Hi everyone, my name is Abhi Kaneria and much like you all, I will be graduating soon!! I know that graduation, whether it be a high school or a college one, is a bittersweet moment in everyone’s life. The people you meet during high school, the friendships, the memories, and all the hard work to get into your dream college all comes to fruition during graduation, but at the same time the journey of high school ends and now you have to prepare for a new chapter in your life.
Although it may be daunting to think about leaving all your friends (some of which you have known since elementary or middle school), your family, and the place you got comfortable with to a new place and with new people whom you have never met before. But let me tell you, starting college, meeting new people, and getting involved was one of the best experiences in life.
Starting college is your chance to start a brand new chapter in your life and build it however you want it to be. Don’t be afraid to try out new things and get out of your comfort zone as it will help you discover yourself. The worst outcome that can come from trying something new is either you don’t like it or you fail at that particular project. That too in my view is a win in and of itself because now you know more about yourself than you did before trying something out.
Another piece of advice that I have for you is to equally work hard and take time to have fun and loosen up a little. My perspective of college life from movies and just the misconception, in general, is that either you work extremely hard and you are a “nerd” or you are someone who is having fun 24/7. However, in reality, college is both a mix of hard work (late night grinds) and fun times. By doing this you will be able to get the ultimate college experience while making sure you are carving yourself a path after college. So work hard whenever you need to, to get those good grades and have fun and celebrate little achievements.
The last piece of advice I have for you is that make sure to get yourself familiarized as well as utilize all the resources that the school provides to you. You are paying for all of those, and they are there to help you in every step of your college life. And a bonus tip is to attend all classes (YES all classes), even the ones you think are not important (cause they are there for a reason). Everything taught in the classes is helpful and can be utilized either in other classes or life in general so make sure to go to all of the classes.
Lastly, I wanted to finish by saying that YOU GOT THIS!!!!! This will be one of the best experiences in your life. So be brave and have fun!!!
Written by Abhi K., a Rutgers—Camden Undergraduate Student and Raptor Ambassador.