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Seize the years
By Abby McCartney There’s a sticky note on my desk right now with a simple title: “The Bucket List.” On it are the names of half a dozen parks, restaurants and museums that I absolutely must visit before I “kick the bucket”—or, to put it less dramatically, graduate. I’ve already crossed off a few things, like going to my first hockey game and climbing to the top of our beautiful bell tower, but I still have a long way to go. It’s comforting, in a way. I haven’t had a chance to picnic in the East Rock park or to check out Trivia Night at a local Irish eatery, so I feel like they can’t kick me out of college just yet. I bring up my Bucket List because I recently read a quote from my college’s dean of admissions, Jeffrey Brenzel, that pretty well sums up my approach to the last four years. We tend to believe, he says, that “the college is going to make something out of your life, when actually it’s the student who makes something out of college.” This is a remarkable view from a man who makes his living convincing high school students that applying to his college is going to change their lives. But it is not a very radical view for those of us lucky enough to attend his university. We know that there’s nothing magic about going to college. Even a very good school doesn’t set you up for life. On the contrary, these four years are a series of opportunities, and it’s what we make of them that really matters. With that in mind, I’d like to offer a different kind of Bucket List: a guide for anyone starting college, no matter what school. Think of it as a few tips from someone who’s been here for three and three-quarters years, and loved every minute. Take great classes It seems obvious, but it’s amazing how easy it can be to settle for mediocrity. Seek out the most compelling, inspirational professors you can find, even if you’ve never studied their subject before—especially if you’ve never studied their subject before. In your first year, try classes in at least a few departments not offered at your high school, whether it’s Anthropology, Geology or Gender Studies. Learn from the people around you It’s a cliché, but it’s true: You will learn the most in college from the people you meet, not from the classroom. But it doesn’t happen on its own. Strike up conversations with people who are very different from you. Even if you don’t become the best of friends, you won’t regret learning about their view on the world. And make time to enjoy their talents. Never again will there be so many free concerts, plays, art shows and sporting events going on within blocks of your room! Get to know the place where you live Most college campuses feel like a bubble at times, and it can be easy to get caught up in campus life and never venture outside. But the community you live in probably has a lot to offer, if you take the time to look for it. Find some favorite stores or restaurants, and check out holiday parades or community festivals. They can keep you from feeling claustrophobic when the bubble gets too small. Do something that scares you The only way to grow is by pushing yourself. Try out for a team you don’t think you’ll make, or take a class that seems too hard. You might crash and burn, but that’s OK. Learning to fail is part of the college experience, too. Do something you can tell your kids about someday If nothing else, I hope to come out of college with some good stories. So far I’ve gotten to guest-star on my friend’s radio show, win second place in a cooking competition, write a paper on the history of the bagel, and talk to a Supreme Court justice—and that’s just the start of it. Try something you’ll never have a chance to do again. In 20 years, you’ll remember it much more clearly than your chemistry midterm. Make lifelong friends Here are some of my best memories from college: sitting on a patio eating dinner; giggling at my best friend from across a library table; Singing along at a folk music concert. If none of them sound all that remarkable, that’s because they weren’t. It was the people I did them with that made each moment special. Without a doubt, my friends have been the highlight of my four years here, and the thing I will miss most next year. I can’t imagine what my life will be like without them. Luckily, I don’t have to—at least not yet. You see, I may only have a few weeks left, but I still have a lot of things to do.
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