Hard, but Good - The College Edition

In my world, Fall has begun.  I don't mean I'm eating apples, carving pumpkins, or wearing sweaters (being that I'm in SC, that last one is a loooong way off!), but I mean that my days at work are now centered around the Fall semester.  Our grad students came back last week, we've been in training all week, new students start moving in to their residence halls in a few days, and each day there seems to be just a bit more traffic in Columbia.

Seeing all of this and seeing that this blog is a place for my students to reflect on their first year of college, it got me thinking and reflecting on my first year of college as well as my overall experience in college.  As I started to thinking about it two themes emerged.  The first is that my time in college was probably one of the most significant moments in my life.  My 4 years at Miami University paved the way for where I am now, not just professionally, but also, and probably more so, where I am personally.  Some of the values I hold most dear were established when I was in college.  Another theme that emerged was that so many of my significant moments, lessons, and experiences from college could fall under a phrase we so often used while I worked in campus ministry - "hard, but good".  This means that things weren't always roses and butterflies while you were going through it, but in the course of time, you are SO grateful you had that experience and became better for going through it.  So here are a few of my "hard, but good" moments of college.

*Disclaimer - If you didn't do these things or had these experiences, please do not think that I think you did it wrong.  I definitely have a host of regrets from college and wish I had done some things differently.  This is simply a list of reflections from my own experience.

The prettiest campus there ever was! 

Hard, but Good #1 - Going to college far away
I went to a school that was 5 1/2 hours from where I grew up.  I always wanted to go somewhat far away and I'm so glad I did!  While in college, I met people from all over the country.  I met people who grew up in completely different ways than I did and who had such unique experiences.  I also met people who had very different views than me.  My eyes were opened up to just how big and diverse the world is.  I also think going far away to college gave me the courage to move and travel to other new places.

Hard, but Good #2 - I lived in a residence hall
It's hard to believe that I survived and thrived living 2 school years and 2 summers in a 12x12 room with a roommate, a twin bed, and a community bathroom.  However, living in the residence hall, especially my first year was so much FUN!!!  I met some of my best friends of college through knocking on random doors, hanging out in the study lounges, and most importantly, sharing meals together in the dining halls.  Such strong community and so many great memories were built in Collins Hall my first year of college that I cried pretty much every day of the last week I was there.

Hard, but Good #3 - I struggled!
I've always done well in school, but it never came easy for me, not even in high school.  I've always had to work pretty hard.  As it is for most students, college was not a walk in the park for me.  I struggled with some courses which eventually led me to change my major and find something that was more in line with my strengths.  Outside of the classroom though, I felt homesick, lonely, heartbroken, and stressed (one time it took me to the hospital!) more than once throughout my time at Miami.  However, I knew Miami was the place for me; it was becoming home; and I started to see that experiencing such things was life.  They were tough, but they would pass.  This is a lesson I'm still trying to learn!

I have a few more things I want to share, but will save them for the next post!  What lessons did you learn in college or if any of my students are reading this, what are you excited/anxious/nervous about?