They say hindsight is 20/20, so we surveyed people who graduated college just a few years ago and some who would rather not disclose how long ago their college graduations were. We simply asked for the one piece of advice they would have given themselves after high school graduation, and this is what we received…
1. Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams.
2. Go with your gut; if it feels wrong, it probably is. TRUST YOURSELF.
3. Cut energy takers out of your life.
4. Set a 10-year goal.
5. Take the time to think about what you want for the future and make a plan even if it will eventually change. Don’t spin your wheels in college; know why you are there.
6. Chances are you will probably not marry your high school sweetheart so don’t base huge life decisions off of them. For those of you who do marry your high school sweetheart, that’s awesome and I am very happy for you.
7. You are not invincible.
8. If you are trapped between your feelings and what other people think is right, always go for whatever makes you happy. The most powerful relationship you have is with yourself. Do things that are pleasing to yourself and work hard to inspire others.
9. Risk it! 🤔
10. You have the rest of your life to worry about everything! Take the next few years to explore yourself completely, and shed the ideals that you have learned from your parents, society, friends, and others. You are coming into your own and have to figure out who exactly you want to be. Don’t let anyone else determine that.
11. Go to class. It’s easy not to when you have the freedom you get in college. But if you fail out because you didn’t go to class, the freedom will be gone. Also, if you ever need motivation, do the math of what each skipped class costs and that will get you there.
12. Don’t define yourself by your high school experiences, friends, or accomplishments. You are never done becoming “yourself” so embrace the messy, the unfinished, the wish-I-would-haves and the this-is-so-me moments.
13. You never remember the nights you got a lot of sleep. But for real, you should get some sleep.
14. Visit your academic advisor, the career center, and go to tutoring.
15. Step outside your comfort zone. Join every club you are even remotely interested in to find your niche, and take advantage of the free gym membership that you typically get in college.
We wish you the best of luck in college; you will do great! We can’t wait to hear what kind of wisdom you will have to share from your college experience in just a few short years.