Op-Ed Contributors - Ditch Your Laptop, Dump Your Boyfriend - NYTimes.com
I came across this article in the New York Times. I definitely didn't follow the advice of the title. I married my high school sweetheart, so I can't personally say that dumping your significant other will necessarily lead to personal growth. It is probably true though that having a serious girlfriend in college kept me from seeking an active social life. It turned out to be worth it in the end. For us.
I did explore a lot of the happenings on campus, but I stayed away from parties. I was pretty studious. I had this image of college of spending a lot of time sitting around in coffee houses talking about philosophy. Wearing a black turtleneck, of course. I never did any of that, but I always aspired to it. I did sit in a bar once talking about religion.
If I had been given the above advice, would I have followed it? Maybe. But I doubt it. I might have wanted to follow it, but I probably wouldn't have followed through on my good intentions.
What was the best advice I ever got? "Learn to type." My dad told me that when I was in high school. And it came in pretty handy.
What was the best advice anyone gave you about college? What advice do you wish you had gotten?
Take classes in many different subjects before picking your major. Try lots of different clubs and activities. Make friends with people who grew up much poorer than you, and others much richer. Date someone of a different race or religion. (And no, hooking up at a party doesn’t count.) Spend a semester abroad or save up and go backpacking in Europe or Asia.
I came across this article in the New York Times. I definitely didn't follow the advice of the title. I married my high school sweetheart, so I can't personally say that dumping your significant other will necessarily lead to personal growth. It is probably true though that having a serious girlfriend in college kept me from seeking an active social life. It turned out to be worth it in the end. For us.
I did explore a lot of the happenings on campus, but I stayed away from parties. I was pretty studious. I had this image of college of spending a lot of time sitting around in coffee houses talking about philosophy. Wearing a black turtleneck, of course. I never did any of that, but I always aspired to it. I did sit in a bar once talking about religion.
If I had been given the above advice, would I have followed it? Maybe. But I doubt it. I might have wanted to follow it, but I probably wouldn't have followed through on my good intentions.
What was the best advice I ever got? "Learn to type." My dad told me that when I was in high school. And it came in pretty handy.
What was the best advice anyone gave you about college? What advice do you wish you had gotten?
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