When I was given the opportunity to write at My University Money, I was extremely excited. I have a strong desire to inform and educate young adults with their finances. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for personal finance tips – you might as well stop reading. This article has nothing to do with “Money,” but everything to do with “My University.”
I Did College All Wrong
I spent most of my childhood wishing I were an Architect. I didn’t necessarily want to be an architect when I grew up; I actually wanted to be an architect at that time. Instead of lying in bed like many little ones drawing big buildings and exotic homes, I was drawing floor plans. I was intently measuring to make sure each stud was in place, and each electrical outlet logistically made sense.
The summer before my senior year of high school, I actually landed my first internship. I worked at a nearby architectural and engineering firm. Everything was falling into place, and I thought I was reaching the pinnacle of my career at age 16. What a young stud…
I spent the entire summer scanning – not my idea of fun. Skyscrapers weren’t popping up quite at the rate I was hoping.
I tell you about this turn-off because it set me back in my collegiate plans. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted, but I wasn’t too sure anymore.
By the time I made it to college, I was a lost little soul. I tried taking a few architectural classes. They were far too artistic and not very technical (keep in mind I didn’t draw buildings, but floor plans). I tried taking chemistry courses to follow in my father’s footsteps, but that didn’t keep my attention either. I would joke that my professor really knew how to put the “bore” in “Boron.”
At this point, I was 1.5 years into my college experience and still had not-a-clue on what-to-do. But then, oddly enough at a party, I found clarity. While I was “exercising my liver,” I was introduced to the Fraternity’s sponsor. I spoke to him for hours. I told him the difficulty I was having – and that’s when he gave me the best advice I’ve ever received.
The Best Advice For College Students
It may seem like you have a million choices, which you do; but ultimately, you only have three. Every day when you wake up, you have to make a decision between three options. You can study. You can party. You can sleep. The dilemma is that each day, you can only choose two of the three.
You can study and you can party, but you won’t have time to sleep. You can party and you can sleep, but you won’t have time to study. If you can ever find the balance between all three – you will crush your college experience.
P.S. I Love You, Economics
This same semester, I was enrolled in my first economics course. I’ll admit – the material was drier than the desert. But since I had a newfound respect for learning, I excelled.
I spent my first two years with a GPA around 2.2 and my last two years on Dean’s List. I can only laugh looking back as I received a D in Jazz and an A in Microeconomic Theory.
If only I received the advice sooner…
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
A. Blinkin is the creator of Funancials – The Funny Money Blog. With the growing complexities in the financial industry, Abe attempts to explain all things affecting you and your money in an informative, yet entertaining way.