11 Life Lessons That College Won't Teach You

College life is something that teaches us many things. It tells us how irritating and annoying can people be in the beginning; yet at the end these people are the ones whom we call our best buddies. The most amazing part is that the college life allows us to define our selves. We choose our ideologies and perceptions about life. We experience first time freedom to develop and define our own unique existence.

The endless teasings, the first crush, the first group of best buddies, the first hangover, the first night out, the best enemies, the bunks, the professor's questions, and much more: college life teaches us many things.

1. The courses and classes can't be used much.

The guy who sits next to you in the office may not have taken the same course that you did. The two of you may belong to different academic backgrounds, still you both earn the same respect and money. No one asks you what you learned in college, but you have to learn things on your own and finish the task which your boss "assumes" that you learned in college. College is over and now life is beyond the lectures and textbooks.

2. In life, skills matter.

The person who supervises you might just be younger than you. However, you will call him "sir". In college a junior, who may be elder to you, respected you because you were senior. That was college, where respect was given. In real life, respect is earned.

3. The art of communicating.

You may had escaped the Personality Development classes in college but in life you realize the importance of communicating well. You might need to propose a girl, you have to ask for a salary hike, or you may want to discuss issues with your neighbors. Communication skills are something which can make or break you.

4. How to judge people correctly.

In college a person is your friend or foe, but in life you just can't guess what relationship you share. A "somebody" at office may proof to be a "nobody" at the time of need. A good friend at the office may cut off your chance of promotion because he has to make his own way. So you have to learn how to identify the traits of people around you. Actions may contradict the words.

5. You check yourself: what you say, how you say and to whom you say.

In college you could abuse and fight with your batch mates on one day and the other day you found yourself busy with the same people because you had to complete an assignment together. But in life it is a different story. In college your friends and the others knew what you mean by your words, but in life people will perceive you as per their perceptions, not as per your words.

6. Networking and social connections always help

In college your friends could be your world. But in life you can't sustain without networking and social connections. You need a job referral; you need a new house; you need to start a business; you need to start your social activists group. This all means you need good relations with people.

7. Saving money isn't easy.

The quest to explore life, the thrill of being 100 feet in the sky, the joy of savoring the red wine in a vineyard, the scuba diving experience with the corals and sea creatures. For any of these adventures, you need some savings, which isn't easy. Your paycheck will always have somewhere else to go; buying food, clothes, paying the bills, visiting your parents. And you'll notice there won't always be a lot left over after this.

8. In relationships, actions speak.

In college life, a romantic relationship thrived on sweet words. But in real life actions speak. You look at the person; you observe his/her actions and notice how he/she makes you feel. So be careful about the words you use, but also be careful about your actions and gestures.

9. Making mistake is fine but it must be a new one each time.

Each mistake allows you to learn something. It leaves you with a lesson. But to succeed you must make a new mistake each time, so that you always get a new lesson. In college it was okay to ask the same silly question to the same professor again and again, but in life if you ask the same questions or make the same mistake again and again you will labeled as "dumb."

10. It is important that you keep marching ahead. Life is a journey, not a destination.

When you were in school, you only wanted good grades. Once you reached college, you wanted to be famous. When you got your job, your next aim was to get a promotion. After being promoted you wanted a free holiday ticket with family, and so on. Life moves on and on and every moment you have new expectations and aspirations. So just pay attention to the little joys and keep moving ahead.

11. Everyone is really busy, so you need to take care of yourself.

Everyone around you is fighting his/her own fight. Even a five-year-old has his own challenges and tasks to do. Everyone is busy thinking about himself, so take care. Yes, you need to love and care for the person whom you see in the mirror because college is over and your friends aren't there.

Thursday, January 15, 2015 1:14 PM