5–2ish Years at College: Here is what I have learned…

It was at the end of 2017 that I joined Addis Ababa University as an Information Systems student. What usually takes four years to finish the program, it took me more than five years to have my first degree (and I haven’t completed the program yet). Through my years at college, I have come across different kinds of people and even more attitudes. In this article, I aim to clarify some of the best insights I got from the time I spent at college.

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Addis Ababa University-Main Campus Gate

If you think you study/work hard, think again!

It is easy to identify yourself as an intelligent student while learning in high school because you don’t see how much effort your peers exert into their school work. Once you get into college and especially if you have a dorm room and you somehow spend time at the library, you will find that some guys and gals literally spend the whole night studying, and it’s not even exam season.

Good Grades are not equivalent to Good Skills.

Whether it be to score your next Straight ‘A’s or to survive that Applied Mathematics course, you would fall into the trap of semester routines in college. It’s your responsibility to differentiate what’s necessary and what’s extra in your courses. I came to this realization that suggests ‘Grade doesn’t matter unless you want to continue in Academia.’ It is great if you score 4, but that should never be your ultimate goal. Your ultimate goal should be acquiring the right skills required by the industry you’d join years later, and you should invest time in making the skills you gain practical/applicable. This may be working on personal and school projects mindfully, interning for companies, or enrolling in groups that work on various projects.

Theist here, Atheist there.

The most impressive thing I have come across as soon as I got into college was the existence of various beliefs and perspectives about every matter. Politics being the major topic at college, religion follows, and it’s amazing hearing points being made by your peers. And those points are not simple ideas. Almost everyone has tons of books to refer to, masses of teachings s/he was subjected to, and a rich cultural background s/he is proud of. It is you who decides what to trust and follow.

The Love Birds don’t fail, making you feel cringe.

Yeah, while you’re always struggling with college life by yourself, there are rare couples who enjoy learning, studying, walking, and eating together like ‘every time.’ What makes you feel cringe is to see them cuddling in the library, having snacks, and reading for tomorrow’s test. Well, that’s cute. Maybe I am a little jealous. Having a boyfriend/girlfriend as a college student isn’t for everyone,ne so the lesson I have learned was to make good friends who are as fun as you and are driven towards some goal. Networking is the single best asset you have while you are at college. Who knows? You may find Paul Allen in one of the departments at college.

The Goodbyes

If you’ve made it this far and read some of the lessons I have learned from my college years, you may be a great learner, and you should clap for yourself. :) Beware that these things are based on my experience, so don’t get mad if I have not covered the remarkable things you have got from your college stay. With that said, thank you for visiting my blog! Stay Safe!