People Share The Things They Learned In College That They Didn't Expect To

They didn’t know they’d learn these things in college when they enrolled, but they’re really glad they know these things as adults.

1. Acknowledging you have to go get it for yourself.

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"I learned that nobody is handing you anything in life and that if you want something you have to go and get it for yourself. But you can choose the things you want, the ways you want to spend your time, and the people you want to spend it with — if you're lucky! And that was a huge and exciting revelation." —Ayla N.

2. Discovering the merits of fine cooking...

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"I learned that specific herbs go with specific dishes. For instance, don't put cilantro on Italian pasta. Or, if you are some people, don't put it on anything." —Hannah S.

3. ...and the merits of simple cooking.

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"I learned that you can cook ramen in a coffeemaker." —Shayna B.

4. Getting used to life with roommates.

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"Growing up as an only child, moving into the dorms meant I had to learn how to live with another person. It taught me the benefits of compromise, how to let things go, and the true value of a good set of headphones." —Bobby N.

5. Valuing time for yourself.

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"In high school, everyone travels in packs. It wasn't until I was in college, where I was surrounded by people ALL THE TIME, that I learned that it's perfectly okay to enjoy being by yourself. I shared a small dorm room with two people, on a floor surrounded by good friends. We shared everything: bathrooms, clothes, food, Facebook party invites, ethernet cords. I formed the most important friendships of my life in that dorm, but you need a moment of peace and quiet every once in a while. Taking time to plan my day was very important and special to me. I learned that a big part of adulthood is being comfortable with just yourself." —Caitlin C.

6. Understanding what laziness costs you.

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"I learned that if you are undisciplined and/or choose not to work hard, nobody really cares — you’re mainly just doing yourself a disservice." —Kayla S.

7. Coming out of your shell and learning to lead.

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"I learned that I can be a decent leader. In high school, I was very content with just going with the flow and considered myself really shy, but I joined a student activities committee and found out that I'm pretty good about making my ideas a reality and being the center of attention if it means doing a great job." —Emily C.

8. Finally grasping just how good your parents are.

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"Once I went to college, I learned how hard my parents had it when they first came to America. They didn't have people to frantically call with questions about health insurance, filing taxes, or getting a credit card for the first time. They had to figure it all out on their own. I realized how smart and resourceful they had to be, and it made me appreciate them so much more." —Asterios K.

9. Discovering the value of seeing the world — but not all of the world.

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"I learned how to travel with confidence. And also how to say 'no trespassing' in Dutch." —Austin S.

10. Realizing a second impression can be worth more than the first.

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"I learned that even though I think I'm an excellent judge of character, almost everyone is worth a second meeting. They could have had an off day, been sick, or were just not quite themselves. But if someone isn't interesting, fun, kind, etc., on the second meeting, then you can move on." —Dylan B.

What you learn both inside and outside the classroom in college will change you and stick with you long after you graduate. Helping students succeed and discover happiness in life is a benefit beyond graduation that sets Washington College apart. You're gonna love this place!

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