College is a time to build your resume and your skillset. You take classes that will prepare you for your future career. You most likely have an internship or some type of experience in a field related to what you want to do when you graduate. It is genuinely a time that is focused on the future. But don’t let always looking ahead take away from your present experiences.
It is good to use your time in college to prepare for what’s ahead. Get the experience. Ask the experts. Take the classes. Get to know your professors. All of these are so important to help you feel ready for what’s after graduation. But it’s also important to experience college. To really settle in. To enjoy the freedom you have in this season of life. To try new things and to do the things you love. You may never have the autonomy over your time or schedule again.
I was able to connect today with a few students that are studying abroad this semester. We talked about what their experiences have been like so far and a theme of joy kept coming up. They have joy in their surroundings in seeing all the beauty of their travels and joy in experiencing the different cultures around them. They are learning new skills (navigating different languages and food preferences and cultural norms) and rhythms to keep them healthy in this season. There is so much to be gained from experiences like this in college. To be able to adapt and thrive in a new setting and culture is a skill that will serve them well beyond their college years. This joy and these skills and these experiences matter so much. They cannot be discounted for anything. Including a resume.
You can have the most accomplished resume in your field but if you were miserable the whole time adding to it, what good is that?!
And while, yes you might not write about your semester abroad or the dance class you took just for fun or your Senior year bucket list items on your resume (although maybe you should), you are definitely gaining experiences and honing in on skills that will serve you in your future — whatever it holds. I know so many students who have graduated from college and were asked in interviews about that summer they spent serving in the city or the time they were a camp counselor instead of their actual experience related to their job field. Your future employer is hiring not just an accountant or a teacher but a whole person — experiences and all.
Next time you hesitate to take a risk or sign up for the club remember that experiencing your life to the fullest counts too. You can have the most accomplished resume in your field but if you were miserable the whole time adding to it, what good is that?! (It also means you might be miserable in your field post-graduation too.)
Don’t be afraid to step out into something new just for the experience or love of it! College is the best time to do this. And who knows? You may be talking about it in a future interview one day!
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