By Jake Zabski
“Make the most of your four years” is probably a saying many of us upperclassmen remember hearing only a few years ago, and many underclassmen are probably hearing this saying every day now as they begin their college journeys. Don’t ignore this message, because even though it’s overstated, it’s very important, and I regret not listening to this advice until it was almost too late.
To preface, today’s version of me as a college student didn’t truly exist until my junior year. Before, I lived a pretty solace and mundane life on campus. Most of the time, I would only leave my room to go to class, get food, or hangout with friends. since I wasn’t much of a party person. I wasn’t involved in anything, and I often questioned why I was even at college in the first place. I was living a shell of a life, and truthfully I always wanted to get more out of college since I didn’t get anything out of high school, but some part of me just refused to leave my comfort zone. When the pandemic first hit, I was slightly relieved that I would have a bit more time within my comfort bubble at home, but it turns out that going home was the biggest wake-up call for me to change my college life more than ever.
Being isolated from others and knowing that I probably would not see many of my friends for months showed me that socializing, going out and having fun, and just seeing people in your daily walks around campus is not guaranteed anymore. I had to make those moments count and not take them for granted. Having everything moved dreadfully online showed me that those real-world experiences that were once readily available like internships or actually getting to talk to someone in person instead of over a screen, made me realize how important those connections really are. I made the decision in my head that whenever we were finally allowed back at school, that I would push myself to make the most of what I have left, and not sit in silence anymore. I couldn’t have any more college regrets.
As an upperclassman, I’ve really pushed myself to change aspects of my life before that hurt me. It was never an easy process, but it was gradual enough where I felt comfortable hitting my milestones and making new ones. I finally got involved on campus and joined The Summit. I started to get out of my shell and socialize more which not only boosted my self-esteem and confidence, but it has made me love being on campus so much that I rarely go home anymore. I took interest in my hobbies again like photography and writing, and am always working on my portfolio. I also grew emotionally and worked on what held me back in the past.
While my journey throughout college has not come to an end yet, I am happy knowing that if it all ended tomorrow I would have few regrets. And by no means do I consider myself the perfect role model either; I’m still a work in progress, but I believe that I am proof that when you put your mind to something, it will happen. No matter what.
If you’re feeling that you already have regrets about college, my advice is to figure out what’s holding you back and work on those aspects first. The work I did to change myself didn’t happen overnight. Take the time to look introspectively and figure out what needs to be changed in order to move forward. I think it’s also important to do things with other people as well. Do something that maybe you’re uncomfortable doing with a good friend, or at least talk about it with them to find support. One thing that I do know about Stonehill is that anyone from professors, to your friends, to your peers is willing to help and guide you. Take advantage of that, and most importantly, make every day at college count.
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