College 101
By: Ahyeon Cho
Tags: College, Saving, Careers, Finances Investment, Parents

I’ve done it twice.

It’s a tough time to be a student when you have so many worries and pressure. College, unlike the party and fun portrayed in movies, is a lot of pressure because it’s supposed to be the first weighted step you take as an adult. This was supposed to decide your next forty to fifty years and the jobs to come, connections to be made.

I have gone through this twice, since my gap years working as a waitress. I went through the process very differently. I did not have anyone guide me or resources. I didn’t get myself around it but learned from my own experiences.

In general, your mental health and stress management is important. You are reaching an age where your parents are getting older and you feel more weight on you. The evident anticipation of parents to knock off their own parenting pressure just makes you feel rushed and question what you really want in life. The non-caring university is a corporation and forgiveness is nowhere to be seen. Mess up once, no warnings, no make-ups.

My general tip is that you stop focusing on the time spent on things but rather gather resources. As you save time, get a part-time job and open your eyes up to the people. My serving job definitely motivated me to study harder because life outside the safe road is tough. It’s a survival game. It’s not the office setting or stylish editor job from The Devil Wears Prada. You are on your feet, and you are treated poorly. This feeling of unappreciation will make you want to feel appreciated. It makes you humble to your position in this world.

Your twenties is the easiest time to spend all the money. You are still under the protective wing of your parents, and your mistakes are easily forgiven. Credit cards and insurance companies love to show you the life you should want instead of pursuing the boring financial activities you actually should be pursuing. I never really got the proper financial knowledge from my parents and had to have many losses starting out.

Put your money into stocks. Safe, big-name stocks. Don’t think about withdrawing your stock funds, ever. That thing stays. This is the best way to save money besides the savings account. When you see it in the reach of your hands, one online purchase will be enough to wreck it.

Buy clothes used. There’s nothing more useless and depreciating than new clothes. Other than shoes, you really shouldn’t mind consignments. I’m saying not even TJMaxx. Only their stock. They have too many sparkly distractions at a convincing price, but that just won’t cut it. If you have had hand-me-downs, college isn’t the time to get out of that ring and become an Instagram fashionista. Pictures do not pay you. They will cost you big.

Take every chance to go see nature. It’s a good time to travel solo since you are old enough and can burn off the energy. Cool your head often and if you go with friends, have fun and be safe. Also, your plans to wake up early and workout then to the 12 things on the list will not work out when your girlfriend takes two hours to shower. Those are all memories, too. Take pictures of the scenery and you don’t need a new outfit. Just your still-healthy knees and memory.

Gather resources to study. The first exam up to the midterm is the determining stage. You should study hard to master the beginning material since it grows on top of each other as you progress. When you have the fundamentals down, you will be more comfortable learning throughout the semester.

Use past exams and assignments to study. Study smart and know the general range. There’s a ton of resources and you don’t have to cheat to make ends meet. There will never be grade percent round-ups. 69.9? It’s a no-go. For calculus, Professor Leonard and Organic Chemistry tutor for physics. They got me my degree. And plenty of geeks for geeks.

With clubs, pick at most two and dedicate yourself. Don’t just show up for pizza, although pizza is always right. Be the one who orders the pizza for the club. It’s called leadership on your limited resume.

With online classes, you are managing your own time which also means it’s harder to set goals and stick with them when you are not physically present.

When it comes to communication, don’t tell the world(internet) or people around you your political emotions and anger and something that is best unsaid. It will haunt you throughout your life and hurt you. Just keep quiet and give it a good cry. Friends are not therapists. Neither are family. You don’t want to show how stressed you are, because your stress will never sound bigger than their own. Just get used to stress and turn your attention to something else. If you focus on stress, you will not get anything done with your own negative bubble. It’s called toughening up; ask your dad. He will know all about it. Does he come crying to you? No, but he keeps the roof. Your mom may express more emotions, but really you have no idea. Know to manage stress, on something that is rewarding in the long-run. A walk, for example, is better than eating the whole tub of ice cream and feeling more miserable later. Go to the pet shelter and tell the poor dog about your “hard life.”

