You’d think, going off to college, that you’re going to be so busy with classes and being away from home that you won’t have any down time. And unless you’re taking 30 credits per semester, that probably won’t be the case. In fact, even someone taking 18 credits (the max, generally) finds themselves with downtime coming out of the wazoo. And it’s easy to just sit alone in your dorm room watching YouTube videos to fill the time, but is that really what you want to remember about your college experience? No. So listen up.
1. Campus events. No matter what size school you’re at, your college is going to have events all the freaking time. Sometimes they’re student performances, like dance recitals, plays, and band or choir concerts. But sometimes they’re also things like dances, celebrity lectures, magic shows, and film screenings. Take advantage of these things, because they’re specifically planned for you and usually don’t cost much, if any, money. You’d be surprised how much fun you can have.
2. Community outreach. A big part of a college town’s economy (and culture) is its college, so oftentimes businesses will give college students discounts and deals. In my town, there’s a movie theater just off campus that offers dollar movies for students (They’ve had Inception, Easy A, and a whole bunch of others), and nearly ever cafe or diner gives you a few bucks off of meals if you show your ID. On Thursdays, you can go to the bowling alley for free, and the pool hall has a few hours every night where you can do the same thing. Getting off campus to have some fun doesn’t have to be expensive. Pay attention to these deals and plan your outings with them in mind.
3. Screw sleep. Let’s get real for a minute here. Yes, your priority in college should be your classes, because you don’t have to spend $30,000 to play beer pong. But that doesn’t mean you have to go to bed at 9pm every single night. We’ve all had times in our lives where we’ve had to deal without sleep, and while it’s sometimes uncomfortable, it’s survivable. Sometimes events go late, like dances and film screenings, and you don’t have to feel guilty if you go. Staying up late with friends probably shouldn’t be a daily habit, but every once in a while won’t kill you. Trust me. Live a little. Just don’t be stupid about it.
4. Get involved. People have been telling you this since high school, but it doesn’t make it any less valuable of advice. You don’t have to be a varsity athlete to play sports, and you don’t have to be the next Bach to play music. Join a club, intramural sport, or musical campus group. Audition for a play, enlist in an academic group, or even join a study group. There are so many opportunities to take advantage of on a college campus, and it would be a shame to let them pass you by.
🙂