Hi! Today I wanted to dedicate my post to discussing my personal growth in college. After 2 years in college, I think I’ve learned so much about the world, other people, and myself. I think it’s so important to reflect on my life over a period and consider what I value.
Here are a few of the ways my perspective on life has changed from being in college:
- Everyone needs alone time- In high school, it would always feel so strange for me to spend a day alone. Even in my first year at Wellesley, I always felt that if I was grabbing a meal or in my room that I should be with a friend or a group. In my second year at Wellesley, I realized how much I value having time to myself to recharge and reflect on my decisions/thoughts. It was a game-changer to learn how to be comfortable with just being with myself. Through spending more time with myself, I grew more in love with myself and grew to appreciate the silence (it’s corny, but very true).
- Not everyone is going to like you- This lesson was huge for me. College is really the best 4 years of your life, but it’s also the most soul-searching and challenging time of your life. In college, I quickly learned that I’m a people pleaser by nature and I realized that this trait was no longer serving me because I would put the needs of others before my own. It is perfectly okay if people don’t like you. For myself, this meant finding friends who I truly loved spending time with and who felt the same way. As college students, we are all growing to understand what we like and don’t like (of course this continues after college, but I think college is when we actually begin to consider this) and I found it so valuable to put myself and my values first.
- Diversity- I grew up in Miami, FL which is predominantly Latinx. I always knew that my friends and my surrounding community were very similar to myself and my ethnicity/values/upbringing. Going to Wellesley, I knew I would encounter people from different countries, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds, however, I would’ve never foreseen how diverse the world truly is. From 2 years at Wellesley, I’ve learned so much about other cultures and people, and through this, I even learned more about myself.
These three important lessons have honestly changed the way I view the world and my place in it.
Best,
Lynsey