I'm feeling very nostalgic for school right now. This is a bit unusual for me. Certainly I've missed college in many ways. I feel like I had a lot more going on then, and my world felt bigger. It was nice to be busy and to be actively progressing toward a goal. I've been bored a lot since and have often felt stagnant.
It's the academic side of college, the knowledge acquisition, that I haven't pined for, exactly. I didn't particularly enjoy many of my classes the last year or so of my undergrad, and I wish I could go back and redo some of it. I was taking the classes that would fill the requirements for my degree without much consideration, and I anticipated finishing in a timely manner (at the time it seemed important to me, but now it seems like graduating is overrated unless you have something to move on to immediately afterward).
I did really enjoy some of my classes, especially the ones I took at the beginning of my major. But later on, I took some that I didn't enjoy and didn't do that well in. I graduated feeling disillusioned about my college experience. I lost a bit of my faith in the goodness of learning. I felt like all I had learned was how to get by not doing everything I was supposed to.
Now, after two full years of being out of school, I'm feeling this sense of nostalgia and remembering the academic portion of college somewhat positively. I think that means I'm recovering a bit from my disillusionment. Maybe I'll even go back to school . . . someday.
For those of you who are done with school, what was your transition to the "real world" like? What do you feel like you learned most from your college experience?
3 comments:
I'm going to rebel and not answer your question and just comment about the whole "timely manner" thing. I graduated in three years because I thought that was so important and it was a goal of mine, and literally the day after I graduated I was like, "What have I done? I love school and there were so many fun, non-major classes I could have taken! I'm an idiot!" I still regret that. There was no reason to push through college so quickly, and I really wish I hadn't.
I only minimally miss school. I miss the freedom of doing what I want when I want to. I miss learning new things and being a part of a community.
But considering how often I still have nightmares about failing classes and having tons of homework, I can't say I miss it that much.
Plus, I know that when I can I'll take community classes. You never have to stop learning. I learn a lot by reading on my own.
I think the important thing to not getting bored is to find a passion. (I'm always stressed and overwhelmed but rarely bored. I have too much to do and I have many interests I've thrown myself wholeheartedly into.)
Also, I miss working with you. :)
Stagnant is the exact word I have used to describe my life since graduation. I'm not going anywhere, not doing anything. I'm just here, living. So here's the new goal: learn how to unstagnate your life. Then you can tell me. Ready, set, go!
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