I’ve decided to do a different kind of post today. As I was walking/ wobbling down Madison Avenue today in my drenched flats, I was thinking about everything I learned in my first 2 years of university. It’s been a whirlwind and I honestly can’t believe that when September arrives, I will be a junior at Montclair State University. I am slowly finding myself but I know I am nowhere near knowing who I am and it’s ok, I will be sure of who I am in the next few years.
I switched my major and minor a few times. I had enrolled as a Biology major to please my parents and I had thought I wanted to be a Physical Therapist. I stink at Mathematics and Chemistry, I did love Biology, but all those math classes and labs were going to be the death of me. I switched right before school began to an English Major. I’ve always been an avid reader and writer, but after getting terrible grades on my papers, thanks to a certain professor, my confidence was thrown out a window. I finally decided to take a plunge and take an artistic route. I’ve never been artistic but I was a shopaholic and could appreciate clothing. I became a Fashion Studies Major. I then added on a Communications Minor and a year later, I added on a Makeup Artistry Certification.
It’s okay to not know what you want to do right away. Go into college undecided and take a few courses. You will soon realize what you love or hate and it will be much easier to decide what you want to make you major. Another great way, is to talk to your friends or advisor.
You should try to make friends. It has been difficult for me to make friends as a commuter. I go to school and then head home. I do not have my own car yet as I do not have the funds, so I am often picked up by my father. I wish I could be able to take a bus but since my school is in the middle of nowhere, it would take 3 buses and 5 hours. That’s like me going to another state! I have made only a few good friends and sadly, one of them has graduated on. I do plan on keeping in contact but I feel like I am all work and no play. Try to balance your work, school, and social life. It may be difficult but it will make everything much more enjoyable.
A great way to make friends is joining a club or organization. If you don’t want to join a club or organization, then you could try talking to some people in your courses. I can say I don’t have many friends, but all you need is 1 or 2 really good ones!
Multi-tasking. It’s a life saver. If I didn’t multi-task, I would get nothing done. Some might argue that multi-tasking stops you from focusing but I find that it gets everything done. It’s also great to know how to efficiently prioritize your tasks. Write them out and do them in the order you think will be best. This is a great thing to know for future internships or careers.
Responsibility. I can honestly say that I’ve become much more independent in my life. As an only child, I’ve always had overprotective parents. They’ve loosened their reigns a little bit and as a result I have been able to make my own choices. I’m on internship #3, have a part-time job at Gap, and am a Social Media Director/Writer at Her Campus Montclair. I’ve been able to work hard and I know they are proud. I can honestly say I am proud of myself too!
College is what you make of it. It isn’t all about the classes but it’s about a fair balance of studying, working, socializing, and relaxing. I will be really sad when I graduate but I do not plan to let my studies stop there. I’ve decided a few months ago that I will get my GPA high enough to get into graduate school for Marketing, PR, or Communications.
If any of you have questions about university or any more questions about my experiences, feel free to comment below. I would love to offer you my opinion and advice!
Toodles!
Sartorial Spice 