College Drop-In
Why you should drop into college
Did you know that there was a time when women were not allowed to attend a University in the United States? It has been 184 years since the United States allowed women to attend college and It was not until 1862 that the first woman of color received a college degree. To think that there was a time when women were denied a higher education is disheartening.
I will never regret my decision to attend college and get my degree. As a woman of color, I am glad that this opportunity to attend college is available and encouraged. Today is the last day of my undergraduate studies. I will graduate with a BA in Broadcasting electronic communication arts and a minor in Spanish. It has been a long run with its fair share of ups and downs but I am ecstatic to get my degree and happy that I stuck it out.
If I could do it all over again, I definitely would… but a bit different. This is my advice and tips for people who are thinking about pursuing higher education from someone who dropped out and dropped back in to finish.
Student advice + Is college right for you?
College is not for everyone. It is a big commitment of money and time, so you should take time to decide if college is right for you. The best advice that I could give about going to college is to know yourself and what you want out of life. That way you can decide what path you want to take in college. Ask yourself these questions, What careers interest me right now? Where do I want to be in 4-years? What do I like to do? What am I good at? What majors does my college offer? Am I willing to dedicate this time to learning and paving the way for my future? I dropped out of college in 2020 during the height of the pandemic and although I don’t regret my choice to drop out, I wish I had done more research about the majors my college offered and future career options that interested me. I decided to come back to college in 2022 and changed my major at the last minute, it put me back a couple of semesters but changing my major was the best decision that I could have made.
Best study tips for college students
Did you know there are 168 hours in a week? On an average week in 2022, I spent about 50 hours asleep, I had a part-time job that I spent 24 hours a week at, I took 4 classes that are 2.5 hours each, and I spent about 6 hours commuting to school and work a week. That left about 78 hours in the week for everything else I needed and/or wanted to do. Divided by 7 days, that's 10 hours of free time a day to eat, shower, watch TV, spend with friends, and study. Time depreciates fast!
In my first year at state, a teacher broke down how many hours we have in a week and how many hours we should be studying for class in a week. Going over all the time I spent in a week was an eye-opener and I began to change how I use my time. It’s very easy to get distracted from your studies. I recommend mapping out a daily schedule, fitting the time in to study anywhere you can, even on lunch breaks. Going away from my house and being in a quiet, different setting also helped me to focus. Turn the phone on DND and put some soothing study music on. It’s truly about making the most of your time.
Linked below are helpful study tips!
Ways to work around Zoom fatigue > From my Holistic Health Professor, Dr. Peper
Maintaining mental health in college
Mental health is so important. It's helpful to take time to check in with yourself and assess your needs. Talk to friends, family, even schoolmates, or counselors about how you are doing, and feeling. College is stressful, adulting is stressful. Take time out of your day to decompress and destress from the demands of deadlines.
I found taking walks helped to clear my mind. Adapt breathing techniques to calm your nerves and anxiety. Meditating before classes is also a good way to relax and feel good. It is very easy to be overwhelmed as a student in college. I have days that I don't feel like going and want to just drop out! Don't give up, if you are feeling down it is okay to seek help or even just someone to talk to.
What I wish I had known before dropping out
It is vital that if you want to drop out of school go about it the right way! I recommend contacting a department chairman, or advisor and talking to them about dropping classes. Never just stop going to class, especially if you are enrolled in 12 units or more. I made the mistake of just not showing up for classes anymore and it resulted in a failing GPA, academic probation, and no access to financial aid. I had to jump through many hoops but luckily I was able to get help from the chairman of my department and raise my grades. There is a right way to drop out, do it right!
Another thing I wish I had known is the importance of networking in college. My teacher told me, the most important thing you can take from college is the connections you made here. College is a huge networking circle. There are people in your classes who are on track to be the next Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, or Oprah. You are in classes with like-minded individuals and networking can elevate your college experience and set you up with opportunities that you couldn’t even imagine. Your teachers are also great resources, and may even provide letters of recommendation and internship information. Talk to your classmates, and get to know your teachers and advisors. Connections are priceless!
Many people get discouraged because they think they don’t have the funds to go to college, don’t have the time, or don’t know what it is they want to do. I used to think that college was a waste of my time too but the connections that I have made, the things I have learned, and my overall college experience has been priceless. I hope that you don’t count college out and consider your options for attending. College can open doors you never even knew about, it can help you decide your future career and also teach you some valuable lessons along the way. I hope my college experience has inspired some readers to enroll, research, go back, and be excited to get their degree and learn. It is never too late to go back and get that degree!
