 7:00 PM. It won’t turn out well.
- I’ve learned to LOVE wine.
- I’ve learned the art of still being productive while hungover, kind of.
- I’ve learned the importance of balancing having fun with getting things done.
- I’ve learned the importance of family by living away from home for awhile.
- I’ve learned how to budget and save money.
- I’ve learned that what they say about high school is true: Things that happen there don’t matter in the long run, and college is way, way, WAY better.
- I’ve learned that long-distance relationships can not only work, but they can make your relationship stronger.
- I’ve met some amazing people.
- I’ve learned to love myself, first.
But, the number one lesson I think I have learned in the last four years about university and college in general.
It’s not so much about what you learn, it’s about the experience.
While I did learn a lot of school and non-school things, I also had some of the most amazing experiences of my life. Some of the absolute most fun, best times of my whole life have taken place over the last four years. And, going to college has taught me so much about the world in general that I was naive to in high school.
What kinds of school AND non-school related things did you learn in college?
PS: I’m writing my last final exam EVER today! Eiiiii!
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
I only went to university for 2 years for financial reasons, but since then I’ve had a tonne of life experience. Some of the bigger things I’ve learned are that you can’t control what anyone else thinks of you – you can only do your best and be the best person you can be, and if people refuse to see that, you can’t do anything about it, so you shouldn’t waste your time letting it get to you. I’ve also learned that in times of difficulty, you have a choice whether to succumb to self pity, or focus on actively doing everything you can to change the situation from a bad one to a manageable one, and learn as much as you can to grow from it.
it is really about the experience – i was one of those that really just did what was best for me in terms of my friends and social experience.
But when it came to school, I wish i was more pro active about really getting better at what i was doing. and I wish i had more co-op/intern experience in my field!
congrats on your last exam
Yayyy! Congrats on your last exam! Those are definitely all important lessons to learn and it looks like you’ve had fun too
It’s funny how everyone’s experience differed…I think I liked high school and college about equally, but you are right about all the things that bother you in high school not really mattering later- though I have to say that’s true of many of the worries of life!
Here’s to the last exam! Whoo hoo! May the force be with you.
H =)
Happy last final!!! Are you doing the cap and gown ceremony or are you just finished after this?!!
Hey love – the cap and gown ceremony isn’t until the beginning of June. So weird. So I will be doing that after I get back from Europe!
Leaving/finishing college is so bittersweet – you’re SO happy to be done, and so relieved that you made it – but, like you said, those are some of the best 4 years of your life
Congrats Amber!!! Good luck with the last exam!!
Hooray for your final exam!!
I think you pretty much summed it up when you said its not what you learn but about the experience. There are so many times in my past I’ve long forgotten the specific lesson but never the experience. The moments, the people, the feelings, those are what truly matter.
Wow I can’t believe you’re practically done, congratulations! It’s great to look back and reflect on how far you’ve come and how much you’ve grown. It’s kind of weird to think about it.
So far, I’ve learned so much but I really think the big one is being comfortable with who I am and where I am, and not worrying about every little thing. You’re right it really is all about the experience : )
YAY YAY YAYYYYYYYYY!!! So exciting, what a wonderful gift you have given yourself!!
I didn’t go to either college or uni……..I sometimes wished i had but then i wouldn’t have met my wonderful husband/best friend. I can still go but it probably wouldn’t be the same as going straight out of high school. Plus i still don’t know what i want to be when i grow up ;p
I’m so happy for you Amber!!!
GOOD LUCK TODAY!
you are amazing and have learned so much, ENJOY THE REST 
The school-related things that I learnt at uni were:
- Another language!
- How to write research papers with citations (like you).
- How to pass exams after pulling an all-nighter (or near enough).
The non-school things that I learnt were:
- To listen to my body.
- That the path of least resistance is sometimes the BEST path to take.
- Most times you just have to suck it up and work hard.
- Nothing beats taking care of your money successfully. It makes you feel good, in control and stops you from being too poor!
- TV needs to be controlled otherwise it’ll control me.
- I actually like writing.
- I prefer to teach kids rather than adults.
- I actually like translation as a career. I think.
