Regret #1: Trying too hard to fit in with a certain crowd
While it’s natural to want to fit in with certain people who look like they’ve got it all together, it may not be meant to be. The RIGHT people will become your friends for who you really are — NOT who you are trying to be. These same people will stay in your life for decades and be there to support you through the rough times. NOT true with people who don’t know the real you — they will be gone as soon as the party’s over.
Regret #2: Worrying too much about what others think of you
If you don’t learn this now, you will waste countless hours and emotional energy drowning in worry and self-doubt, both personally and professionally. If you are worried about what someone thinks, ask yourself WHY. Did you not show up 100% when you were in contact with this person? If this person is so important to you, then why not? Can you do better next time? Use worry to inspire yourself to work harder, but don’t let it cripple you. Try harder (if it really matters to you) and then move on to your next opportunity.
Knowledge is cool. Being passed out or arrested isn’t.
Regret #3: Choosing (and sticking with) the wrong major
Would you invest $100,000 in something that you knew nothing about? Or something that you hated? Then why are you staying in a major with classes you don’t love? You are far better off finishing your current term and then taking a leave of absence from school to go out and get a job. Take some time to relax and discover your true interests and talents. Afraid of your parents? That fear won’t do you any good in 10 years when you are in a career you hate, and you need money to go back to school to get the RIGHT degree. Stand up to your parents and back yourself up with hard data on the amount of money being wasted. You don’t want them wasting their money AND you don’t want to be paying back student loans in 10 years for the wrong degree.
Regret #4: Missing out on true love (or just simply wasting emotional energy) due to the pressure of “hook-up” or non-committal culture
Call me old-fashioned, but sex is still sex, even with all kinds of advances in internal birth control. You can still end up conceiving a child. Even just one time with someone. So why take the risk for someone who doesn’t take you seriously or someone whom YOU do not take seriously as a possible future life partner? There is so much pressure now to stay uncommitted and “be cool” about sex, but you’ll be the one earning the most respect by maintaining a clear head and focusing on long-term compatibility AND your coursework. (And this is for both guys AND gals!) Being sad that someone isn’t replying to your text after a tryst means you are not studying in your chosen field, and that’s just a waste of time and energy. Feeling down about yourself will never make you attractive. Being confident about your coursework and career path, on the other hand, is pretty sexy! The right person will come into your life if you make the right choices for yourself as an individual.
Regret #5: Engaging in unsafe behaviors (drinking, drugs, unsafe driving, unprotected sex)
If you don’t like my views mentioned above about sex with zero commitment, at least listen up here. Protect yourself! Don’t rely solely on hormonal birth control, copper IUD, or anything else being invented lately. Use a condom every time. A new one. You don’t want unwanted pregnancies or STDs on your personal resume. They can’t be erased from your record or your psyche. And yes, I’m talking to the guys also!
And drinking and drugs will destroy your precious time to get a quality education, not to mention your judgment and your grades. Sure, everyone needs a way to kick back and relax after exams, but don’t overdo it. You have only one liver, and it can do only so much before you face consequences — either now or years from now, when it catches up to you if you don’t quit toxic habits. So just don’t start. It’s NOT cool, or not in excess anyway. If you are fascinated by these substances, then learn them as a hobby. Be the one who “knows it all” about beers and wines. Or be the one who knows the effects of different drugs on the body. Knowledge is cool. Being passed out or arrested isn’t.
Same with unsafe driving. It’s not going to impress anyone when you get pulled over for a speeding ticket, or when you get wheeled into the emergency room. Pay attention to the road when you’re driving. You are operating heavy machinery, and will often have passengers’ lives in your hands. College is for young adults — NOT for kids trying to do one last thing that’s “fun and irresponsible”. If you’re looking to blow off steam by doing something stupid, teach yourself how to jump rope and get a friend to take a live video and post on all social media platforms. You might break your leg, but you’ll survive, and you won’t kill anyone in the process.
In summary, your college years are meant to be fun, but having a healthy and efficient attitude will allow you to look back with no regrets. Be yourself, pick a major that excites you, and be careful with your body and mind.