Learn to accept your mistakes. You are going to mess up. Apologize and accept it. Move on. Don’t take it out and still think you are in the right. You are probably wrong. You really can’t know any better with minimal life experiences outside of school. I’m saying, you shouldn’t be offended for being treated poorly, since you really are a dummy. You are a newly bought toilet plunger that has no idea where it’s going.

Rent textbooks and don’t keep them. We want our cars used, clothes used, textbooks used..you want the least amount of assets except that of savings and investment. Shiny things and sales are your enemies. Star coffee and the school union fast foods are your enemies. Pack your lunch no matter how hot you look without a lunch bag. It’s like carrying an umbrella. It’s worth it in the end on a rainy day.

Don’t listen to what a dude or uncle says about which stock to buy. Unless you are a Buffet. It’s only buying low and selling high of a stock you’ve heard of and makes cyclical moves. Look at the pattern on ThinkorSwim and TradinView. Play safe with money. Don’t gamble; invest. Rather eat a nice meal than spend it on an up and coming biotech stock. You will get burned.

With that being said, this is probably the time to treat your parents. You might not see them as often and their health is depreciating. Aging SUCKS and they may not say it often, but it feels ugly. I mean, imagine being sore and aching constantly. It’s not even post-leg day pains. To exaggerate, breathing hurts for them, so be nice to them. They are not in their 30s anymore. They have less energy. Give them the love that does not cost a dime. You will thank yourself in the future.

You get that degree. Finish school. You don’t need to restrict yourself with what you have to do such as gym five times a week and three hours per course material. You just get that degree and get it in a way that loads off the most amount of pressure. You don’t want the four or five long years to be more miserable than it already feels. You want to remind yourself that although it doesn’t feel dreamy, it is a bright time in your life. You have the potential and means to create a path of your own desire. A potential that will become energy with work, of course.

Do your career research. You are in college to become good at something. You are not going to be a pro, do not expect that. However, show consistency in the years of a specific area of concentration. Pick one thing and go at it. Just be good at one thing. Just one. That’s all you need to start the engine. Do you know C? Java? Tell me about it. How will you answer that? Well, at least it says on your resume…

Your major may change many times, but know that you are there for a degree. Get that paper and walk out. It’s really just a piece of paper you frame on your wall. It’s really simple but it’s essential. Don’t think too much of it, as you don’t think too much about drinking water or brushing your teeth. If you question why you should shower, you can go that route, but it’s not going to be flowery.

Be nice to your professors. You don’t know what they are going through or what they have been through, but they are there according to the rules and were just like you once, attending lectures and thinking about the future. Yes, they worked harder and were brighter, but they understand you. Don’t say stupid things and don’t blame them for your failure. If you know what to expect, you will do fine. This is why you pay attention to that first exam and get an idea of their methods. A lot of the material is recycled, so keep an eye out for past examples. Know your range of study. If you know it, it’s not too bad. It’s simple work!

In all, it’s a tiring and overwhelming experience. New people every semester, so many people, choices, worries yet so little money... Learn to not be “cool” or “hot”; those are expensive to maintain. Also, it’s not hot to prove you are right or smart. You are neither of those in college and just absorb the information, learn it and go with it. Do not underestimate the power of knowledge.

Lastly, this is cheesy, but love yourself at the moment. You are a beautiful, young lad/lassie striving to learn how to make the first steps. It’s like a baby learning to walk. Society does not hate you, it’s just a tough world. But to the eyes of the beholder, it’s a beautiful time. A student willing to try and learn is what makes the world still go around. Be thankful for your ability to learn despite the struggles. Take advantage of this treasurable moment designed for pure learning. Nothing else. Don’t think too deep; just get the paper. Don’t stop until you grasp that shiny paper in your hands. You will learn that four years is short. Even six years, eight…

Oh, and wear sunscreen.

Good luck, but you won’t need it if you work for it. You will figure it out.