And a huge GOOD LUCK for your exam today!! (When I sat my last exam of my degree I didn’t realise that it was my last exam because I was convinced I’d have to re-take some units. When I found out I’d passed my I was shocked!)
School things:
- Failing does not look good on your academic record.
- You really can’t guess your way through multiple choice questions
- Your iPod is your friend when you’re in a noisy computer lab
- You can get at least C on a book review even if you didn’t read the book
Non-school things:
- Tequilla is a bad, bad thing
- Exercise is a good thing
- Taxi cabs aren’t so bad
- Budgeting isn’t has hard as it seems
- Raising a puppy is no easy task
I could go on an on, but let’s stick to the more important things – You’re done school!
Congrats!
I learned to be a stronger person for me because no one else had my best interest in mind. You have to stand up for yourself and believe in yourself no matter what. Staying true to who you know you are is important. I also learned that joining a lacrosse team was the smartest decision I made in those four years. Without those girls, the sport and the team atmosphere I would have been lost. It really is all about experience no matter what you’re studying.
YAY for finishing!!! I learned how to be an entrepreneur in university, ha ha … I got paid to type other peoples’ papers, edit other peoples’ papers, and since I was an economics major I even had a pretty sweet side business of doing people’s taxes for them. I don’t remember much of the school-related things, apart from the importance of being able to justify any opinion I have with solid supporting evidence. Like you said, it was more about the journey – about learning who I am as a person – than the academic side.
yipppeeee for your last exam!
I learned that it’s okay to change your mind… over and over again. It’s really a time to figure out who you are and who you want to become. I changed majors three times before finally getting a journalism degree. Today, I am working as an executive assistant in commercial real estate and applying to law school. So you never know where you might end up, but that’s okay… it’s good to just roll with the punches.
Hope the exam went well!!!
I’ve learned to cook, and to enjoy doing it
I’ve learned to enjoy wine, and beer (is that a plus? lol!), I’ve learned to run.
And schoolwise, I’ve learned to write 40 page papers haha!
Congrats on being done girl!!!!!!!!!
I learned a lot of things over my years in University including how to be myself whether people like it or not, and how to write what I believe whether the professor will agree with me or not. A lot of people become “brainwashed” in University in my opinion, and I didn’t let that happen to me.
I learned to be a happy, content person over my years in University. I grew up a lot and now know who I am and what I want to be/ do/ etc..
Yay for finishing! I’m so happy for you!!
I think you summed it up perfectly. I’ve learned so much in my 22 years, especially in these last few years as a journalism major. What I’ve learned the most is that I’m capable. I’ve done things I’ve never thought I could do and sometimes I haven’t done as well as I’ve wanted to on these experiences but it all adds up to this person I’m becoming.
I hope your test went well today! I was thinking of you this afternoon!!!
I learned so much in college. I learned:
- how to balance work and school.
- to be independent – especially financially.
- that the ebb and flow of relationships is helathy.
- that girlfriends are irreplaceable.
- how to do crazy difficult math problems!!
I learned all of that, and so much more. College is all about the experiences and life lessons. Everyone walks away with a degree, but the important stuff is the stuff learned outside of the classroom!
haha looking back, I sometimes feel like Uni was a 5-year break from the “real world” for me.
Even in high school I had my shit together and was the responsible one.
In university I learned how to drink. And party. And stay out late. And study at the last minute but still get A’s & B’s.
I lived for snowboarding trips and beer gardens, not studying and learning (ok I did a bunch of that too.) And 100+ person house parties, keg stands and more drugs than I probably should have tried. I slept with inappropriate people and definitely embarrassed myself more than once.
But I definitely don’t regret it, I’m just very happy I’m not STILL there anymore. Even if it felt like it this weekend after a Thurs/Fri/Sat out.
Wow, that first paragraph sounds exactly like what I learned in MY Bachelor of Journalism (at Carleton University in Ottawa). Congrats! I KNOW it’s not easy.
“I’ve learned CP style, kind of.” Isn’t that always the case? You learned that no matter what, you always have to refer to the damn book and you’ll probably still get it wrong, but that’s what editors are for, right?
Love love love this! Especially the wine one! Me too!