2008 Woodie Awards
Experience, mistakes enhance learning process
Cassie Rupp
Issue date: 5/11/06 Section: Opinion
It seems like just yesterday, the time had finally arrived to move out and prepare to face the real world. College was soon to be not just the next step in education, but my new lifestyle. It's hard to believe that was nine months ago. Today, as a much more matured and prioritized individual, I reminisce about my first year of college and cannot put into words the incredible amount of knowledge I have gained.
However, most of what I have learned was not from textbooks, taking notes and tests. Sure, I could tell you a lot more about algebra, the history of Greek theatre, and media law, but throughout the last two semesters, I've learned lessons about life that are incredibly valuable and applicable to everyday life.
I did my share of rebelling my first semester of college. I would stay out too late the night prior to an early class, break the on-campus curfew, blow off an important exam, spend too much time on MySpace and miss deadlines. Fortunately, it didn't take me long to realize this was the path to failure.
With the harsh reality check from a caring and watchful adviser, my perception about "college life" quickly changed.
I began focusing more on my future rather than the moment and in essence, it was looking brighter by the day. Confidence in my actions developed as many opportunities were given to me.
As the semesters went on, I often lost focus, along with many of my peers, but there would always be that sudden jolt to yank us back on track. Often, the sudden jolt was not pleasant, but each time another lesson was learned.
Although it may be hard to grasp, mistakes and consequences do not always have a negative impact on you. Failure and doing the wrong thing is what taught me the most throughout the past year. Most bad experiences are followed by more knowledge about life.
Living on my own for the first year, instructors, peers, and mistakes often crossed the path I was on and seemed like an inconvenience. The results ended up working to my advantage.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "the things taught in schools and colleges are not an education, but the means to an education."
College has allowed us to mess up and grow. The environment we are in anticipates that mistakes will happen and still gives us opportunities that we have only dreamt about.
So, commit a faux pas every once in awhile and get it out of your system. This is the time that serves as a learning experience and a time to make bad decisions without horrible consequences.
My priorities have taken a 180-degree turn, but that only happened for the sole reason that I suffered the consequences. Although it is hard to accept at times, the only way to learn is usually the hard way. We must accept the mistakes we've made and move on with insight.
The rules and expectations are predetermined for us by our mentors, but it is up to us to meet the standards.
However, most of what I have learned was not from textbooks, taking notes and tests. Sure, I could tell you a lot more about algebra, the history of Greek theatre, and media law, but throughout the last two semesters, I've learned lessons about life that are incredibly valuable and applicable to everyday life.
I did my share of rebelling my first semester of college. I would stay out too late the night prior to an early class, break the on-campus curfew, blow off an important exam, spend too much time on MySpace and miss deadlines. Fortunately, it didn't take me long to realize this was the path to failure.
With the harsh reality check from a caring and watchful adviser, my perception about "college life" quickly changed.
I began focusing more on my future rather than the moment and in essence, it was looking brighter by the day. Confidence in my actions developed as many opportunities were given to me.
As the semesters went on, I often lost focus, along with many of my peers, but there would always be that sudden jolt to yank us back on track. Often, the sudden jolt was not pleasant, but each time another lesson was learned.
Although it may be hard to grasp, mistakes and consequences do not always have a negative impact on you. Failure and doing the wrong thing is what taught me the most throughout the past year. Most bad experiences are followed by more knowledge about life.
Living on my own for the first year, instructors, peers, and mistakes often crossed the path I was on and seemed like an inconvenience. The results ended up working to my advantage.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "the things taught in schools and colleges are not an education, but the means to an education."
College has allowed us to mess up and grow. The environment we are in anticipates that mistakes will happen and still gives us opportunities that we have only dreamt about.
So, commit a faux pas every once in awhile and get it out of your system. This is the time that serves as a learning experience and a time to make bad decisions without horrible consequences.
My priorities have taken a 180-degree turn, but that only happened for the sole reason that I suffered the consequences. Although it is hard to accept at times, the only way to learn is usually the hard way. We must accept the mistakes we've made and move on with insight.
The rules and expectations are predetermined for us by our mentors, but it is up to us to meet the standards.
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