Home College 6 Personal Growth Lessons You Learn In College

6 Personal Growth Lessons You Learn In College

College is about so much more than the classes you take. Not only does university help you grow academically and professionally, but also as an individual. Although I have graduated now, I found myself learning lessons I didn’t even realize needed to be learned in every semester of my college career. 

Here are a few of the many lessons I learned while at college: 

1. You don’t need to have your entire life figured out right now.

It is good to think ahead, but don’t let your vision of the future get in the way of enjoying the present moment. One mistake I made was focusing on what I wanted my life to be down the line that I could not fully appreciate how amazing my life already was in that moment.  Choose a major you are interested in, but remember that the path you choose today is not something you are bound to forever.

Rather than an end goal, consider your major to be an opportunity to gain a skill set that will help you wherever you end up. Stay open to following where your heart and mind may lead… even if it isn’t what you expected. You never know what is out there waiting for you.

2. Don’t stress about grades; focus on learning.

In high school, grades were (seemingly) everything. They determined if we got into a university. Although grades are still important in college, do not stress about being perfect. You are not in college to be perfect, you are in college to learn. Sometimes, when you are doing something new, you stumble along the way. Do not beat yourself up. Stumbling in a positive direction is better than not moving forward at all.

3. Do things that are out of your comfort zone.

Live a little. Say yes to new opportunities and experiences. Do not be scared of what you do not know. More often than not, you will look back and be glad you embraced life with an open mindset. While going out of your comfort zone may be scary, it also gives you the chance to demystify the unknown and expand your comfort zone. Don’t judge experiences before you try them for yourself, and don’t limit yourself.

4. It is okay (and sometimes necessary) to take a break.

College comes with a LOT of stress. Trying to balance school, work, clubs, extracurriculars, and living on your own for the first time is not easy. Don’t forget the importance of taking time for yourself, and don’t feel guilty for it. Take an afternoon to binge-watch your favorite show on Netflix. Settle down for a quick nap before starting your homework. You deserve to rest. I repeat: YOU DESERVE TO REST.

5. Don’t take the people around you for granted.

It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to fix the bad things going on in our lives that we forget what we already have to be grateful for. These four years are going to fly by, so make sure to embrace every moment you have. Appreciate your friends, professors, roommates and classmates now. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

6. Be your own best friend. Learn how to take care of yourself.

Being on your own in a transitional time in your life can be difficult, and there will not always be people around to immediately cheer you up when you feel down… but that’s okay. Spending time with yourself and learning how to comfort yourself is one of the most valuable (and yes, challenging) lessons you can ever learn. It is essential to have a support system, but it is also important to not place your happiness in someone else’s hands.

Rather than constantly relying on the support of others to keep you going, figure out what you can do to help yourself cope during difficult times. How do you like to relax and recharge? Self-reliance a valuable life tool in its own right, and it also allows you to ultimately be a better friend to others.

College is a time of growth. Don’t measure the success of your college experience solely by external achievements. Instead, remember that your internal growth is one of the most important investments and lessons of all.

Originally published on Her Campus

Photo by Eliott Reyna on Unsplash

13 COMMENTS

  1. It depends on us what we want to learn from college I’m learning about quantum mechanics and advanced calculus and also participate in football team extra activities skateboarding cycling but you describe this in good words clearly it help to new students.

  2. I know legally we are adults but from what I have learned we are still growing up and developing. I am just curious do you consider us kids? I am a 19 year old college freshman. So college students are still in their adolescence.

  3. I know legally we are adults but from what I have learned we are still growing up and developing. I am just curious do you consider us kids? I am a 19 year old college freshman. So college students are still in their adolescence.

  4. hgvhgvI know legally we are adults but from what I have learned we are still growing up and developing. I am just curious do you consider us kids? I am a 19 year old college freshman. So college students are still in their adolescence.

  5. During my time in school, I gained generally from teachers, books, and my kindred understudies. As a business understudy, you frequently cooperate on assignments. Furthermore, that is the way I took in the most valuable things I know.

  6. You tell this in a nice language it assists new students. I’m learning about quantum mechanics and advanced calculus and participating in football team extracurricular sports, skating, and cycling.

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