In all honestly, college seems surreal. At any point now, I am sure that this will end and I will go back home, back to high school, back to my parents and friends. This just seems like another summer program. The fact that my Facebook network reads “Dartmouth ’14” brings me back to reality and makes me realize that this is no summer program. This is college.
When I look at my graduation year, I realize that those four years will be full of work. The past two weeks, my first two weeks of college are characterized by immense amounts of reading, countless calculus practice problems and an intellectual satisfaction that high school could not provide.
I overheard one of my friends tell his brother back home “Dude, college classes do not play around.” The statement rings true. My intention is not to scare the college bound reader but rather it is to warn him or her about what lies ahead. College is completely different from high school and I have been able to notice the difference in just two weeks. The intensity of the classes and the material covered in them does not compare to high school. The classes require total engagement both during class and outside of the class room which translates into many hours of studying and practicing. I can honestly admit that I had never spent so much time studying outside of class until I came here. Do not get me wrong, the work is not overbearing nor is it boring. Rather, it is interesting and helpful towards the learning process. There is a feeling of accomplishment every time I understand a math concept or an idea from my Intro To Latin American Studies class.
I hope that this does not scare you. Rather, it gives you a realistic expectation of what college will be like academically. Just know that if you’ve made it this far, it is because you have been able to rise to constantly changing expectations. Do not be afraid, rather be expectant. It might seem like I have a lot of work to do, and yes, it is true but I am happy here. I am happy that I am being challenged academically. I am happy that this is not high school anymore.