Many clichs can be said about the college experience. It has been wonderful, it has been a lot of work, it has been a lot of partying, but most of all, I don?t believe that it?s anything like the real world will be.
Most likely, we will never again be in walking distance of everything we need, from multiple eating centers to mental health. The gym probably won?t be free and neither will the beer ? especially with the ridiculous new alcohol policies.
No longer will all your friends be within a rough half-mile radius and hours will not be spent checking to see if you have new mail.
While these are just a few of my favorite things, there are some aspects of college life that I don?t mind leaving behind.
I?m hoping that wherever I am, the closest coffee shop will not consistently be out of something that I?m craving. I can?t wait to buy a baked potato that doesn?t have a 300 percent markup or to be someplace where you don?t need to burrow in the tunnels to survive the everlasting winter.
Perhaps one of the nicest things to leave behind is the complaining. I am as guilty of it at times as others, but really, how many times can you use the excuse that you are paying $32,000?
After all, the state of New York is filled with many perfectly wonderful public universities where your entire education is the cost of just one UR four-credit course.
The bookstore is a whole other can of worms. Working there for several years has been quite enjoyable, but if I have to listen to one more person complain about the price of their books I?ll have to drop kick them.
Do I empathize with them? Of course. But if you can find it cheaper, be it on the Internet or a used bookstore, great.
Is it that difficult to do a little bit of research and walk your fingers across the closest computer keyboard? We are college students, after all, and research is supposed to be one of our strong suits.
But there are lessons to be learned from all of this college experience. Maybe it?s a sign when ?No Doz? no longer keeps you up all night.
Maybe when you?re finally tired of all this college stuff, then it really means it?s time to be on your own. Then again, it could mean that you?re just really comfortable and need another year before you fly the coop ? I think that is what Take Five is for.
Although it has been a great experience, I think it?s time to move on. Maybe then I?ll get paid for writing these articles.
