Hey there! Getting through high school is the easy part. But what about after graduation? Most students are actually excited about get out into the world. The problem is they still act like they did all throughout high school. So, I decided to write a sequel post, with 8 more thing to let go of in order to have a better college experience.
high school drama
When you’re in high school, and know most everyone in school, it’s a lot easier to get involved or start drama. Everyone has gossip about something or someone. It’s important to let this go once you graduate. Remember, when making new friends no one likes someone all about drama. Gossiping about others only leads to trouble. Its always most important to never start drama with a roommate or others in your dorm. I’m high school it never mattered because you never lived with people you caused drama about. In college however, you don’t want to cuz drama with your roommate because that could ruin your housing situation.
This is very important if people from your hometown go to the same college. That means you’re more than likely to know things about them they wouldn’t like others to know. Leave them be to recreate themselves and hopefully they will leave you be also. Don’t start or cause drama in college at all, it’s just mean and very basic. I don’t mean to always be nice, but don’t get involved in any kind of unnecessary drama in school.
Fear of being alone
College is all about trying new things, while figuring out who you are as a person. Don’t be afraid to do your own thing or self-conscious about it. I struggle with this still, you might throughout college. I hate going anywhere by myself (even in class the first day), you just have to push yourself. You have to try new things with friends or even to make friends. Be willing to go out of your comfort zone. Try going to karaoke, or rock climbing. Maybe you’ll find something to love! After high school, you can try many things you never thought you’d get too. Don’t let fear keep you from making new memories. Also never put yourself in danger. Know when fear holds you back or when it keeps you safe.
Conventional meal times
These don’t exist in college. In high school, you usually had lunch between 11 and noon for an hour or so. That’s not how college works you don’t get a long lunch or maybe your schedule does not allow for lunch. Gone are the days of three square meals. Welcome the days of “it’s 9 p.m… have you eaten dinner?” “Um… I ate a bag of chips like two hours ago?” Most of my professors allow students to eat in class unless your class is in the computer lab.
Toxic people
Don’t be friends with someone just because it is convenient. This applies to any one, anywhere, at any time (home, significant others, new college buddies, etc.). Don’t ever feel like you have to hold on to anyone because you’re afraid of being lonely. if people in your circle are causing drama, don’t stay with them! One of the best things I did in college on Facebook was unfriend toxic people and drama starters. Letting go of college friends can be harder, because of living within close proximity. Don’t feel like you have to ban anyone, but don’t be friends with people who make you unhappy.
High school clothing
Everyone needs to let this go. Every piece of clothing you have received from your high school, (clubs, events, etc.) need to be removed from your closet. You buy about 10+ t-shirts within the first month or so, meaning you don’t need to bring the ones from. high school. Getting up in the morning at college, it’s a struggle to even put a bra on, let alone a reasonable/normal/dare-I-say-flattering outfit. This also applies to outfits that are weather appropriate; I can’t count how many days there was snow on the ground and I was in shorts. This becomes a fact of life.
Another thing I highly recommend not wearing sweats or pajama pants to class. College is a place where you are preparing to go into the professional workforce, and your professors are those who will write you recommendations in the future. Make a good impression, and always wear decent clothes. This will positively benefit your future.
Bad habits
In high school, is the easiest time to be able to handle your money. For those who drive you were paying for your own gas. Most students have a full-time summer job, and your savings went towards college. Then, everything changed. your paying for books, school supplies, and food, as well as gas, and the remaining amount of tuition. You have way more financial responsibility than before. You’ll soon figure out you will need a job to keep up with expenses. When you move off campus, you’ll need money to pay electric, internet, rent, insurance, etc.
Why do I tell you all this? You need to realize you need to handle your money good. For those still in high school, save as much as possible before getting into college. You will most likely think you have a lot of money, but it will be gone very fast. Be careful with your spending, utilize your dining plan, and you don’t need Starbucks every day.
It can be easy to spend without thinking when you’re in high school, but that has to change when you’re in college. It’s time to start thinking about savings, and budgeting, and bills. Let go of your frivolous attitudes towards money if you want to be a well adjusted adult in college!
College is not job training!
Most high school students definitely believe this and don’t think to let go of this thought. They only think college basically trains them for a ob. They dislike taking anything unrelated to their future position. This is really sad, especially for those who attend a Journalism/Communications school.College is so much more than job training – they are supposed to shape you, teach you how to think for yourself, and make you into the person who you want to be for the rest of your life. The classes unrelated to my major are required for any type of a degree and they are they ones in which I learned the most about myself. Viewing college as job training mean you will never truly be experiencing college to the fullest degree. College is your chance to truly explore who you want to be – not only teach you how to do your chosen area.
Being judgmental
When you’re in high school, it is easy to be set in your ways and judgments. Your friends and family probably agree with you a lot, so your never really challenged. Going to college does that. Even going to a small private school, you are (hopefully), exposed to people with different beliefs than you, and lives other type of lies. Let go of your judgments, and accept people who are different, and that’s okay. Being judgmental of those who do/don’t have sex, drink, worship something different, etc. will only make you seem mean or rude.
You don’t have to change yourself, although be open to accepting others as they are, without judgement. I don’t mean you can’t stand up for yourself or what you believe in, but you shouldn’t force your beliefs or opinions on others. College is about acceptance, so let go of your judgments.
CONCLUSION
I hope that this list of eight more things to let go of after high school can help you! It’s so important to have the right mindset in college, and way too easy to hold on to negative emotions! It’s important to realize that even as a senior in college, I have yet to let all of these things go. I am still learning, and growing. I’m still working to become the best me I can be. Again, you can find the first 8 things here. What is something you wish you had let go of after high school? Let me know in the comments below!
