Hidden Lessons: What College Teaches You Behind the Scenes

This is what in my mind is the most important part of earning a degree. It proves to yourself and future employers that you can set a long term goal and follow through with it. It shows that you CHOSE to continue learning and improving yourself beyond what society requires. You signed up for multiple years of constant challenge and came out on top. That is worth something, so be proud of it.

The way that we learn things through our lives is constantly evolving. A massive difference happens between high school and college where instruction changes a great deal. Depending on your field of study, there is likely a much larger emphasis placed on individual research and learning through your own exploration. Some courses also teach through discussion to help create depth of understanding. There are so many differences depending on your field and school, but one thing is for sure, you are constantly learning to learn in new ways and challenge yourself.

Maybe you never really spent time outside of your hometown before college. Maybe you grew up in an area that wasn’t particularly diverse. A great part about college is that you will interact with people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. It will open your eyes to many cultures, struggles, and maybe even help you reflect on your own. Your time spent at university will have undoubtedly changed the way you see the world, and in my opinion this gained perspective changes you for the better.

Like it or not, there are group assignments, lab partners, collaborative talks with counselors and professors, and countless other interactions with other people through the college experience. For many people these interactions can be uncomfortable and outside of their comfort zone. Getting out of their comfort zone and being able to constructively work with others is an important skill that translates directly to the professional world. Group projects can be especially frustrating when other people aren’t pulling their weight, but unfortunately this will also directly translate to the professional world… Kyle.

This was touched on briefly already, but this is particularly true for those who take online courses. There isn’t always someone there to hold your hand. You might be given a task or assignment that is beyond your current knowledge. A worker who doesn’t always need to be walked through each task is a valuable one, and this is incredibly important if you are your own boss.

Being able to gather information efficiently is a valuable skill that many employers desire in a candidate.

This one is huge. You are capable of far more than you realize. You also do have some limitations and weaknesses. College is a place where we learn about ourselves and find the things we excel at. People excel or struggle at writing, communicating, problem solving, debating, or whatever skill, but it is the ones who learn what they are great at that find suitable and enjoyable jobs after college.

Writing and communicating in a professional and succinct manner is something that will stick with you forever. If you ever feel like you take this one for granted, spend some time around a group of high schoolers.

Your fellow college students will be your future professional peers. Your professors have the potential to be valuable references and resources in the future. Nurturing relationships in college can pay off tremendously.

There is a lot on your plate in college, especially if you are working your way through it. Managing your time is a skill that is really learned for the first time in college where you are balancing a lot of responsibility with the rest that life has to offer. This is something that translates to any career.

Deadlines, term papers, timed and proctored exams.. College can be a pressure packed few years. Learning how to persevere through the challenges is something that makes you a stronger person mentally.

There are bumps along the road for everyone. It is pretty tough to get to the end of the road unscathed, but it is overcoming the obstacles along the way that builds character.

College is filled with stress, and some of us are better at handling it than others. Some learn ways to avoid stress successfully. Others learn how to overcome and push through their stress. It is certainly best to limit stressful situations, but graduating is proof that you learned to manage or overcome those situations.

Professors are obviously leaned on heavily, but many of your peers and classmates offer insight and knowledge as well. Discussions, group projects, and peer reviews are all ways in which classmates interact with one another. Learning from what they have to offer translates very well to the professional world where sharing knowledge to grow is paramount.

Let’s face it, not every professor is a good one, and some are rather unsavory. Finding out what works and doesn’t work with difficult people is something that is learned through experience. You’re gonna hate some professors, you’re gonna hate some bosses at work, but dealing with them is a necessary part of growing up and becoming a well-rounded adult.

Some things are more important than others. We prioritize assignments, classes, lectures, studying, etc. We learn where we need to really buckle down and focus, and we also learn where we can relax and maybe half-ass it a bit. We have to give ourselves room to breathe, and this skill of deciphering how to prioritize everything we have going on probably starts to take shape in college. In the professional world this will help with prioritizing tasks, delegating, or knowing what stuff just really isn’t that important.