Students should aim for more than to just earn a college degree. Yes, obtaining that special piece of
paper is the reason we’re all here-but during these short years of college, this time should be used to
face fears and gain experiences.
Time is your most valuable asset-don’t waste it. As college students, we have more time on our hands
than we realize. I go to school full-time and work a very involved internship. I claimed that I was a
busy man, when in reality, I’m not as busy as I thought.
I still have plenty of free time to rock back-and-forth in my chair and spend hours watching basketball
while being glued to my iPhone, scrolling up and down Twitter. My two older sisters tell me that you
will never have as much free time as you do in college.
We need to make productive use of time. Don’t confuse being busy with productivity. Busy keeps you
occupied while times passes-productive is progress for a greater cause.
In order to become successful, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. With our daily
schedules, it’s easy to fall into a predictable routine, but the best experiences come from uncertainty.
Last year I put myself in an extremely uncomfortable position. I took a job as a fourth-grade writing
tutor. I had never taught in my life, and because I’m the youngest in my family, I’m not that good with
children.
I felt awkward. I had no idea what I was doing and questioned why I was there everyday. But I did
learn something valuable with my time there.
First, I’m still a kid myself. I’d rather joke with them than teach. Second, I learned that children are
smarter than you think. They see and analyze every detail going on around them. I would have never
learned that if I never took the first step of being uncomfortable.
Students, stop being punks and get out of your comfort zone.
Fear is the main reason we stay in our comfort zone. Fear tends to be the root of all problems. It will
hold you back from getting what you truly want, or pursuing that crazy idea that’s been lingering in
your mind.
I have a good friend that contemplated doing stand-up comedy. He talked about doing it, but couldn’t
muster up the courage. He kept putting it off and making excuses, until one day, he decided to perform
at an open mic night.
He wrote his routine, practiced it and went on stage to tell his jokes as I sat in the crowd and watched.
He sucked.
Even though he was nervous and got just a few sympathy chuckles from the crowd, he attacked his fear
instead of ignoring it. This experience made him want to be better at telling jokes on stage.
Sitting in class, reading the syllabus, and stressing over deadlines is cool-but think beyond that. Get
creative and do what you want while you can.
I’m not saying neglect your schoolwork. We should fill the gaps in between school and our useless free
time.
You want start a new hobby? Do it. You want to talk to that cute girl you see around campus? Do it.
Once we graduate and hit the “real world,” all this free time will be nonexistent. Don’t take it for
granted.
Spencer Trotman can be reached by email at trotman.record@live.com.