7 Lessons Learned from the College Experience that You Won't Find in Any Textbook

There are a lot of reasons to attend a college or university that have nothing to do with academics. Here are 7 lessons learned from the college experience.

1. No matter how hard professors try to be objective, most are not.

At some point during your college experience, be assured that you will have at least one professor that doesn't like or share your point of view. It is a good lesson to learn as it teaches you how to deal with those who think differently from you. There is no need to get upset, just learn to defend your stance the best you can. The professor should never take it out on your grade for the course, but it does happen.

2. Organization will get you far in life.

Life is much about daily maintenance. The sooner you learn that, the better off you will be. Students who go out of their way to remain organized and on-task do exceedingly better academically than those who have poor organizational skills. The thing is that organization pertains to just about every other aspect of your life as well. Anything worthwhile requires organization, planning, and research.

3. There is plenty of opportunity out there, if you know where to look.

Most colleges and universities are treasure troves of fun, exciting experiences. Whether it involves the arts, travel, volunteer work, or any other wide range of activities, you can be sure to find it on a college campus. While it may be a bit more difficult to find the same type of experiences after college, it can be done if you know where to look. You need to look at every new life experience as an adventure.

4. The direction of your life isn't always in your control.

It is a sad fact in life that bad things happen to good people. The direction you take in life isn't always in your complete control, although there are steps you can take to make things better. College is no exception. People get sick and have to continue their education later, not everyone has the same opportunities at the same school, and not everyone is blessed with the same knack for academics. The key is to make the most of what you do have and exercise control where you can.

5. Everyone has at least some redeeming qualities.

Not matter how much you may have disliked your roommate freshman year, chances are the he or she had at least some redeeming qualities. Due to your interaction with a wide variety of people, you will learn throughout your college career that everyone has intrinsic value, no matter how much you may disagree with his or her point of view.

6. The world is bigger and much more complex than you ever dreamed.

Just when you think that you have taken everything into consideration, someone or something will come along and change your way of thinking. There is something to explore, learn, and/or create out there for everyone. You have to find your niche in this increasingly complex world.

7. Even the best-laid plans can go up in smoke.

No matter how much you plan, prepare, and organize, nothing in life is guaranteed. Circumstances can change on a dime, and you need to be prepared for that eventuality. Chances are that you will find yourself in situations that you never dreamed of as a child. The college experience lends itself to such experiences.