Courtnee Cesta
Managing Editor
As a wide-eyed first year student, four years seemed like an eternity and certainly enough time to learn how to be all I wanted to be. But looking back — it isn’t. I came into Fredonia full-force, aspiring to to be a journalist, a musician and a business professional. And with a measly two weeks left of classes, before I’m off to face the real world, I’m looking back and realizing that aside from gaining experience, I gained valuable lessons (okay… and the “freshman 15”) that were not exactly what I thought I would learn …
1. Advocate for yourself. Speak up if you want something accomplished.
2. Realize the importance of time management as to avoid becoming a sleep-deprived and over-worked zombie.
3. Good friends are important, and sometimes loyalty is the only quality you need in a friend. If you can count on each other being there in a time of need, you may have found an invaluable friend for life.
4. Good communication is key. Learn what to say and how to say it.
5. Take advantage of social networking. Employers really do check up.
6. Appreciate family. Don’t forget that while you’re growing up, your parents (and the rest of your family) is growing old(er). Savor every visit, every trip home and every phone call.
7. Don’t sweat the small stuff. You’re going to get your first F and fall down (and up) the stairs — but nobody cares.
8. A clean email inbox is one of the easiest ways to eliminate an unnecessary stressor.
9. It’s never too late to stay in touch with old friends. It’s easy to get caught up in our busy college lives, but remember that you’ll need someone by your side when you move back home, too.
10. People don’t pay attention to you as much as you think. Wear the same shirt three days in a row and you’ll see it’s true.
11. Be good to your body. While it’s easy to go all-out at Cranston or sit at your computer and stare instead of hitting the gym, sometimes … just don’t.
12. But, at the same time … just eat the damn slice of cake every once in a while.
13. Contrary to the wise words of Meghan Trainor — it’s all about people. For everyone’s sake, learn how to interact well and how to compose a complete, well-thought out email.
14. You don’t need to read the book. You can sometimes even get away without buying the book.
15. But remember, you get out what you put in.
16. “No one looks back on their life and and remembers the nights they got plenty of sleep.” But … you still need sleep.
17. Don’t be scared to change your major or try new things. You have four years, so use them.
18. Take advantage of all student discounts while you can. You can’t beat $15 oil change or a free six-month subscription to Amazon Prime.
19. Carpe diem, YOLO, Hakuna Matata, etc. Call it what you want; it all means the same thing. Embrace the short time before we have to be real adults. And if you so please, wear a shark costume. And rock it.
20. Don’t drink beer if you don’t like it. Don’t wear pearls if you’re not comfortable. You do you.
21. Learn the value of good conflict resolution skills.
22. Be careful what opportunities you turn down, but you don’t have to take on everything under the sun. Once you say no, you may never get asked again, but you win some, you lose some.
23. Learn the importance of having a job. While working in high school was solely to fund your clothing addiction, a job in college is important. It’s how you pay your rent, and it’s how you feed yourself. So work often and spend wisely.
24. Lastly, take your time. Life isn’t a race, and your college experience isn’t an exception. The things you’ve accomplished, the mistakes you made, the friends you’ve attained, the goals you’ve reached and the goals you’ve set to reach are all part of the great college experience. When it’s over, you’ll want to go back and do it all again because despite it being the craziest, scariest time of your life, it was beautiful and liberating.