Out of all the clichés, “college is the best time of your life” has a special place at the top of the ridiculous list. If the cliché is considered true, then as students we are peaking right now. We’ve plateaued a fourth of the way through our natural life. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m hopeful this isn’t true.
There is a gravity to college which isn’t always acknowledged. According to the Wall Street Journal, the average student debt rose to $33,000 in 2014. This an obscene amount of money to be in debt fresh out of the university. Getting the maximum value out of college is the only way to justify spending so much on education, and intending for college to be the best time of your life does not seem the most fitting way to obtain maximum value.
Those who believe college is the best time of our lives ought to temper their expectations and preconceived notions about college and come back to reality: college is hard. Not only is it challenging, it is incredibly expensive.
According to a study by the University of Michigan, 60 percent of college-aged students receive financial aid from their parents. Putting emphasis on social life instead of academics is not what most parents have in mind when they send money to you every month and not taking college seriously is a poor way to repay them.
Even with parental assistance, students oftentimes find themselves financially burdened and unbelievably stressed about coursework. Throw in the factors of maintaining a social life and getting adequate sleep, college becomes a juggling act of time management, stress and pressure.
Life does not end after college. There are many things to look forward to after assimilating into the “real world,”notably the opportunity to make a significant amount of money. Money provides the opportunity to have more freedom and ability to control our own lives and the ability to start a family and have children. Successful family life gives meaning to life and is the foundation for happiness.
American journalist and news anchor Dan Rather said it best: “A college degree is the key to realizing the American dream, well worth the financial sacrifice because it is supposed to open the door to a world of opportunity.”
Drinking every weekend and skipping class may be fun, but owning a house is better. Out of paying a fee bill and collecting a paycheck, we would all choose the latter. But, as the old saying goes, “different strokes for different folks.” However, if pretending to have no responsibility for four or more years is the pinnacle of life, then you’re going to live a dull, sad life.
College is a dark tunnel we pass through to get to the light. There is nothing wrong with having fun in college, but better times are coming — a family and a paycheck will make getting out of bed in the morning worthwhile.
Students should strive to make college as enjoyable as possible. It is important to balance school work and a social life. Putting the right amount of effort into each is likely to yield a more pleasant college experience than leaning to the extreme in either category.
Regardless, there is still a lot of pressure to make college the best years of your life. Just remember, it is OK if college isn’t the best four years of your life. Despite popular belief, you still have time to redeem yourself and embrace the entirety of life as a blessing and good time.
Jacob Maranto is 21-year-old mass communication senior from Plaquemine, Louisiana.
